Tinea barbae

Introduction

Dermatophytosis of the bearded area in men.

Etiology

• Trichophyton verrucosum
• Trichophyton mentagrophytes

Epidemiology

• adult males
• may be acquired through exposure to animals
• more common in farmers

Pathology

• resembles Tinea capitis with invasion of the hair shaft

Clinical manifestations

• involves beard & moustache areas; rarely eyebrows & eyelashes
• appears as pustular folliculitis
  • hair follicles surrounded by red inflammatory pustules or papules
  • exudates & crusting may occur
  • may be scaling
  • pruritus
  • pain & tenderness
• may be regional lymphadenopathy

Laboratory

(see Tinea)

Differential diagnosis

• Staphylococcus aureus folliculitis
• furuncle
• carbuncle
• acne vulgaris
• rosacea
• pseudofolliculitis

Management

• topical agents ineffective
• systemic agents
  • griseofulvin is the treatment of choice
    • 7-10 mg/kg/day
    • evaluate 33-4 weeks
    • increase dose to 15 mg/kg is necessary
    • continue treatment for 2 weeks after cultures & KOH preps become negative (generally a total of 6-12 weeks)
  • ketoconazole is less effective

More general terms

• Tinea