ABSTRACT

Tinea incognito is a clinical condition that is associated with topical corticosteroid and calcineurin inhibitor usage.

A seventy year old male patient applied to the outpatient clinic with complaints of pruritus and erythema that began first on his forehead and spread to his whole face later and his complaints had been present for 50 days. He did not get any benefit from topical tacrolimus 0.1% ointment during the previous one month. On dermatologic examination, tinea pedis et manuum and onychomycosis were detected. Direct misroscopic examination of scrapings from erythematous papules and plaques located in the face revealed fungal elements. His lesions disappeared after systemic and topical antifungal treatment. Tinea incognito, which is usually underestimated and misdiagnosed, may develop after topical calcineurin usage and, interestingly, this disorder mimics other dermatologic diseases. In this manuscript our aim was to remind physicians of tinea incognito by presenting this case. (Turk J Dermatol 2011; 5: 53-5)