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Tinea Incognito

Manju Mahajan, MD, FAAFP Reviewed 05/2023
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

Tinea incognito (TI), also known as steroid-modified tinea, is a dermatophytic infection with an atypical clinical appearance that has been modified by the use of topical or systemic...

DIAGNOSIS

Diagnosis is frequently delayed or missed. 

HISTORY

  • Altered or abnormal physical exam findings make clinical history key to the diagnosis of TI.

  • TI should be considered in patients being treate...

TREATMENT

GENERAL MEASURES

Immediately stop use of topical steroids/calcineurin inhibitors in patients with suspected TI. 

MEDICATION

First Line

  • Systemic treatment with oral antifungal agents is usually r...

ONGOING CARE

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

Length of treatment depends on the clinical response. Treatment duration is generally 2 weeks but can be 3 to 4 months in cases with concomitant onychomycosis (1...

REFERENCES

1
Arenas  R, Moreno-Coutiño  G, Vera  L, et al. Tinea incognito. Clin Dermatol.  2010;28(2):137–139. [View Abstract on OvidMedline]
2
...

ADDITIONAL READING

  • Ansar  A, Farshchian  M, Nazeri  H, et al. Clinico-epidemiological and mycological aspects of tinea incognito in Iran: a 16-year study. Med Mycol J.  ...

SEE ALSO

American Academy of Dermatology Choosing Wisely recommendations: http://www.choosingwisely.org/societies/american-academy-of-dermatology/ 

CODES

ICD10

B36.8 Other specified superficial mycoses 

SNOMED

238435009 Steroid-modified tinea infection 

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • Consider TI in long-lasting erythematous scaly skin lesions unresponsive to topical treatments, especially when the patient has accompanying tinea pedis or onychomycosis.

  • It is advisabl...

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