A case of tinea barbae successfully treated with terbinafine

Abstract

Terbinafine was remarkably effective in tinea barbae due to Trichophyton rubrum on the cheek in front of the right ear in a 75-year-old man. This patient also showed tinea pedis and unguium, but these were due to Trichophyton mentagrophytes and were unrelated to the tinea in the cheek. This patient showed an atypical clinical picture slightly different from that during the initial visit, requiring histological differentiation from trichophytic granuloma.

In Vitro Sensitivity of Dermatophytes to Urea

“…15 Regarding etiologies among the dermatophytoses, T. rubrum has been shown to have a high incidence as a causative agent. 16,18,20 In our study, the most frequently isolated dermatophyte from different body regions was T. rubrum.…”

“…Studies have shown that bifonazole plus urea can be useful in this situation. [12][13][14]16 The application of urea along with butenafine can also result in earlier improvement of dermatological symptoms of hyperkeratotic-type tinea pedis 15 as well as when associated with lanoconazole.…”

From animal to man: Tinea barbae

“…Griseofulvin is rarely used today, given its multiple adverse reactions. Oral terbinafine, 125 mg per day for 12 weeks, has been reported to be effective [24]. Adverse effects include nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, rash, liver enzyme abnormalities, and visual disturbances.…”

“…In theory, the course of therapy would be longer for tinea barbae than for a superficial dermatophytosis but shorter than for onchomycosis. Courses ranging from 6 to 12 weeks have been reported to be effective [5,24].…”

“…Zoophilic and associated anthropophilic vectors transmitting tinea barbae to humans Data from Sabota et al [4•], Glaser and Riordan [11], Kick and Korting [12], Zienicke et al [13], Zienicke and Korting [14], Alteras et al [15], Barriere et al [16], Khosravi et al[21], and Martin and Kobayashi[24].…”