Tinea incognita B35.8

Clinically asymptomatic dermatomycosis that does not have the classic (usual) appearance (see tinea below). Tinea incognito is probably the most common clinical manifestation of tinea corporis.

Discrete, mostly skin-colored skin lesions characterized peripherally by delicate scales. The sharply marked border typical of tinea corporis is absent. The recurrent itching is usually treated with a glucocorticoid externum, which masks the characteristic picture of dermatomycosis. Often an incidental finding. Immunomodulators such as the calcineurin inhibitors tacrolimus and pimecrolimus can also cause tinea incognita.

The question of pre-treatment, especially after a glucocorticoid externum, is often negated by many patients.

1. Chang P et al (2016) Review on Tinea Incognita. Curr Fungal Infect Rep 10:126-131.
2. Cohen PR et al. (2022) Tinea and Tattoo: A man who developed tattoo-associated Tinea corporis and a review of dermatophyte and systemic fungal infections occurring within a tattoo. Cureus 14:e21210.
3. Ghaderi A et al. (2023) Updates on Tinea Incognita: Literature review. Curr Med Mycol 9: 52-63.
4. Nenoff P et al. (2007) Tinea faciei incognito due to Trichophyton rubrum as a result of autoinoculation from onychomycosis. Mycoses 50:20-25.
5. Starace M et al. (2016) Tinea Incognita following the Use of an Antipsoriatic Gel. Skin Appendage Disord 1:123-125.
6. Tamimi P et al. (2024) Terbinafine-resistant T. indotineae due to F397L/L393S or F397L/L393F mutation among corticoid-related tinea incognita patients. J Dtsch Dermatol Ges 22:922-934.