Common Dermatophyte Infections Steroid-Exacerbated Tinea Corporis

The continuous use of a corticosteroid cream briefly relieved the pruritus of an annular, papulosquamous eruption on the left anterior thigh of a 50-year-old woman. The lesion was present for 6 months and grew larger with application of the topical corticosteroid. Abundant fungal elements were revealed on the potassium hydroxide preparation of a specimen from the lesion. This finding ruled out eczema, psoriasis, and Bowen disease, which were considered in the differential; tinea corporis was diagnosed. The corticosteroid, which worsened the condition, was immediately discontinued. Oral terbinafine, 250 mg/d for 7 days, and twice-daily application of econazole cream were prescribed; the infection resolved in about a month.