Tinea Barbea ( Ringworm of Bread): Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

 

A fungus is often present in animals, such as cows, causes tinea barbae, also known as beard ringworm in humans. Red, ring-shaped skin rashes are the condition's side effect. Hair loss and scarring may result from kerions, which are inflamed patches. This fungal infection is treated with oral antifungal medications and occasionally with oral steroids. Rarely does it spread to other people.

A rare fungal illness known as tinea barbae (tin-EE-uh BAR-bee) affects the skin, hair, and hair follicles in the area of your mustache and beard. Ringworm is known medically as tinea. The Latin term for beard is barbae.

Because barbers historically spread the infection using the same contaminated razors on multiple clients, the ailment is also known as barber's itch or beard ringworm.

What is barbae tinea?

 "Tinea barbae" refers to dermatophyte fungal infection of the facial mustache and beard regions. It usually only affects adult men and is less prevalent than tinea capitis.

The most common fungus that causes tinea barbae is zoophilic, or related to animals:

• T. verrucosum, a cattle-derived substance

• T. mentagrophytes var. equinum, which is horse-derived

• The primary cause of tinea barbae is typically an ectothrix-patterned infection of coarse facial hair (spores on the exterior). The outside of the hair is covered in fungal filaments (hyphae) and spores (arthroconidia) in ectothrix infections.

Also Read: Tinea Capatis: Symptoms, Cause, Diagnoses & Treatment

 Causes:

Trichophyton is the fungus that causes tinea barbae. The causative Trichophyton species are numerous and almost always found in animals such as sheep, horses, and cows.  Trichophyton   is a fungus that belongs to the dermatophytes group. Ringworm on the scalp, jock itch, and athlete's foot are all brought on by other similar fungus.

 Tinea barbae risk factor:

Male farm workers in their teens and adulthood are more vulnerable to this fungal illness. If you possess one or more of the following characteristics, your risk may increase:

• Autoimmune diseases.

• Diabetes.

• Injuries to the skin from razor blades or scrapes.

• Improper usage of anabolic steroids or extended corticosteroid use.

Symptoms:

The outer layer of your skin, known as the epidermis, becomes red and ring-shaped rashes due to tinea barbae have? Although itchy, the rash isn't painful.

This rash could show up on the

• Cheeks.

• Neck. Chin.

• Upper lip, near the mustache.

What complications might tinea barbae?

Some people experience inflammation in their hair follicles due to a deeper skin infection. Tinea sycosis is the term for the fungal infection of hair follicles. Kerions are swollen, pus-filled skin lesions that can develop. Hair loss and scarring might happen where the kerion was. In addition, you can feel tired, have a fever, and have swollen lymph nodes.

How does one diagnose tinea barbae?

After assessing your symptoms, a dermatologist—a medical professional who specializes in skin conditions—or another healthcare professional may make the diagnosis of tinea barbae. Your healthcare practitioner might remove a beard hair and scrape the area. The samples are then examined under a microscope by the providers for signs or indications of a fungal infection.

Similar symptoms can also be caused by other illnesses such as bacterial infections, herpes simplex virus, acne, and rosacea. To confirm a diagnosis, your provider might run additional tests, such as:

• Laboratory culture on a beard hair sample.
• Biopsy of the skin.

Treatment:

The degree of infection can affect the course of treatment. Topical antifungal medications can be used to treat moderate cases of tinea barbae. Topical antifungal medications usually come as creams that are available over the counter. An oral antifungal medication is necessary in cases of tinea barbae that are more severe.

For moderate cases of tinea barbae, topical antifungal medication might be sufficient; however, oral antifungal medications, such as terbinafine and itraconazole, are typically used to treat the condition.

Prevention:

Take these actions to reduce your chance of developing tinea barbae:

• After having close contact with livestock or other potentially infectious animals, carefully wash your hands.

• Never share beard trimmers or other personal hygiene products with other people.

References:

• Merck Manual (Consumer Version). Beard Ringworm (Tinea Barbae) (https://www.merckmanuals.com/home/skin-disorders/fungal-skin-infections/beard-ringworm-tinea-barbae). Accessed 7/22/2022.

• American Academy of Dermatology Association. Ringworm (https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/a-z/ringworm-treatment). Accessed 7/22/2022.

• Kuruvella T, Pandey S. Tinea Barbae (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK563204/). [Updated 2020 Sep 28]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2021 Jan-. Accessed 7/22/2022.

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Symptoms of Ringworm Infections (https://www.cdc.gov/fungal/diseases/ringworm/symptoms.html). Accessed 7/22/2022.