Tinea barbae is a fairly rare fungal infection of the beard hairs of adult men. The infection is transmitted from an infected animal (usually cattle or horses) to humans. The fungus causes deep inflammation of the hair follicles. This leads to pustules and red spots on the skin, as well as possible hair loss in the beard area. The prospects of the fungal infection are good after treatment with antifungal drugs.

• Terminology
• Synonyms of tinea barbae
• Causes: Due to contact with infected cattle or horses
• Risk factors
• Symptoms: Red spots on beard area
• Diagnosis and examinations
• Treatment of the beard area
• Prognosis of fungal infection
• Prevention of condition in men

Terminology

The condition presents itself in men in the beard area. When women develop symptoms in this area, it is not tinea barbae, but tinea faciei (fungal infection with red spots on the face).

Synonyms of tinea barbae

Tinea barbae is also known under these terms:

• beard fungus
• beard scabies
• barber’s itch
• dermatomycosis barbae
• barber’s itch
• fungal infection of the beard area
• sycosis trichophytica barbae
• tinea sycosis

Causes: Due to contact with infected cattle or horses

A fungus invades a man’s damaged facial skin. This causes a deep inflammatory reaction of the hair follicles (folliculitis). Beard scabies is a rare fungal infection that mainly occurs in warm and humid conditions.

Types of fungi

Tinea barbae is a zoonosis (infected animal infects a human). The fungus Tinea verrucosum is usually the cause of the fungal infection in the beard area. Cattle or horses are usually infected with the fungus. The fungus Microsporum Canis may also cause beard fungus. An infected cat infects a man because the man sleeps with his face on the cat.

Spread

When a man comes into contact with an infected cattle or horse, he may contract the infection. The spread of the infection then occurs through direct contact or through contact with contaminated objects.

Risk factors

Farmers and livestock keepers mainly suffer from the fungal infection. The disease also presents itself in patients with a weakened immune system, such as patients with HIV infection, severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) or bone marrow disease. The use of immunosuppressants (medications that suppress the immune system) also increases the risk of getting the infection. Furthermore, hirsutism is also a risk factor for the infection. Women experience excessive hair growth due to increased levels of male hormones.

Symptoms: Red spots on beard area

The symptoms appear in the beard area but also occasionally on the mustache area or chin. Very sporadically, the eyelashes and eyebrows are affected.On the beard area there are round, red, crusty and scaly spots around the inflammation. The affected area is also swollen due to the inflammation . In addition, pus heads, pimples, bumps, blisters and/or plaques are present in the beard area. The beard area often contains weak hairs or already broken hairs, causing temporary or permanent bald spots. Itching and pain when touched also occur, although not every man experiences these symptoms. When the infection spreads to the neck or throat, swollen lymph nodes in the neck develop, sometimes in combination with fever and a general ill feeling (malaise).

Diagnosis and examinations

Interview

The doctor questions the patient about his lifestyle and professional activity. This information already provides indications about the presence of the fungal infection.

Diagnostic research

The doctor takes a smear of the skin flakes and has it examined microscopically. He then quickly notices that the dander contains fungal threads. To determine the type of fungus, the doctor must pluck some hairs. He sends it to a laboratory for fungal culture. This is important to be able to use the correct treatment for the beard fungus. If in doubt, a biopsy of the beard area is possible, which also shows the presence of the fungal infection.

Differential diagnosis

When determining the condition, the doctor should take into account other diseases that have a similar clinical pattern such as:

• acne vulgaris
• allergic contact dermatitis (rash with redness and itching)
• candidiasis (fungal infection caused by yeast Candida)
• eczema herpeticum (complication of skin condition eczema with viral infection)
• a furuncle
• a carbuncle (skin condition with collection of boils)
• folliculitis (inflammation of hair follicles with pain and itching of the skin)
• folliculitis barbae
• folliculitis nno
• skin complications of actinomycosis (bacterial infection with swelling and suppuration)
• irritant contact dermatitis (skin inflammation due to exposure to substances)
• pediatric syphilis (bacterial infection through sexual contact)
• perioral dermatitis (skin disease with a rash around the mouth)
• pseudofolliculitis barbae (shaving irritation with red bumps)
• rosacea (skin condition with redness and swelling of the face)

Treatment of the beard area

Long-term, systemic treatment is necessary for tinea barbae. A skin cream or other topical (applied to the skin) products are not effective against deep inflammation. Men therefore take antifungal medications by mouth. The treatment duration is on average four to eight weeks. When severe and inflamed skin lesions are present, the doctor sometimes initiates short treatment with prednisone, an example of a corticosteroid drug (powerful anti-inflammatory drug). This reduces the symptoms and reduces the risk of scar formation.

Prognosis of fungal infection

The prognosis of tinea barbae is usually good. Scarring rarely occurs after the patient has healed. Furthermore, the disease rarely comes back. Sometimes permanent hair loss occurs due to the fungal infection.

Prevention of condition in men

The facial skin should not come into contact with the skin of an animal for too long, or not for too long. Men should therefore protect the beard area with a mouth mask or cloth. Furthermore, it is wise for men who practice a high-risk profession to wash their face (including the beard area) as well as their hands thoroughly after a working day. They may use a disinfectant such as Betadine shampoo for this. The beard area must be dried thoroughly afterwards.

read more

• Fungal skin infections: Skin infection due to fungi
• Tinea (ringworm): Skin infections caused by fungi
• Alopecia barbae: Hair loss in the beard area in men
• Bald spots in beard: Causes, symptoms and treatment