Background: Tinea barbae is usually caused by zoophilic dermatophytes. Here, we present a rare case of an inflammatory tinea barbae due to antropophilic dermatophyte – Trichophyton rubrum.
Case report: An 87-year-old patient presented with several inflammatory plaques with pustules and crusts on their surface located on the bearded areas of the face (chin, cheeks and upper lip). Direct mycology from the lesions was positive. Culture revealed Trichophyton rubrum. Moreover, the patient suffered from fingernail and toenail onychomycosis also caused by Trichophyton rubrum. Thus, it was suggested that the infection of the face
could be autoinoculated from diseased nails.
Conclusions: This paper demonstrates that antropophilic dermatophytes, including Trichophyton rubrum, may be responsible for inflammatory kerion-like tinea barbae.

Keywords: tinea barbae, Dermatophytosis, Trichophyton rubrum