Tinea nigra: Diagnosis, treatment, and remedies

Tinea nigra is a very rare fungal infection. It causes brown or black patches to develop on the soles of the feet, the palms of the hand, or, on rare occasions, the torso.

A type of yeast called Hortaea werneckii causes most tinea nigra infections. A person can get the infection when the yeast gets into their body, often through a small wound.

Keep reading to learn more about a tinea nigra infection, including the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment options.

Tinea nigra causes brown or black patches to appear on the soles of the feet or the palms of the hand. The patches may be so small and faint that a person does not notice them. They also tend to grow slowly. The most common symptoms include:

• a patch on the foot or hand following an injury
• a single round, linear, or irregularly shaped patch that grows slowly
• growing patches that either cause no symptoms or itch
• patches that resemble a growing mole or freckle
• a slow growing brown patch on the torso

The infection affects people who live in tropical regions and those who have recently traveled to these areas.

Most people with tinea nigra have just one lesion. However, if the fungus comes into contact with multiple points of entry, such as wounds on both hands, a person may have several patches.

In healthy people, tinea nigra lives only on the superficial layers of the skin. It does not spread, cause serious infections, or present major health risks. It is more likely to affect young people under the age of 20 years.

Tinea nigra is a fungal infection, which means that a person gets it when they come into contact with a fungus that can cause the infection.

Scientists used to call Hortaea werneckii either Cladosporium werneckii, Exophiala werneckii, or Phaeoannellomyces werneckii. Another yeast called Stenella araguata may cause some cases of tinea nigra.

As with many other fungi, Hortaea werneckii thrives in moist or humid environments. It lives on dead and decaying organic material, such as soil and wood. It can get into the human body when it comes into contact with the skin, usually through a wound. It is most likely to live on parts of the body with many sweat glands, such as the hands and feet.

Certain risk factors increase a person’s likelihood of developing this infection. They include:

• living in a tropical or subtropical region
• recent travel to a subtropical or tropical region
• a history of hyperhidrosis, a condition that causes excessive sweating
• a recent injury
• contact with wood, soil, or compost, such as from gardening without gloves or woodworking in a tropical or subtropical region

In many cases, a person’s symptoms may lead a doctor to suspect tinea nigra. However, as tinea nigra can resemble the symptoms of several other conditions, it is important to get an accurate diagnosis.

The doctor may ask the individual about their recent travel, injury history, and exposure to wood, compost, or soil. They will also usually take a culture of the skin and send it to a lab to see whether Hortaea werneckii grows within a week. If it does, this means that the test is positive for tinea nigra.

Sometimes, a doctor may also perform a skin biopsy to test for skin cancer, as certain types of skin cancer can look similar to tinea nigra.

People who wish to try home remedies may see improvements with keratolytic agents. A keratolytic is a chemical that helps remove excess skin. Some potentially effective keratolytics include:

• wart cream
• salicylic acid
• Whitfield’s ointment

These drugs may not be safe during pregnancy, so women who are pregnant or trying to become pregnant should see a doctor instead of trying home remedies.

If home treatment fails, it is best to see a doctor. There are other possible causes of brown lesions on the skin.

Doctors usually prescribe topical antifungal creams to treat tinea nigra. People should apply the cream directly to the patch exactly as a doctor advises.

In some cases, a person may also need to take oral antifungal drugs, especially if the lesions are very large or if antifungal creams have not worked. However, oral drugs may not be effective.

Doctors do not know what treatment duration is optimal, but the authors of one report suggest that 1 month of treatment is sufficient.

People can reduce the risk of tinea nigra infections by protecting the skin from exposure to soil, compost, and other materials in which the Hortaea werneckii fungus likes to grow. Following this advice is especially important for people who travel to or live in tropical regions.

These strategies can help:

• practicing frequent handwashing, especially after spending time outside
• wearing gloves or other protective gear in the garden
• refraining from walking outside with bare feet
• wearing socks or shoes in public places
• changing socks frequently, especially if they get wet
• covering any wounds on the hands or feet before spending time outside

Several other skin conditions may look similar to tinea nigra. Other fungal infections, such as athlete’s foot, may also cause skin lesions, but they are not usually brown.

Melanoma, a type of skin cancer, can be deadly. It may also look very similar to tinea nigra in the early stages. Similarly to tinea nigra, melanoma is not typically painful at first. Therefore, people who do not get relief from home or medical treatment should see a dermatologist and request a biopsy.

Some other medical conditions and factors that may cause brown patches include:

• skin staining from henna
• skin hyperpigmentation from pregnancy or Addison’s disease
• complications of syphilis
• exposure to certain chemicals, such as silver nitrate

Tinea nigra is not a serious medical condition. Most people do not notice any symptoms other than brown spots on the skin.

However, as tinea nigra looks similar to several other conditions, it is important to see a doctor for an accurate diagnosis.

Prompt treatment can prevent serious skin-related conditions from getting worse.

Tinea nigra: Diagnosis, treatment, and remedies

Tinea nigra is a very rare fungal infection. It causes brown or black patches to develop on the soles of the feet, the palms of the hand, or, on rare occasions, the torso.

A type of yeast called Hortaea werneckii causes most tinea nigra infections. A person can get the infection when the yeast gets into their body, often through a small wound.

Keep reading to learn more about a tinea nigra infection, including the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment options.

Tinea nigra causes brown or black patches to appear on the soles of the feet or the palms of the hand. The patches may be so small and faint that a person does not notice them. They also tend to grow slowly. The most common symptoms include:

• a patch on the foot or hand following an injury
• a single round, linear, or irregularly shaped patch that grows slowly
• growing patches that either cause no symptoms or itch
• patches that resemble a growing mole or freckle
• a slow growing brown patch on the torso

The infection affects people who live in tropical regions and those who have recently traveled to these areas.

Most people with tinea nigra have just one lesion. However, if the fungus comes into contact with multiple points of entry, such as wounds on both hands, a person may have several patches.

In healthy people, tinea nigra lives only on the superficial layers of the skin. It does not spread, cause serious infections, or present major health risks. It is more likely to affect young people under the age of 20 years.

Tinea nigra is a fungal infection, which means that a person gets it when they come into contact with a fungus that can cause the infection.

Scientists used to call Hortaea werneckii either Cladosporium werneckii, Exophiala werneckii, or Phaeoannellomyces werneckii. Another yeast called Stenella araguata may cause some cases of tinea nigra.

As with many other fungi, Hortaea werneckii thrives in moist or humid environments. It lives on dead and decaying organic material, such as soil and wood. It can get into the human body when it comes into contact with the skin, usually through a wound. It is most likely to live on parts of the body with many sweat glands, such as the hands and feet.

Certain risk factors increase a person’s likelihood of developing this infection. They include:

• living in a tropical or subtropical region
• recent travel to a subtropical or tropical region
• a history of hyperhidrosis, a condition that causes excessive sweating
• a recent injury
• contact with wood, soil, or compost, such as from gardening without gloves or woodworking in a tropical or subtropical region

In many cases, a person’s symptoms may lead a doctor to suspect tinea nigra. However, as tinea nigra can resemble the symptoms of several other conditions, it is important to get an accurate diagnosis.

The doctor may ask the individual about their recent travel, injury history, and exposure to wood, compost, or soil. They will also usually take a culture of the skin and send it to a lab to see whether Hortaea werneckii grows within a week. If it does, this means that the test is positive for tinea nigra.

Sometimes, a doctor may also perform a skin biopsy to test for skin cancer, as certain types of skin cancer can look similar to tinea nigra.

People who wish to try home remedies may see improvements with keratolytic agents. A keratolytic is a chemical that helps remove excess skin. Some potentially effective keratolytics include:

• wart cream
• salicylic acid
• Whitfield’s ointment

These drugs may not be safe during pregnancy, so women who are pregnant or trying to become pregnant should see a doctor instead of trying home remedies.

If home treatment fails, it is best to see a doctor. There are other possible causes of brown lesions on the skin.

Doctors usually prescribe topical antifungal creams to treat tinea nigra. People should apply the cream directly to the patch exactly as a doctor advises.

In some cases, a person may also need to take oral antifungal drugs, especially if the lesions are very large or if antifungal creams have not worked. However, oral drugs may not be effective.

Doctors do not know what treatment duration is optimal, but the authors of one report suggest that 1 month of treatment is sufficient.

People can reduce the risk of tinea nigra infections by protecting the skin from exposure to soil, compost, and other materials in which the Hortaea werneckii fungus likes to grow. Following this advice is especially important for people who travel to or live in tropical regions.

These strategies can help:

• practicing frequent handwashing, especially after spending time outside
• wearing gloves or other protective gear in the garden
• refraining from walking outside with bare feet
• wearing socks or shoes in public places
• changing socks frequently, especially if they get wet
• covering any wounds on the hands or feet before spending time outside

Several other skin conditions may look similar to tinea nigra. Other fungal infections, such as athlete’s foot, may also cause skin lesions, but they are not usually brown.

Melanoma, a type of skin cancer, can be deadly. It may also look very similar to tinea nigra in the early stages. Similarly to tinea nigra, melanoma is not typically painful at first. Therefore, people who do not get relief from home or medical treatment should see a dermatologist and request a biopsy.

Some other medical conditions and factors that may cause brown patches include:

• skin staining from henna
• skin hyperpigmentation from pregnancy or Addison’s disease
• complications of syphilis
• exposure to certain chemicals, such as silver nitrate

Tinea nigra is not a serious medical condition. Most people do not notice any symptoms other than brown spots on the skin.

However, as tinea nigra looks similar to several other conditions, it is important to see a doctor for an accurate diagnosis.

Prompt treatment can prevent serious skin-related conditions from getting worse.

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Dear patients!
Multidisciplinary Clinic and Maternity Hospital “Paracelsus” informs you, according to the Letter of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation to the Federal Tax Service dated March 25, 2022. N BS-4-11 / 3605, that subparagraph 3 of paragraph 1 of Article 219 of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation provides for the taxpayer’s right to receive a social tax deduction in the amount paid by him in the tax period for medical services provided by medical organizations engaged in medical activities , him, his spouse, parents, children (including adopted children) under the age of 18, wards under the age of 18 (in accordance with the list of medical services approved by the Government of the Russian Federation).

Joint order of the Ministry of Taxation of Russia and the Ministry of Health of Russia of July 25, 2001 N 289 / BG-3-04 / 256 (hereinafter – the order of July 25, 2001) approved the form of the Certificate of payment for medical services for submission to the tax authorities of the Russian Federation (hereinafter – the Certificate payment for medical services).

This certificate certifies the fact of receiving a medical service and its payment through the cash desk of a healthcare institution at the expense of the taxpayer.

Thus, if the taxpayer submits to the tax authority a Certificate of payment for medical services, the taxpayer’s failure to submit the relevant contract for the provision of medical services and (or) documents confirming payment cannot be grounds for refusing to provide such a deduction.

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Deputy Director for Medical Activities of the Multidisciplinary Clinic “Paracelsus”

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Black lichen, a description of the disease on the portal Medihost.

ru

Black lichen is a fungal skin infection, an infectious disease that is characterized by the appearance of specific black spots on the skin of a certain localization. Usually, black lichen affects the surfaces of the palms and feet.

Dark spots that appear on the palms and soles of the feet do not cause any discomfort to the patient. Sometimes spots appear on other parts of the body.

Etiology and pathogenesis

Black lichen occurs as a result of penetration into the body of certain mold fungi – Stenella arguata, Cladosporium, Exophiala wemeckii.

The predominant localization of these types of fungi is the USA, Africa, Asia, Central and South America, therefore, the disease itself is more typical for this area.

In the environment, the fungus can be found in soil, wood from fallen trees, compost, and also in sewage. Fungi penetrate through microdamages in the skin.

These fungi are characterized by damage to smooth skin, that is, devoid of hair and sebaceous glands. Of course, cases of skin lesions on the body in atypical places are not excluded, but such cases are very rare.

Predisposing factors and causes of black lichen development

• Endemicity. Individuals living in endemic areas are more at risk than others. Persons in non-endemic zones become infected with a similar disease most often during tourism to tropical and subtropical countries.
• Comorbidities affecting the skin.

Symptoms of black lichen

The main manifestation of the disease is the appearance of spots of various sizes and shapes on the skin of the palms and soles. The spots acquire a characteristic color – from dark brown to pronounced black.

The heel is absolutely painless, does not cause any discomfort, except for a visual non-aesthetic defect. Rashes are located on all surfaces of the palms, between the fingers, on the hands and feet. Usually, at first, small elements tend to increase and merge into large spots, reaching a diameter of up to several centimeters.

Lesions can be both unilateral and bilateral, as well as simultaneous lesions of the soles and palms.

Despite the fact that the disease seems harmless, its contagiousness is quite high. The incubation period for black lichen is up to 7 weeks, but on average lasts no more than two weeks.

Most stains have jagged, scalloped edges. Extensive spots can still cause slight discomfort in the form of itching, often the spots are covered with scaly scales.

In some cases, the patient may mistake black lichen as melanoma (skin cancer) and seek advice from an oncologist.

Diagnosis of black lichen

The physician should perform a visual examination. Large spots, as a rule, have a greater color intensity towards the periphery. Also, the doctor should conduct a differential diagnosis with oncological diseases by conducting a cytology of scrapings from altered skin areas.

Black lichen treatment

To successfully cure this disease, you should follow certain rules:

1. Thorough disinfection, removal of keratinized layers from the affected areas.