A rare case of inflammatory tinea barbae in a livestock farmer

Tinea barbae is a rare zoophilic dermatophyte infection of the beard area, commonly mimicking other dermatological or infectious conditions. We report a young man with progressive erythematous, nodular neck and wrist lesions, unresponsive to antimicrobials. Extensive investigation, including fungal PCR, identified Trichophyton species, leading to successful treatment with systemic antifungals. This case highlights the importance of considering atypical tinea barbae in patients with occupational animal exposure and persistent cutaneous lesions unresponsive to standard antibacterial treatments.