Candida krusei dermatomycoses simulating cutaneous herpes

Fungal skin infections are usually caused by zoofilic or antropophilic dermatophytes with ability for colonizing keratinized tissues (skin, hair, nails).They are generally called tinea and are classified topographically using the Latin genitive mode (corporis, capitis, unguis, manus, pedis). Tinea faciei is a variety of the corporis type where only face is affected. The genus Candida does not belong to dermatophytes, it is a saprohytic yeast of skin and mucous membranes that under certain conditions that decrease host resistance become prevalent over other skin commensal flora and causes damage due to a drop in immunologic individual status more than its pathogenic capacity per se.

The commonly isolated species usually is C. albicans, but in some situations the skin lesions are produced by other species (called globalynon-albicans) that usually cause systemic diseases. Clinical manifestations, when skin is affected, are nonspecific and diagnosis can be delayed. Also they have special therapeutic implications due to poor response to other drugs with effectiveness in C. albicans. Hence, a thorough physical examination is of the most importance for dermatomycoses.