Typical Tinea Corporis Infection

Description

Across the anterior chest of an adult male, multiple erythematous plaques are distributed over the pectoral region and upper abdominal wall, centered on the non-hairy skin of the trunk. Several lesions form incomplete annular or polycyclic rings with a subtly raised, scaly advancing border and relative central clearing, a pattern typical of tinea corporis (dermatophytosis) caused by dermatophyte fungi. Orientation is frontal, so the sternum lies medially with lesions extending laterally toward the anterior axillary folds, while the clavicular region remains comparatively spared. Ringworm is a misnomer, but the ring-like morphology matters diagnostically. Tinea corporis can mimic nummular eczema, psoriasis, pityriasis rosea, or granuloma annulare, yet the peripheral scale at the active margin and centrifugal spread point you toward a superficial mycosis rather than an inflammatory dermatosis. KOH preparation or fungal culture is often taken from the scaly edge, not the quieter center, and prior topical corticosteroid use can distort the classic appearance into tinea incognito. It is contagious. Use this artwork to support dermatology and infectious disease teaching on dermatophyte infection of the trunk, to illustrate outpatient documentation of a typical presentation, or to anchor a differential diagnosis figure in textbooks and clinical guidelines that compare annular eruptions. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.