A 23-year-old man from North Africa with a genetic immune disorder (CARD9 deficiency) developed a serious fungal skin infection with deep tissue involvement. The infection caused multiple pus-filled pockets and hair loss on his scalp. Doctors treated him with both antifungal medications and surgery to drain the infected areas, resulting in complete healing after two weeks.
A 60-year-old woman developed unusual hair loss and rash on her scalp that looked like dandruff. Tests revealed three types of fungi, including Microsporum canis (usually found in animals) and two types of Malassezia yeast. Treatment with antifungal medications for three months cleared the infection. Laboratory experiments showed that the yeast species may actually help the fungus grow better, which could explain why adults sometimes get scalp fungal infections differently than children.
A 29-year-old woman was incorrectly treated for psoriasis with steroids, which made her fungal infection worse instead of better. When doctors finally diagnosed her with a fungal infection (tinea incognito), they found it was caused by a common dermatophyte fungus. This case highlights how steroid creams can hide fungal infections and make them spread, and shows why recognizing this condition is important for proper treatment.