A rare case of tinea nigra of scalp in an immunocompetent individual caused by hortaea werneckii and rhodotorula rubra from kancheepuram, South India

Hortaea werneckii is a most common cause of tinea nigra transmitted by contact between humans and is an example of phaeoid (dematiaceous)fungi. Tinea nigra is an uncommon superficial fungal infection of horny layer of epidermis characterized by presence of painless brown to black, pigmented, non-scaly, macular patches usually affecting palms (tinea nigra palmaris), occasionally soles (tinea nigra plantaris) and very rarely other parts of body of young adults. Rhodotorula species are common airborne contaminant fungi and are also considered as normal inhabitants of the skin, lungs, urine and feces in humans. Rhodotorula species are considered as an important agent for invasive infection among immunocompromised patients. The main objective of this case report is to present “a rare case of tinea nigra of scalp caused by Hortaea werneckii and Rhodotorula rubra”in an immunocompetent patient residing in a silk city of Kancheepuram.