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Kerion or inflammatory tinea faciei due to infection with Trichophyton verrucosum.

Dairy farmer.

Kerion occurs because of fungal infection deep within hair follicles and is more common with a zoophilic organism such as Trichophyton verrucosum, which normally infects cattle. In farmers it most often arises on exposed sites such as face or forearm. It characteristically presents as a swollen red plaque or nodule studded with sterile pustules. The degree of inflammation often means KOH microscopy of scrapings is negative but infected hair can easily be pulled out for mycological culture.