Superficial Fungus

= fungus restricted to the most superficial layers of the skin, hair, and nails; produce little or no inflammatory response

•	tinea nigra

•	tinea versicolor (yeast)

•

piedra

= group of fungi that can infect keratin tissue (vs. superficial mycoses which are just stuck on, do not “invade”); always “hyaline” (i.e. colorless)

•	dermatophytes are eliminated from the skin by a cell-mediated immune reaction

•	tinea capitis

•	tinea corporis

•	tinea pedis

•	tinea unguium (onychomycosis)

Three principle genera:

1.	microsporum

2.	trichophyton

3.	epidermophyton