Table 2.

Risk factors

Type of tinea infection	Risk factors
All tinea infections	Contact with an individual harboring a dermatophytosis Secondary spread of infection from another affected anatomic region Hyperhidrosis Diabetes mellitus Poor hygiene Obesity Immunosuppression Living in a hot, humid, tropical climate Occlusive clothing/footwear/headwear Contact sports Use of antibiotics or corticosteroids (topical and systemic) Contact with infected animals (pets, stray, farm, laboratory, and wild animals) Being of low socioeconomic status, due to:  Crowded living conditions  Increased skin-to-skin contact  Reduced access to hygienic products, including soaps, shampoos, detergents, etc.  Increased proximity to animals, including house pets (i.e. dogs, cats) or livestock (i.e. cattle, horses) [2, 4]
Tinea corporis	Tinea gladiatorum is a subtype of tinea corporis caused mainly by T. tonsurans (common among athletes) Skin-to-skin contact during athletics (example, wrestling) Contact with contaminated training equipment
Tinea cruris	Moisture in the intertriginous groin area Obesity due to apposition of skin folds
Tinea capitis	Decreased sebum production, which leads to decreased fatty acid production and raises the pH of the scalp Significant hormonal changes (pregnancy, menopause, puberty) that decrease sebum production Fomites: sharing combs, hairbrushes, hats, pillows Short hairstyles that allow for ease of colonization of the scalp, including immunosuppression causing impaired hair shaft growth
Tinea pedis	Participation in sports, including marathon running [238] Wearing occlusive, closed-toe shoes for long periods of time while working, including miners and soldiers [112, 240, 241] Frequenting public swimming pools, showers, and gyms [5, 111, 242, 243], especially without donning appropriate footwear Cultural practices that involve bare feet, such as entering a place of worship [244]
Tinea manuum	Contact with the skin of a foot infected with tinea pedis Contact with infected clothing, towel, or soil [3] Recurrent trauma to the hands, such as in individuals who perform manual labor [134]
Tinea barbae	Contact with house pets or other animals via occupational exposure to cattle, horses, etc. [243] Contact with improperly cleaned razor, beard brush, or other facial tool [246] Coarse beard hair
Tinea faciei	Skin-to-skin contact, including wrestling [247]
Tinea incognito	Misdiagnosis of an existing dermatophyte infection Application of steroid cream, tacrolimus ointment, or other anti-inflammatory topical treatment to a dermatophyte infection Systemic glucocorticoids Immunocompromised
Chronic and/or recurrent dermatophytosis	Reduced IFN-γ+ cells, Th1 cells, IL-17+ cells, Th17 cells, elevated IL-4+ cells, increased serum IgE levels and a diminished delayed type hypersensitivity intradermal skin test response [189, 248] History of tinea in a family member [189] History of corticosteroid use [189] Sharing towels in the home [189] Some comorbid conditions, including atopy, diabetes mellitus [137] Poor hygiene Steroid use Low socioeconomic status

IFN interferon, Th T-helper, IL interleukin, Ig immunoglobulin