Tinea Faciale and Lupus Erythematosus

In a case study from 1971, a 16-year-old girl was observed with both tinea faciale and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) at the University of Virginia Hospital. She exhibited symptoms including a sun-sensitive facial rash, polyarthralgia, fever, malaise, weight loss, anorexia, oral ulcers, and hair loss. Physical examination showed an erythematous, scaling, crusting facial eruption with follicular plugging and telangiectasia, and her scalp hair was easily pulled out. The diagnosis of SLE was confirmed with positive antinuclear factor and LE-cell preparations. The patient was treated with prednisone. This case highlighted the potential for confusion between tinea faciale and other dermatoses like SLE.