Hendersonula toruloidea infection: successful response of onychomycosis to nail avulsion and topical ciclopiroxolamine.

The exotic mould Hendersonula toruloidea may occasionally produce a ringwormlike, non-inflammatory, therapy-resistant mycosis of the skin and nails simulating chronic dermatophytosis. We report on a 30-year-old Nigerian male who, after two years' sojourn in Sweden, developed finger-nail dystrophy and mild scaling of the palm and sole skin due to H. toruloidea infection. Nail avulsion followed by long-term occlusive application of ciclopiroxolamine cleared the onychomycosis, whereas the sole and palm infection was resistant to ciclopiroxolamine and glutaraldehyde treatment.