Dermatophytes are a group of fungi that cause infections of the skin, hair, and nails. These infections are commonly referred to as dermatophytoses or tinea infections. Dermatophytes primarily belong to three genera: Trichophyton, Microsporum, and Epidermophyton. They thrive on keratin, a protein found in these tissues, which allows them to colonize and infect these areas of the body.
