Dermatophytosis historical perspective
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Dermatophytosis has been prevalent since before 1906, at which time ringworm was treated with compounds of mercury or sometimes sulfur or iodine. Hairy areas of skin were considered too difficult to treat, so the scalp was treated with x-rays and followed up with antiparasitic medication.
Historical Perspective
History credits three biologists for the creation of medical mycology: Robert Remak, Johann L. Schönlein, and David Gruby, each of whom studied dermatophytes at one point or another (2). In 1835, Remak observed microscopic structures from crusts of favic lesions (favus is ringworm of the scalp) after which Schönlein identified the specimen having fungal origin (2). Remak ultimately describes the fungi as Achorion schöenleinii in honor of his mentor Schönlein; however it was Gruby who is considered the founder of dermatomycology (2). Independently of Remak and Schönlein, Gruby published papers from 1841 to 1844 about the about the cause and nature of Favus expanding significantly what biologists then knew about dermatophytes (2).
Around 1890, Raimond Sabouraud advanced knowledge of dermatomycology by studying extensively into the taxonomy, morphology, and treatment of dermatophytes, even classifying these fungal agents into four genera (three of which are still current to mycologists) (2). Even more importantly, Sabouraud developed a medium for culturing dermatophytes that, after a few modifications, is even still used today and is named in his honor: Sabouraud glucose agar (2).