Tinea pubogenitalis is a rare dermatophyte infection involving the genital and pubic areas. Trichophyton rubrum is the most commonly documented organism causing male genital dermatophytosis. The scrotum and less frequently the penis is affected. More recently Trichophyton mentagrophytes internal transcribed spacer (ITS) genotype VII (TMVII) has emerged as the leading cause of inflammatory presentations of tinea pubogenitalis. Trichophyton indotineae is another emerging and difficult-to-treat organism that typically causes tinea cruris, tinea corporis, and tinea faciei, but cases of tinea pubogenitalis have also been reported. Rarer culprits of tinea pubogenitalis include other T mentagrophytes variants, Microsporum canis, and Epidermophyton floccosum.

Tinea pubogenitalis has been reported globally. Risk factors may include tropical climate, hygiene, bathing practices, history of steroid use, the use of fitness clubs, and genital shaving or waxing. Underlying immunosuppression, diabetes, or atopic dermatitis are further risk factors. While sexual transmission of T rubrum is exceedingly rare, sexual transmission is the leading cause of TMVII. Reports of TMVII include travelers who had contact with sex workers in Southeast Asia and cases among men who have sex with men (MSM), in particular in France, Germany, Italy, the United States, and probable cases in Austria. Cases of sexual transmission of T indotineae and the other causative species have also been reported.

Concomitant tinea cruris or tinea pedis is common with T rubrum infection and is thought to precede and predispose to tinea genitalis. Concomitant tinea cruris, tinea corporis (including tinea glutealis), tinea faciei, and tinea barbae may be seen with TMVII infection.