Chronic vegetating pyoderma is usually associated with staphylococci and streptococci. A case that started as a therapeutically resistant tinea of the hand caused by Trichophyton mentagrophytes is described. The vegetating skin lesion was associated with low immunoglobulin levels and impaired phagocytosis. It healed after long-term low-dose doxycycline, topical steroids and immunotherapy. An analogy between chronic vegetating pyoderma and recalcitrant tinea is discussed.