[Modern antimycotics. What the treating physician needs to know]

The treatment of dermatophytoses is a complex process influenced by the properties of the antimycotic and the causative agent as well as by patient-related factors. Both the minimal inhibition concentration and the drug concentration in the infected tissue influence treatment success. Dermatophytes can be present as arthrospores in the skin, nails or hair. Non-proliferating dermatophytes (arthrospores) are less susceptible to antimycotics than proliferating ones, particularly to antibiotics which act through the inhibition of fungal ergosterol synthesis. Non-proliferating dermatophytes do not synthesize ergosterol, a essential component of fugal cell membranes. Also, dermatophytes accumulating in hollow spaces mostly in the nail plate, cannot be reached by antimycotics. The concentration of terbinafine and itraconazole is very high in sebum. This is of importance in the treatment of dermatophytoses localized to in the stratum corneum and in or around the hair. Preadolescent children do not have functioning sebaceous glands; this explains the difficulties in the treatment of pediatric tinea capitis.