Update in antifungal therapy of dermatophytosis

Treatment of dermatophyte infection involves primarily oral and/or topical formulations of azoles or allylamines, particularly itraconazole and terbinafine. Topical medications applied once or twice daily are the primary treatment indicated for tinea corporis/cruris, and tinea pedis/manuum. Use of oral antifungals may be practical where the tinea involvement is extensive or chronic, or where application of a topical is not feasible. For tinea unguium (onychomycosis) and tinea capitis, oral therapies are the primary treatments provided. Recently, topical amorolfine and ciclopirox formulations have been approved for use in milder onychomycosis cases, and their role in the treatment of the different clinical forms of onychomycosis is currently being defined. Relapse of infection remains a problem, particularly with tinea pedis/unguium. Appropriate follow-up duration and education of patients on proper foot hygiene are also important components in providing effective therapy.