From the Guidelines
For treating tinea pedis, I recommend starting with topical antifungal medications like ciclopirox olamine cream or gel (0.77%) applied twice daily to the affected areas for 4 weeks, as it has been shown to be effective in eradicating T pedis and superior to 1% clotrimazole cream or ciclopirox vehicle in achieving both clinical and mycological cure 1.
Treatment Options
- Topical antifungal medications like ciclopirox olamine cream or gel (0.77%) are effective in treating tinea pedis, with a clinical and mycological cure rate of approximately 60% at the end of treatment and 85% two weeks after treatment 1.
- Other options include clotrimazole (Lotrimin) and terbinafine (Lamisil), but ciclopirox olamine has been shown to be superior in some studies 1.
- For severe or resistant cases, oral antifungal medications like terbinafine or itraconazole may be necessary, but topical treatment should be tried first.
Prevention and Management
- Keeping feet clean and dry, wearing breathable footwear, changing socks daily, and using antifungal powder in shoes can help prevent recurrence of tinea pedis.
- Proper treatment is important as untreated infections can spread to other body areas or lead to secondary bacterial infections.
- Obesity and diabetes are additional risk factors for T pedis, and managing these conditions can help prevent the infection 1.
From the Research
Antifungal Treatment for Tinea Pedis
- Tinea pedis, also known as athlete's foot, is a common superficial fungal infection that can be treated with antifungal agents 2.
- Topical antifungal therapy is generally successful in treating tinea pedis, unless the infection covers an extensive area or is resistant to initial therapy 3.
- Oral antifungal therapy, such as terbinafine, can be effective in treating tinea pedis, especially in cases where topical therapy is not sufficient 4, 5.
Types of Antifungal Agents
- Allylamines, such as terbinafine, are a type of antifungal agent that can be used to treat tinea pedis 3, 5.
- Azoles, such as ketoconazole, are another type of antifungal agent that can be used to treat tinea pedis 3, 2.
- Other antifungal agents, such as benzylamine, ciclopirox, tolnaftate, and amorolfine, can also be used to treat tinea pedis 2.
Treatment Duration and Efficacy
- The duration of treatment for tinea pedis can vary depending on the severity of the infection and the type of antifungal agent used 3, 5.
- A study found that a 7-day course of oral terbinafine was effective in treating tinea pedis, with a cure rate of 98.5% for plantar type and 93.5% for interdigital type 4.
- Another study found that a 1-week course of oral terbinafine was as effective as a 4-week course of topical clotrimazole cream in treating interdigital tinea pedis 5.
- A novel two-step kit for topical treatment of tinea pedis was found to be effective, with a cure rate of 76% after the active stage and 70% after the preventive stage 6.