From the Guidelines
Tinea corporis should be treated with oral itraconazole, 100 mg, given orally once a day, for 15 days, as it has shown a superior mycological cure rate of 87% compared to other treatments. When considering treatment options for Tinea corporis, it is essential to prioritize the most effective and recent evidence-based approach. According to a study published in Pediatrics 1, oral agents such as itraconazole have proven efficacious in treating most cases of Tinea corporis. The study found that itraconazole, 100 mg, given orally once a day, was superior to griseofulvin, 500 mg, orally, once a day, with a mycological cure rate of 87% versus 57%, respectively, at the end of 2 weeks after completion of therapy. Some key points to consider when treating Tinea corporis include:
- Avoiding skin-to-skin contact with people known to have lesions, not sharing towels and other fomites, and limiting exposure to swimming pools that have recently been associated with known outbreaks, as suggested by the study 1.
- Keeping the affected area clean and dry to prevent reinfection.
- Washing bedding and clothes in hot water to prevent reinfection.
- Considering alternative treatments, such as terbinafine, which appears superior for T tonsurans, as mentioned in the study 1. It is crucial to note that the treatment approach may vary depending on the severity and extent of the infection, as well as the patient's overall health status. However, based on the most recent and highest-quality evidence, oral itraconazole, 100 mg, given orally once a day, for 15 days, is the recommended treatment for Tinea corporis.
From the FDA Drug Label
Uses • cures most athlete's foot (tinea pedis) • cures most jock itch (tinea cruris) and ringworm (tinea corporis) • relieves itching, burning, cracking and scaling which accompany these conditions DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION Sufficient Econazole Nitrate Cream, 1% should be applied to cover affected areas once daily in patients with tinea pedis, tinea cruris, tinea corporis, and tinea versicolor, and twice daily (morning and evening) in patients with cutaneous candidiasis Tinea corporis treatment options include:
- Terbinafine (TOP) which cures most ringworm (tinea corporis) 2
- Econazole (TOP) which can be applied once daily to affected areas for two weeks to treat tinea corporis 3
From the Research
Treatment Options for Tinea Corporis
- Oral terbinafine 250 mg/day is effective in the treatment of superficial dermatophyte infections, including tinea corporis, achieving mycological cure in > 80% of patients 4
- Topical terbinafine 1% formulations are effective when applied once or twice daily for up to 2 weeks, achieving mycological cure in > 80% of patients with tinea corporis 4
- Fluconazole 150 mg once weekly for 2-4 weeks is an efficacious and safe regimen in the treatment of tinea corporis 5
- Topical therapy is generally successful unless the infection covers an extensive area or is resistant to initial therapy, in which case systemic therapy may be required 6
Comparison of Treatment Regimens
- Oral terbinafine 250 mg daily and 500 mg daily have similar efficacy and safety profiles in the treatment of tinea corporis and cruris 7
- A 7-day once-daily course of terbinafine 1% cream is significantly more effective than placebo in achieving and maintaining mycological cure in tinea corporis/cruris 8
Duration of Treatment
- Tinea corporis and cruris infections are usually treated for two weeks 6
- Treatment should continue for at least one week after clinical clearing of infection 6
- A shorter treatment duration of 7 days with terbinafine 1% cream has been shown to be effective in achieving and maintaining mycological cure in tinea corporis/cruris 8