From the Guidelines
The recommended treatment for tinea corporis is 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 1. When treating tinea corporis, it is essential to consider the causative agent, as different fungi may respond better to specific antifungal medications.
- For cases caused by Trichophyton tonsurans, terbinafine appears to be a superior option 1.
- In addition to oral antifungals, preventive measures such as 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 can help control the spread of the infection 1. Some key considerations when treating tinea corporis include:
- The importance of completing the full treatment course, even after symptoms have resolved, to prevent recurrence.
- Keeping the affected area clean and dry to promote healing and prevent the spread of the infection.
- Avoiding sharing personal items and washing clothes, bedding, and towels in hot water to prevent reinfection or spreading the infection to others. It is crucial to note that the treatment of tinea corporis should be guided by the most recent and highest-quality evidence, and oral itraconazole, 100 mg, given orally once a day, for 15 days, is currently the recommended treatment based on the available evidence 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION ... Representative treatment periods are ... tinea corporis, 2 to 4 weeks; Adults: 0. 5 g daily (125 mg four times a day, 250 mg twice a day, or 500 mg/day). Pediatric patients (older than 2 years): A dosage of 10 mg/kg daily is usually adequate INDICATIONS AND USAGE Griseofulvin oral suspension, USP is indicated for the treatment of dermatophyte infections of the skin not adequately treated by topical therapy, hair and nails, namely: Tinea corporis
The recommended treatment for tinea corporis is griseofulvin (PO), with a treatment period of 2 to 4 weeks. The dosage for adults is 0.5 g daily, and for pediatric patients older than 2 years, it is 10 mg/kg daily 2 2.
From the Research
Treatment Options for Tinea Corporis
- The standard treatment of tinea corporis is with topical antifungals 3
- Systemic antifungal treatment is indicated if the lesion is multiple, extensive, deep, recurrent, chronic, or unresponsive to topical antifungal treatment, or if the patient is immunodeficient 3
- 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 4
Topical Antifungal Treatments
- A wide range of topical antifungal drugs are used to treat tinea corporis, including azoles, allylamines, and benzylamines 5
- Terbinafine and naftifine have been shown to be effective in achieving clinical and mycological cure 5
- Clotrimazole has also been shown to be effective in achieving mycological cure 5
- Azoles, allylamines, and benzylamines have similar cure rates, but most comparisons were evaluated in single studies 5
Duration of Treatment
- Treatment duration varies from one week to two months, but in most studies this is two to four weeks 5
- Tinea corporis and cruris infections are usually treated for two weeks, while tinea pedis is treated for four weeks with an azole or for one to two weeks with allylamine medication 4
- Treatment should continue for at least one week after clinical clearing of infection 4