From the Guidelines
Tinea cruris is effectively treated with terbinafine 1% cream applied daily for 1 week, resulting in a mycological cure rate of approximately 94%. This treatment option is supported by a study published in Pediatrics in 2017 1. The study found that terbinafine 1% cream is a highly effective treatment for tinea cruris, with a high cure rate.
Key Treatment Options
- Terbinafine 1% cream applied daily for 1 week
- Butenafine applied twice daily for 2 weeks (only approved for adults)
- Clotrimazole applied twice weekly for 4 weeks
- Oral itraconazole (100 mg daily for 2 weeks or 200 mg daily for 1 week) for severe cases It is essential to note that the treatment should be applied to clean, dry skin, extending slightly beyond the rash, and continued for at least one week after symptoms resolve to prevent recurrence. Additionally, keeping the groin area clean and dry, wearing loose cotton underwear, and changing out of sweaty clothes promptly can help prevent recurrence. These treatments work by either killing the dermatophyte fungi directly or inhibiting their growth by disrupting cell membrane formation, preventing the infection from spreading, as seen in the study published in Pediatrics 1.
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 The treatment for tinea cruris (fungal infection of the groin), also known as jock itch, includes the use of terbinafine (TOP), which can cure most cases and relieve symptoms such as:
- Itching
- Burning
- Cracking
- Scaling 2
From the Research
Description of Tinea Cruris Rash
- Tinea cruris, also known as jock itch, is a fungal infection of the skin in the groin area 3.
- The rash is typically characterized by red, itchy, and scaly patches on the skin, and can be accompanied by symptoms such as burning, cracking, and flaking skin 4.
- The infection is usually caused by dermatophytes, a type of fungus that thrives in warm and moist environments 3.
Treatment of Tinea Cruris
- Topical antifungal treatments, such as terbinafine, naftifine, and clotrimazole, are commonly used to treat tinea cruris 3, 5.
- Oral antifungal medications, such as fluconazole, may also be prescribed in severe cases or when topical treatments are not effective 4.
- The choice of treatment depends on the severity of the infection, patient compliance, and medication accessibility and cost 5.
- Combinations of azoles with corticosteroids may be slightly more effective than azoles alone for clinical cure, but the quality of evidence is low 6.
Effectiveness of Treatments
- Terbinafine has been shown to have a statistically significant higher clinical cure rate compared to placebo 3, 6.
- Naftifine has also been shown to be effective in achieving mycological cure, but the quality of evidence is low 3, 6.
- Fluconazole has been shown to be an efficacious and safe regimen in the treatment of tinea corporis and cruris 4.
- Oral terbinafine 250 mg daily has been shown to have a poor cure rate in tinea cruris and corporis after 4 weeks of treatment, and an increased dose of 500 mg did not have any additional benefit 7.