From the Guidelines
Tinea corporis is best treated with oral antifungal medications, specifically itraconazole 100 mg daily for 15 days, which has shown a superior mycological cure rate of 87% compared to other treatments. When considering treatment options, it is essential to prioritize morbidity, mortality, and quality of life as the primary outcomes. 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 daily for 15 days was superior to griseofulvin 500 mg daily for 15 days, with a mycological cure rate of 87% versus 57%, respectively.
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 1
- Keeping the affected area clean and dry, avoiding sharing personal items, and wearing loose-fitting clothing to reduce moisture and friction
- Considering the use of terbinafine, which appears superior for treating T tonsurans infections 1
- Continuing treatment for at least one week after symptoms resolve to prevent recurrence
It is crucial to note that the treatment of tinea corporis should be guided by the most recent and highest-quality evidence available, and itraconazole 100 mg daily for 15 days is the recommended treatment based on the available evidence 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
Representative treatment periods are tinea capitis, 4 to 6 weeks; tinea corporis, 2 to 4 weeks;
Treatment of tinea corporis can be achieved with:
- Terbinafine (TOP), as it cures most ringworm (tinea corporis) 2
- Griseofulvin (PO), with a treatment period of 2 to 4 weeks 3
From the Research
Treatment Options for Tinea Corporis
- Topical antifungals are the standard treatment for tinea corporis, with options including terbinafine 1% cream, which has been shown to be effective in achieving and maintaining mycological cure 4.
- Other topical antifungals, such as amorolfine 0.25% cream and clotrimazole 1% cream, have also been found to be effective and safe in the treatment of tinea corporis 5.
- Systemic antifungal treatment may be indicated for multiple, extensive, deep, recurrent, chronic, or unresponsive lesions, or for immunodeficient patients 6.
Efficacy of Antifungal Drugs
- A study comparing the efficacy of oral fluconazole, griseofulvin, itraconazole, and terbinafine in the treatment of tinea corporis found that itraconazole was the most effective, followed by fluconazole, terbinafine, and griseofulvin 7.
- Another study found that terbinafine and griseofulvin were effective in the treatment of tinea imbricata, a type of tinea corporis, with significant remission achieved in both groups 8.
Diagnosis and Treatment Considerations
- The diagnosis of tinea corporis is often clinical, but can be confirmed by microscopic examination of potassium hydroxide wet-mount preparations of skin scrapings or fungal culture 6.
- Physicians should be familiar with the clinical variants of tinea corporis and consider the use of dermoscopy as a non-invasive diagnostic tool 6.
- The choice of treatment depends on the extent of involvement, social situation, and availability of resources, such as laboratory testing and follow-up 8.