From the Guidelines
The treatment of tinea corporis, a fungal infection of the skin, typically involves the use of topical or oral antifungal medications.
Topical Treatment
For mild cases, topical agents such as terbinafine 1% cream or clotrimazole 1% cream are applied twice daily for 2-4 weeks 1.
- Terbinafine 1% cream has been shown to be effective in treating tinea corporis, with a mycological cure rate of approximately 94% when applied daily for 1 week 1.
- Clotrimazole 1% cream is also an effective treatment option, although the exact duration of treatment may vary.
Oral Treatment
For more severe cases, oral antifungals like itraconazole 100mg daily for 15 days may be prescribed, which has been shown to be superior to griseofulvin 500mg daily for 15 days with a mycological cure rate of 87% versus 57%, respectively 1.
- Itraconazole is a commonly used oral antifungal for the treatment of tinea corporis, and its efficacy has been demonstrated in several studies 1.
Additional Recommendations
In addition to medication, keeping the affected area clean and dry is also recommended to promote healing and prevent recurrence.
- 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 are also important preventive measures 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 Clinical relapse will occur if the medication is not continued until the infecting organism is eradicated. 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 Prior to therapy, a dermatophyte should be identified as responsible for the infection Prior to initiating treatment, appropriate specimens for laboratory testing (KOH preparation, fungal culture, or nail biopsy) should be obtained to confirm the diagnosis
The treatment of tinea corporis with griseofulvin is:
- Duration of treatment: 2 to 4 weeks
- Adult dosage: 0.5 g daily
- Pediatric dosage: 10 mg/kg daily
- Key considerations:
- Accurate diagnosis of the infecting organism is essential
- Treatment should be continued until the infecting organism is completely eradicated
- Concomitant use of appropriate topical agents is usually required 2
- Griseofulvin is indicated for the treatment of dermatophyte infections of the skin not adequately treated by topical therapy 2
From the Research
Treatment Options for Tinea Corporis
- Topical antifungal agents are the primary treatment for tinea corporis, with options including azoles, allylamines, and oxaboroles 3
- Treatment duration for tinea corporis is typically 2 weeks, with some cases requiring longer treatment 4
- 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
Antifungal Agents Used to Treat Tinea Corporis
- Terbinafine, an allylamine, has been shown to be effective in treating tinea corporis, with significantly higher clinical cure rates compared to placebo 5
- Naftifine, an allylamine, has also been shown to be effective in achieving mycological and clinical cure in tinea corporis 5
- Clotrimazole, an azole, has been shown to be effective in achieving mycological cure in tinea corporis 5
- Fluconazole, an azole, has been used to treat tinea corporis, with once weekly doses of 150 mg showing efficacy and safety in a non-comparative study 6
Considerations for Treatment
- The presence of inflammation may necessitate the use of an agent with inherent anti-inflammatory properties or the use of a combination antifungal/steroid agent 4
- Treatment should continue for at least one week after clinical clearing of infection 4
- Newer medications may require fewer applications and a shorter duration of use 4