Topical Antifungal Agents

Abstract

Superficial fungal infections are among the world’s most common diseases. A group of specialized fungi, the dermatophytes, are responsible for cutaneous mycoses such as tinea pedis (athlete's foot), tinea corporis (ringworm), and tinea cruris. Dermatophytes penetrate and parasitize the fully keratinized tissues of the body, i.e., the skin, hair, and nails; however, in immunocompetent hosts, they do not normally invade the subcutaneous or deeper tissues of the body. Yeasts also may cause cutaneous fungal infections e.g., cutaneous can-didiasis (Candida albicans) and Pityriasis versicolor (Malassezia furfur). Superficial fungal infections typically induce mild to severe symptoms, most commonly erythema, desquamation, and pruritus. In the more severe infections, maceration, vesicles, cracking, and Assuring may be present, accompanied by secondary bacterial invasion. A topical preparation is an appropriate treatment mode for most superficial fungal skin infections because the therapy is applied directly to the locus of infection, and because the major symptoms are susceptible to relief with a topical formulation.