BACKGROUND: Tinea corporis and tinea cruris are usually treated with a topical antifungal agent unless the infection is unresponsive, involves an extensive area, is chronic, or is in a difficult-to-access area. In these cases oral antifungals are frequently used. OBJECTIVE: This double-blind study was undertaken to determine whether a 2-week course of oral itraconazole would produce statistically significant clinical and mycologic improvement in the treatment of tinea corporis, tinea cruris, or both, over the results obtained with placebo. A second objective was to determine the safety of itraconazole, through routine measurements of serum chemistry profiles. METHODS: Sixty-seven patients were entered into a double-blind, multicenter study to compare the clinical and mycologic effects of itraconazole, 100 mg daily (45 patients), and placebo (22 patients) on tinea corporis and/or tinea cruris. The duration of treatment was 2 weeks. The investigators assessed signs and symptoms and performed a potassium hydroxide examination and culture at baseline, at termination of therapy, and 2 weeks after completion of treatment. RESULTS: Twenty-two (96%) of 23 evaluable patients in the itraconazole group had healed or markedly improved lesions, as compared with 5 of 13 (39%) in the placebo group (p < or = 0.01). Similarly, the condition in 13 of 23 patients (57%) in the itraconazole group was mycologically cleared at the end of treatment whereas this result occurred in only 2 (17%) of 12 patients in the placebo group (p = 0.02). The prevalence of adverse side effects was lower for the itraconazole-treated group (20%) than for the placebo-treated group (36%). CONCLUSION: Itraconazole 100 mg once daily is an effective agent for the treatment of tinea cruris and tinea corporis.

Double-Blind Method↗

PubMed1994

Oxiconazole nitrate lotion, 1 percent: an effective treatment for tinea pedis.

Four hundred and ten subjects were enrolled in a randomized, double-blind, parallel vehicle-controlled study to confirm the effectiveness and safety of topically applied oxiconazole nitrate (Oxistat) lotion, 1 percent, used once or twice daily in the treatment of tinea pedis.

Administration, Cutaneous↗

PubMed1994

Basal cell carcinoma: when to treat it yourself, and when to refer.

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common skin cancer and frequently affects older adults. Most BCCs are seen on the sun-exposed skin of light-skinned individuals. Because early diagnosis reduces morbidity and the expense of treatment, it is essential that you are able to recognize these lesions. Their various clinical presentations determine the proper treatments, some of which may be carried out in your office and others which require referral. Several effective surgical and nonsurgical modalities are available. Selecting the best method is based on such factors as the type, size, and anatomic location of the lesion; cost of treatment; and your familiarity with the treatment.

Basal Cell Carcinoma↗

PubMed1994

Cosmetic procedures we all perform.

Dermatologic surgery has always been an integral part of dermatology. Over the past two decades, the scope of dermatologic surgery has greatly expanded to include procedures more traditionally thought of as cosmetic surgery, such as hair transplantation, liposuction, sclerotherapy, or soft tissue augmentation (Zyderm, Zyplast, Fibrel). Also, many dermatologic surgeons are expertly trained to reconstruct large surgical defects with flaps and skin grafts. Although these complex procedures are becoming synonymous with dermatologic surgery, procedures such as "simple" excision, electrosurgery, cryosurgery, curettage, or scissors surgery remain extremely important. These basic procedures are utilized daily in the office to treat a wide variety of skin lesions that may have a cosmetic or reconstructive aspect to them.

Cryosurgery↗

PubMed1991

Topical steroids: a guide for use in the elderly patient.

Topical steroids are indicated for the treatment of a number of skin disorders affecting the elderly, including several forms of dermatitis and psoriasis. Proper selection of a topical steroid is based on several factors, including the disorder and anatomical site being treated, the potency, dosage form, and application technique of the steroid, potential side effects, and the presence of coexisting factors such as infection and preexisting atrophy. This review outlines guidelines for the safe, efficacious selection and administration of these commonly prescribed agents in the elderly patient.

Administration, Topical↗

PubMed1990

Tinea versicolor. A practical guide for primary care physicians.

The characteristic pigmentary changes in tinea versicolor are easy to distinguish from dermatophyte infections of the skin. When specific identification is needed, the diagnosis can be confirmed microscopically with a potassium hydroxide preparation or Polysciences Multiple Stain. Tinea versicolor responds readily to topical therapy or oral ketoconazole, but recurrences are common.

Administration, Oral↗