Dermatophytosis : Dermatophytosis (tinea) infections are fungal infections caused by dermatophytes - a group of fungi that invade and grow in dead keratin. Several species commonly invade human keratin and these belong to the Epidermophyton, Microsporum and Trichophyton genera. They tend to grow outwards on skin producing a ring-like pattern - hence the term 'ringworm'. They are very common and affect different parts of the body. They can usually be successfully treated but success depends on the site of infection and on compliance with treatment.
Treatment
Ringworm infection can affect the scalp (tinea capitis), body (tinea corporis), groin (tinea cruris), hand (tinea manuum), foot (tinea pedis, athlete’s foot), or nail (tinea unguium). Scalp infection requires systemic treatment additional topical application of an antifungal may reduce the risk of transmission. Most other local ringworm infections can be treated adequately with topical antifungal preparations The imidazole antifungals clotrimazole, econazole, ketoconazole, miconazole, and sulconazole are all effective. Terbinafine cream is also effective but it is more expensive. Other topical antifungals include amorolfine, griseofulvin, and the undecenoates. Compound benzoic acid ointment (Whitfield’s ointment) has been used for ringworm infections but it is cosmetically less acceptable than proprietary preparations. Topical preparations for athlete’s foot containing tolnaftate are on sale to the public.
Antifungal dusting powders are of little therapeutic value in the treatment of fungal skin infections and may cause skin irritation; they may have some role in preventing re-infection.
Tinea infection of the nail is almost always treated systemically topical application of amorolfine or tioconazole may be effective for treating early onychomycosis when involvement is limited to mild distal disease in up to 2 nails