BİLAL DOĞAN, NEBAHAT DEMET AKPOLAT, ZEKAYİ KUTLUBAY
Journal of the Turkish Academy of Dermatology - 2023;17(4):83-86
Fungal infections are divided into two groups according to location: superficial and deep fungal infections. Superficial fungal infections (SFI) of the skin are mainly caused by dermatophytes from the genera “Microsporum, Trichophyton and Epidermophyton”. Dermatophytoses are common skin diseases and affect 25% of the global population. The type of treatment firstly depends on the severity of the infection. The location of the disease also influences the type of treatment. Topical treatment is mostly enough for tinea corporis, pedis and inguinalis. Especially in immunocompromised patients and in the presence of tinea capitis, tinea unguium, oral treatment should be started. Besides, if the infestation is extensive and/or topical treatment is unsuccessful, oral treatment should again be considered. Oral terbinafine seems as the first step in the treatment of SFI because it has lower potential drug interactions, provides more mycological cure, and has fewer side effects compared to itraconazole treatment.
