Efficacy of topical griseofulvin in treatment of tinea corporis.

Tinea infections are among the most common dermatological conditions throughout the world. Griseofulvin is a classical oral fungistatic antibiotic, active against Epidermophyton floccosum, Trichophyton and Microsporum species, the causative fungi of tinea corporis. To evaluate the efficacy of topical griseofulvin in the treatment of tinea circinata using three different vehicles for drug delivery. Sixteen patients with tinea circinata were instructed to apply either griseofulvin gel form in group A or a similar placebo gel for control group; a niosomal gel formulation of griseofulvin for group B or; a liposomal gel formulation of griseofulvin for group C. Patients were evaluated both clinically and mycologically after 3 weeks. Marked improvement was seen for groups A, B and C both clinically and mycologically while no improvement was observed in the placebo group. Mild and transient irritation was reported in four patients. Our results show that topical griseofulvin preparations may be effective and safe in treating tinea circinata and that further large-scale studies may establish the high efficacy of the niosomal gel formulation.