A randomized trial to assess once-daily topical treatment of tinea corporis with butenafine, a new antifungal agent.

BACKGROUND

Tinea corporis treatment usually requires topical application of an antifungal agent for 2 to 3 weeks.

OBJECTIVE

We evaluated short-term treatment of tinea corporis with butenafine hydrochloride, a new benzylamine with in vitro fungicidal activity.

METHODS

Patients (n = 78) were randomly selected to apply butenafine or its cream vehicle alone once daily for 14 days and were periodically assessed until day 42.

RESULTS

Butenafine recipients had significantly higher rates of mycologic cure beginning at day 7 (64% vs 9%) with continued improvements through day 42 (88% vs 17%). They also had higher rates of effective treatment (mycologic cure and 90% to 100% symptom improvement) at day 7 (33% vs 0%) with increasing rates through day 42 (81% vs 14%).

CONCLUSION

Butenafine provides rapid and persistent antifungal activity and symptom relief in patients with tinea corporis. Significant effects were observed within 7 days of therapy initiation, and increasing effectiveness was observed 4 weeks after therapy.