Pityriasis versicolor: efficacy of two five-day regimens of itraconazole.

An open, comparative trial of two brief regimens of itraconazole for pityriasis versicolor was carried out. Twenty-four patients received 100 mg twice a day for five days, and 23 received 100 mg once a day for five days. Patients were enrolled in the study on the basis of the presence of clinical symptoms and positive findings on direct microscopic examination. Tolerance to the drug and mycologic and clinical outcome were assessed on days 6, 14, and 28 after the initiation of treatment. For 23 patients in each group, skin samples were negative for fungi by day 18. Clinical improvement was slow; first scaling disappeared and then erythema and inflammation. Dyschromia persisted during the observation period. Six patients had adverse reactions to treatment; none discontinued treatment.