Superficial fungal infections. A practical guide for primary care physicians.

Clinicians who establish a proper diagnosis should have little difficulty managing dermatophyte infections. Diagnosis can be confirmed by direct microscopic examination with a potassium hydroxide preparation or by culture with the dermatophyte test medium. Safe, reliable antifungal therapy is available. Treatment will be more effective if antifungal therapy is not prescribed until fungal organisms have been identified and if topical steroids are not prescribed until fungal organisms have been excluded.