Tinea Unguium, Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment

Tinea unguium/Onychomycosis is the most common nail infective disorder, and it is responsible for about 50% of all consultations for nail disorders. Onychomycosis has been reported as a gender- and age-related disease, being more prevalent in males and increases with age in both genders []. In the elderly, onychomycosis may have an incidence of>40% []. Predisposing factors are diabetes mellitus, peripheral arterial disease, immunosuppression due to HIV or immunosuppressive agents [].

Onychomycosis, also known as tinea unguium, is a fungal infection of the nail.[rx] Symptoms may include white or yellow nail discoloration, thickening of the nail, and separation of the nail from the nail bed.[rx][rx] Toenails or fingernails may be affected, but it is more common for toenails to be affected.[rx] Complications may include cellulitis of the lower leg.[rx] A number of different types of fungus can cause onychomycosis including dermatophytes and Fusarium.[rx] Risk factors include athlete’s foot, other nail diseases, exposure to someone with the condition, peripheral vascular disease, and poor immune function.[rx] The diagnosis is generally suspected based on the appearance and confirmed by laboratory testing.[rx]

Types of Onychomycosis[rx]

  • Distal subungual onychomycosis – is the most common form of tinea unguium[rx] and is usually caused by Trichophyton rubrum, which invades the nail bed and the underside of the nail plate.
  • White superficial onychomycosis – (WSO) is caused by fungal invasion of the superficial layers of the nail plate to form white islands on the plate. It accounts for around 10 percent of onychomycosis cases. In some cases, WSO is a misdiagnosis of keratin granulations which are not a fungus, but a reaction to nail polish that can cause the nails to have a chalky white appearance. A laboratory test should be performed to confirm.[rx]
  • Proximal subungual onychomycosis –  is fungal penetration of the newly formed nail plate through the proximal nail fold. It is the least common form of tinea unguium in healthy people but is found more commonly when the patient is immunocompromised.[rx]
  • Candidal onychomycosis  – is Candida species invasion of the fingernails, usually occurring in persons who frequently immerse their hands in water. This normally requires the prior damage of the nail by infection or trauma.

Causes of Onychomycosis

Onychomycosis

  • Fungi thrive in moist, warm areas, such as locker rooms, tanning beds, swimming pools, and skin folds; accordingly, those that cause dermatophytosis may be spread by using exercise machines that have not been disinfected after use, or by sharing towels, clothing, or footwear, such as rental bowling shoes, ski boots, ice skates or roller skates.
  • Opportunistic infections (infections that are caused by a diminished immune system) are frequent. The fungus from an athlete’s foot infection can spread to the groin through clothing. Tight, restrictive clothing, such as jockstraps, traps heat and moisture, providing an ideal environment for the fungus.[rx]

Innate Immune Response

  • Dermatophytes contain cell wall carbohydrate molecules (β-glucan) that are recognized by innate immune mechanisms, such as Dectin-1 and Dectin-2, which activate toll-like receptor 2 and 4 (TLR-2 and TLR-4). Dectin-1 amplifies the production of tumor necrosis factor-α and IL-17, IL-6, and IL-10, all of which stimulate adaptive immunity.[,]
  • Keratinocytes in the presence of dermatophyte antigens, such as trichophytin, release IL-8, a potent neutrophilic chemo-attractant. A recent study shows the involvement of TLR-2 and TLR-4 in localized and disseminated dermatophytosis due to T. rubrum. Reduced expression of TLR-4 in the lower and upper epidermis of both localized and disseminated dermatophytosis patients was found compared to controls; TLR-2 expression was preserved in the upper and lower epidermis of all three groups.[,]

Adaptive Immune response

  • Humoral immunity –  Humoral immunity to dermatophytes is not protective. High levels of specific IgE and IgG4 are detected in patients with chronic dermatophytosis which is responsible for positive (IgE mediated) IH tests to Trichophyton. On the other hand, Ig levels are low in patients that present positive delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) skin test. The IH skin test for Trichophyton is associated with the presence of serum IgE and IgG (mostly IgG4) against Trichophyton antigens, hallmarks of a Th2 response. Here, IL-4 produced by CD4 T-cells (Th2 cells) induces antibody isotype switching to IgG4 and IgE
  • Cell-mediated immunity – Several experiments have shown that the resolution of dermatophytosis is mediated by DTH. Immunity to pathogens could be regulated by Th1 or Th2 subsets which would ultimately determine the outcome of the infection. An acute inflammatory response correlates with a positive DTH skin test to trichophytin and clearing of the infection whereas chronic infection is associated with high IH and low DTH.[]

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Possible risk factors associated with foot mycosis based on the questionnaire.

Risk factors Patients with foot mycosis p-value
Number %
Chronic diseases
 Diabetes history
  Present 41 11.8 0.815
  Absent 305 88.1
 Peripheral vascular disease
  Present 76 21.9 0.293
  Absent 270 78.03
 Immunosuppressive drugs
  Present 19 5.4 0.018
  Absent 327 94.5
Skin disorders
 Psoriasis
  Present 6 1.7 0,368
  Absent 340 98.2
 Fungal infection of the skin
  Present 7 2.02 0,330
  Absent 339 97.9
 Dermatological pathology
  Present 11 3.1 0.220
  Absent 335 96.8
 Associated fingernails onychomycosis
  Present 26 7.5 0.010
  Absent 320 92.4
Lifestyle
 Family history of foot mycosis
  Present 99 28.6 0.244
  Absent 247 71.3
 Ritual washing
  Present 196 56.6 0.410
  Absent 150 43.3
 Physical activities
  Present 51 14.7 0.049
  Absent 295 85.2
 Wearing used shoes
  Present 91 26.3 0.001
  Absent 255 73.6
 Occlusive shoes
  Present 46 13.2 0,008
  Absent 300 86.8
 Nail trauma
  Present 92 26.5 0.019
  Absent 254 73.4
 Swimming pools
  Present 28 8.09 0,045
  Absent 318 91.9
 Communal shower
  Present 175 50.5 0.631
  Absent 171 49.4
 Smoking
  Present 13 3.7 0,181
  Absent 333 96.2
 Obesity
  Present 8 2.3 0.297
  Absent 338 97.6
 Walking barefoot
  Present 34 9.82 0,524
  Absent 312 90.1
 Thermal station
  Present 29 8.3 0.021
  Absent 317 91.6
 Pedicure
  Present 49 14.1 0,006
  Absent 297 85.9
 Application of henna
  Present 6 1.73 0.832
  Absent 340 98.2
 Antifungal therapy
  Present 89 25.7 0.013
  Absent 257 74.2

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Symptoms of

Onychomycosis

Specific signs can be

  • Red, scaly, itchy or raised patches
  • Patches may be redder on outside edges or resemble a ring
  • Patches that begin to ooze or develop a blister
  • Bald patches may develop when the scalp is affected
  • Nails may thicken, discolor or begin to crack[10]
  • Cracking and peeling skin on your feet, most commonly between your toes and on your soles
  • Dry skin on your soles or sides of your feet
  • Raw skin on your feet
  • Discolored, thick, and crumbly toenails
  • Toenails that pull away from the nail bed
  • Itchy erosions and/or scales between the toes, especially between 4th and 5th toes
  • Scale covering the sole and sides of the feet (hyperkeratotic/moccasin type, usually caused by T. rubrum)
  • mall to medium-sized blisters, usually affecting the inner aspect of the foot (vesiculobullous type).
  • It can also uncommonly cause oozing and ulceration between the toes (ulcerative type), or pustules (these are more common in tinea pedis due to T. interdigitale than that due to T. rubrum).

Diagnosis of Onychomycosis

Laboratory investigations

For a laboratory to provide optimal results, quantity and quality of material examined is critical. Scraping should be collected from the active margin and transported in a sterilized black chart paper which keeps the specimen dry thus, preventing overgrowth of bacteria contaminants. Following are the various laboratory tests that can be used for confirming a diagnosis of dermatophytosis.

  • Direct microscopic examination – [] Treatment of skin specimen with 10–20% potassium hydroxide (KOH) is a quick and inexpensive bedside tool to provide evidence of dermatophyte infection. Positive scrapings are characterized by the presence of refractile, long, smooth, undulating, branching, and septate hyphal filaments with or without arthroconidiospores. False negative results are seen in 15% of cases. Fluorescent staining with optical brighteners (diaminostilbene) is the most sensitive method to microscopically detect fungi in skin scales as well as in specimens from nails and hair.[] These substances bind to chitin, the main cell wall component of fungi
  • Culture and antifungal sensitivity – [] Sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA, 4% peptone, 1% glucose, agar, water) is the most commonly used isolation media for dermatophytosis and serves as the medium on which most morphologic descriptions are based. Development of the colony takes 7–14 days. Modified SDA, with the addition of gentamicin, chloramphenicol, and cycloheximide is more selective for dermatophytes as chloramphenicol inhibits the growth of saprophytic fungus. Dermatophyte test medium is an alternative to isolation media that contain pH indicator phenol red. It is incubated at room temperature for 5–14 days. Dermatophytes utilize the protein resulting in excess ammonium ion and alkaline environment which turn the medium from yellow to bright red.

Antifungal Susceptibility Testing

  • Microdilution method – The broth microdilution assay for antifungal susceptibility testing of dermatophytes has been previously developed as a modification of the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute M38-A2 standard method. The final concentrations of terbinafine and itraconazole used is 0.06–32.0 μg/ml and for fluconazole, 0.13–64.0 μg/ml.[] A standardized inoculum is prepared by counting the microconidia microscopically. Cultures are grown on SDA slants for 7 days at 35°C to produce conidia.
  • Sterile normal saline (85%) –  is added to the agar slant, and the cultures are gently swabbed with a cotton-tipped applicator to dislodge the conidia from the hyphal mat. The suspension is transferred to a sterile centrifuge tube, and the volume is adjusted to 5 ml with sterile normal saline. The resulting suspension is counted on a hemacytometer and is diluted in RPMI 1640 medium to the desired concentration. Microdilution plates are set up in accordance with the reference method. The microdilution plates are incubated at 35°C and read visually after 4 days of incubation. The minimum inhibitory concentration is defined as the concentration at which the growth of the organism will be inhibited by 80% compared with the growth in the control well
  • Minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) determination – For determination of the MFC, 100-μl aliquots are removed from the assay wells showing no visible growth at the end of incubation and streaked onto SDA plates. The plates are incubated at 30°C for 7 days. The MFC is defined as the lowest drug concentration at which no visible fungal growth or colonies developed
  • Dermatophyte identification – This can be based on colony characteristics, microscopic morphology, and physiologic tests. Dermatophytes can be distinguished based upon their morphology of the macroconidia. Few physiological tests are available which help in confirmation of certain species. In addition, special amino acid and vitamin requirements can differentiate Trichophyton species from others. Ability to hydrolyze urea differentiates T. mentagrophytes (urease positive) from T. rubrum(urease negative).

Histopathology

  • Histology may be used in the diagnosis of Majocchi’s granuloma in which KOH examination of scale on the surface may more often be negative.
  • When present, hyphae may be appreciated in stratum corneum on hematoxylin and eosin staining. Special stains most commonly used are periodic acid-Schiff and Gomori methenamine silver which helps to highlight hyphae.

Dermoscopy

  • The comma hairs, which are slightly curved, fractured hair shafts, and corkscrew hair shave been described as the dermoscopic marker of tinea capitis. Broken and dystrophic hairs are also seen. However, in tinea corporis, the involvement of vellus hair as seen on dermoscopy is an indicator of systemic therapy.[]

Polymerase chain reaction and nucleic acid sequence based amplification

These tests not only help in the rapid and early diagnosis of infection but also help in determining drug resistance,[] and include:

  • Uniplex PCR for direct dermatophyte detection in clinical samples: A PCR for the direct detection of dermatophytes in skin scales is available as in-house PCR-ELISA assay which separately identifies numerous dermatophyte species. In a pilot study, the sensitivity and specificity of the test compared to cultures was 80.1% and 80.6%

  • Multiplex PCR for fungal detection in dermatophytes: Commercially available multiplex PCR tests enable simultaneous amplification of 21 dermatomycotic pathogens with subsequent DNA detection by means of agarose gel electrophoresis.

New molecular methods like matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry

  • It is based on the detection of biochemical characteristics, proteolytic degradation product which is a result of the activity of mycological infections or noninfectious diseases. These are represented by proteolytic degradation products of native proteins.
  • The peptide patterns of affected samples are identified by comparison with known peptide spectra from skin disorders stored in an already existing database. This procedure is immensely time-saving, as it enables simultaneous identification of up to 64 dermatophyte strains, with results coming back within 24 h.[]

Reflectance confocal microscopy

  • It provides in vivo imaging of the epidermis and superficial dermis at cellular level resolution and can be used to detect cutaneous fungi and parasitic infestations.[] Branching fungal hyphae can be detected over an erythematous annular scaly patch. Advantage of the test is noninvasive and in a retrospective analysis of the test by Friedman et al. sensitivity was found to be 100%.

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Differential Diagnosis of Tinea Infections

DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS DISTINGUISHING FEATURES

Tinea corporis (annular lesions with well-defined, scaly, often reddish margins; commonly pruritic)

Annular psoriasis

Gray or silver scale; nail pitting; 70% of affected children have family history of psoriasis[rx]

Atopic dermatitis

Personal or family history of atopy; less likely to have active border with central clearing; lesions may be lichenified

Erythema multiforme

Target lesions; acute onset; no scale; may have oral lesions

Fixed drug eruption

Dusky; erythematous; usually single, nonscaly lesion; most often triggered by sulfa, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or antibiotic use

Granuloma annulare

No scale, vesicles, or pustules; nonpruritic; smooth; commonly on the dorsum of hands or feet

The lupus erythematosus (subacute cutaneous)

Sun-exposed areas; multiple annular lesions; female-to-male ratio 3:13

Nummular eczema

More confluent scale; less likely to have a central clearing

Pityriasis rosea herald patch

Typically an adolescent with a single lesion on the neck, trunk, or proximal extremity; pruritus of herald patch is less common; progression to generalized rash in one to three weeks

Seborrheic dermatitis

The greasy scale on erythematous base with the typical distribution involving nasolabial folds, hairline, eyebrows, postauricular folds, chest; annular lesions less common

Tinea cruris (usually occurs in male adolescents and young men; spares scrotum and penis)

Candidal intertrigo

Involves scrotum; satellite lesions; uniformly red without central clearing

Erythrasma

Red-brown; no active border; coral red fluorescence with a Wood lamp examination

Inverse psoriasis

Red and sharply demarcated; may have other signs of psoriasis such as nail pitting

Seborrheic dermatitis

The greasy scale on erythematous base with the typical distribution involving nasolabial folds, hairline, eyebrows, postauricular folds, chest; annular lesions less common

Tinea pedis (rare in prepubertal children; erythema, scale, fissures, maceration; itching between toes extending to sole, borders, and occasionally dorsum of foot; may be accompanied by tinea manuum [“one-hand, two-feet” involvement] or onychomycosis)

Contact dermatitis

Distribution may match footwear; usually spares interdigital skin

Dyshidrotic eczema

“Tapioca pudding” vesicles on lateral aspects of digits; often involves hands

Foot eczema

May have atopic history; usually spares interdigital skin

Juvenile plantar dermatosis

Shiny taut skin involving great toe, ball of the foot, and heel; usually spares interdigital skin

Psoriasis

Involvement of other sites; gray or silver scale; nail pitting; 70% of affected children have a family history of psoriasis[rx]

Tinea capitis (one or more patches of alopecia, scale, erythema, pustules, tenderness, pruritus, with cervical and suboccipital lymphadenopathy; most common in children of African heritage)

Alopecia areata

Discrete patches of hair loss with no epidermal changes (i.e., no scale); total loss of hair or fine miniature hair growth; exclamation point hairs; no crusting; no inflammation; possible nail pitting

Atopic dermatitis

Personal history or family history of atopy; less often annular; lymphadenopathy uncommon; alopecia less common

Bacterial scalp abscess

Alopecia less likely; hair pluck is painful

Psoriasis

Gray or silver scale; nail pitting; 70% of affected children have a family history of psoriasis[rx]; involvement of other sites

Seborrheic dermatitis

Alopecia uncommon; lymphadenopathy uncommon; greasy scale; typical distribution involving nasolabial folds, hairline, eyebrows, postauricular folds, chest

Trichotillomania

No scale; commonly involves eyelashes and eyebrows; hairs of varying lengths

Onychomycosis (discolored [white, yellow, brown], thickened nail with subungual keratinous debris and possible nail detachment; often starting with great toe but can involve any nail)

Other nail dystrophies, most commonly associated with repeated low-grade trauma, psoriasis, or lichen planus

Appearance can be indistinguishable from onychomycosis; may have other manifestations of an alternate diagnosis

Information from references [rx] and [rx].

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Treatment of Onychomycosis

Non-pharmacological

Non-pharmacological treatment focuses on educating patients about the predisposing factors, and the chronic nature of the disease. Also, measures that are aimed at eliminating the moisture that provides the environment for infection and its recurrence should be discussed fully with the patients. Instructions about wearing open-toed shoes and avoiding skin maceration are essential.

Some of the prescription medications your doctor may prescribe for athlete’s foot include:

  • Topical, prescription-strength clotrimazole or miconazole
  • Oral antifungal medications such as itraconazole (Sporanox), fluconazole (Diflucan), or prescription-strength terbinafine (Lamisil)
  • Topical steroid medications to reduce painful inflammation
  • Oral antibiotics if bacterial infections develop due to raw skin and blisters

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List of Oral Antifungal Therapies, Their Dosages, and Their Possible Side Effects

DRUG DOSE SIDE EFFECTS
1. Griseofulvin* 375–500 mg qd 3–6 months Nausea, Hepatotoxic, Photosensitivity, Headache, Leukopenia+, Neutropenia+
2. Azoles
 A. Ketoconazole** 200–400 mg qd 6–8 weeks Hepatotoxic, Hepatitis Idiosyncratic rxn, Nausea, Vomiting, Diarrhea
 B. Itraconazole 100 mg qd 2–4 weeks Abdominal pain, Increased transaminases
400 mg qd 1 week
 C. Fluconazole 50 mg qd 6 weeks Hepatotoxic+, Anaphylaxis
100 mg qd 8 weeks
150 mg q week 6 weeks
3. Allylamines
 A. Terbinafine 125 mg qd 8 weeks Headache, Rash, Cholestatic hepatitis, Blood dyscrasia Steven-Johnson Syndrome
250 mg qd 2–6 weeks

* Contraindicated in pregnancy ** Contraindicated in nursing women, + Rare side effect

Treatment of Tinea Capitis and Tinea Unguium

COMMON TREATMENT OPTIONS ROUTE DOSAGE FORMS STANDARD DOSAGE ESTIMATED DRUG COST[rx] U.S. FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION APPROVAL? LABORATORY MONITORING CURE RATES† DURATION OF TREATMENT

Tinea capitis
Griseofulvin[rx]
Oral
Suspension: 125 mg per 5 mL
Tablets (scored): 125 mg, 250 mg
Microsize (Grifulvin V suspension): 20 to 25 mg per kg per day; single daily dose or two divided doses (maximum: 1 g per day)
Ultramicrosize (Gris-Peg tablets): 10 to 15 mg per kg per day; single daily dose or two divided doses (maximum: 750 mg per day)
Microsize: $44 ($165) for 300 mL of 125-mg-per-5-mL solution
Ultramicrosize: $263 ($430) for 60 250-mg tablets
Yes, for children older than two years
No baseline testing in absence of liver disease
If required for longer than eight weeks, ALT, AST, bilirubin, and creatinine measurements and CBC every eight weeks2,17
92%18
Six to 12 weeks (continue for two weeks after symptoms and signs have resolved)2
Terbinafine (Lamisil)[rx]
Oral
Tablets: 250 mg
Granule packets: 125 mg, 187.5 mg
< 25 kg (55 lb): 125 mg once daily
25 to 35 kg (55 lb to 78 lb): 187.5 mg once daily
> 35 kg (78 lb): 250 mg once daily
Tablets: $4 ($660) for 30 250-mg tablets
Granules more expensive
Yes, for persons four years and older
Baseline ALT and AST measurement
CBC at six weeks for courses lasting longer than six weeks
94%18
Six weeks; longer for Microsporuminfections
Assume Trichophytonunless culture reveals Microsporum
Fluconazole (Diflucan)[rx]
Oral
Tablets: 50 mg, 100 mg, 150 mg, 200 mg
Suspension: 10 mg per mL, 40 mg per mL
Daily dosing: 6 mg per kg per day for three to six weeks
or
Weekly dosing: 6 mg per kg once weekly
Tablets: $100 for 30 150-mg tablets ($1,185 for 90 50-mg tablets)
Suspension: $33 ($290) for 35 mL of 40-mg-per-mL suspension
Not for this indication
Approved for children older than six months for other indications
Baseline ALT, AST, and creatinine measurement and CBC
84%18
Three to six weeks for daily dosing
Eight to 12 weeks for weekly dosing
Itraconazole (Sporanox)¶rx]
Oral
Solution: 10 mg per mL
Capsules: 100 mg
Capsules: 5 mg per kg daily for four to six weeks
or
Solution: 3 mg per kg daily for four to six weeks
or
Pulse therapy with capsules: 5 mg per kg daily for one week each month for two to three months
or
Pulse therapy with oral solution: 3 mg per kg daily for one week each month for two to three months
Maximum: 500 mg per day
Solution: NA ($265) for 150 mL of 10-mg-per-mL solution
Capsules: $102 ($590) for 30 100-mg capsules
No
Baseline ALT and AST measurement
86%18
Four to six weeks

Tinea unguium (onychomycosis)
Ciclopirox (Penlac)
Topical
Bottle: 6.6 mL
Apply daily to affected nail and adjacent skin; remove with alcohol every seven days
$16 ($540) for one bottle
Yes, for persons older than 12 years
None
7%19
48 weeks
Terbinafine[rx]
Oral
Tablets: 250 mg
Granule packets: 125 mg, 187.5 mg
10 to 20 kg (22 to 44 lb): 62.5 mg daily
20 to 40 kg (44 to 89 lb): 125 mg daily
40 kg (89 lb) or more and adults: 250 mg daily
Tablets: $4 ($660) for 30 250-mg tablets
Granules more expensive
Not for this indication
Approved for children older than four years for tinea capitis
Baseline ALT and AST measurement, CBC
ALT and AST measurement, CBC at six weeks
76%20
Six weeks for fingernails; 12 weeks for toenails
Fluconazole|rx|
Oral
Tablets: 50 mg, 100 mg, 150 mg, 200 mg
Suspension: 10 mg per mL, 40 mg per mL
Children: 3 to 6 mg per kg once weekly
Adults: 150 to 300 mg once weekly
Tablets: $100 for 30 150-mg tablets ($1,185 for 90 50-mg tablets)
Suspension: $33 ($290) for 35 mL of 40-mg-per-mL suspension
Not for this indication
Approved for adults and children older than six months for other indications
Baseline ALT, AST, alkaline phosphatase, and creatinine measurements, CBC
No repeat needed for once weekly therapy
48%20
12 to 16 weeks for fingernails; 18 to 26 weeks for toenails

ALT = alanine transaminase; AST = aspartate transaminase; CBC = complete blood count; NA = not available.

*—Estimated retail price based on information obtained at http://www.goodrx.com. Accessed June 20, 2014. Generic price listed first; brand price listed in parentheses.

†—Clinical cure rates rather than mycological cure rates, unless otherwise noted.

Antifungal Agents for the Treatment of Tinea Infections

AGENT DOSAGE COST (GENERIC)*

Tinea unguium

Terbinafine (Lamisil)

250 mg orally every day for 12 weeks†or

$1,171 ($1,047 to $1,080)

500 mg orally every day during the first week of each month for four months

$780 ($696 to $720)

Itraconazole (Sporanox)

200 mg orally every day for 12 weeksor

$1,838 ($1,241 to $1,713)

400 mg orally every day during the first week of each month for four months‡

$1,225 ($828 to $1,142)

Tinea capitis

Griseofulvin, micronized (Grifulvin)

20 mg per kg per day for eight weeks

$467 ($467 to $578) for a child weighing 30 kg

Terbinafine

62.5 mg per day for four weeks§

$105 (—) for a child older than two years weighing 20 kg

Tinea corporis, pedis, cruris

Butenafine (Mentax)

Applied to the lesion and a 2-cm area surrounding the lesion once daily for approximately 14 days

30 g: $84 (—)

Terbinafine

Applied to the lesion and a 2-cm area surrounding the lesion twice daily for approximately 14 days

15 g: — ($32 to $38)

Miconazole (Micatin)

Applied to the lesion and a 2-cm area surrounding the lesion twice daily for approximately 14 days

30 g, 2%: — ($3.20 to $3.30)

Clotrimazole (Lotrimin AF)

Applied to the lesion and a 2-cm area surrounding the lesion twice daily for approximately 14 days

24 g: $9.77 ($6.42 to $8.60)

*— Estimated cost to the pharmacist based on average wholesale prices (rounded to the nearest dollar) in Red Book. Montvale, N.J.: Medical Economics Data; 2008. Cost to the patient will be higher, depending on prescription filling fee.

†— Higher cure rate among nail regimens.

‡— Lowest cost among nail regimens.

§— Lower cost among scalp regimens.

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List of Possible Drug-Drug Interactions with Oral Antifungal Therapy

1. Griseofulvin:
 Aspirin, Oral contraceptives, Phenobarbital, Porfimer, Theophylline, Warfarin
2. Ketoconazole:
 Alcohol, Oral hypoglycemics, Phenytoin
3. Itraconazole:
Alfentanil, Alprazolam, Amphotericin B, Agenerase, Antacids, Atorvastatin, Bexarotene, Buspirone, Busulfan, Carbamazepine, Cilostazol, Cimetidine, Cisapride, Citalopram, Clarithromycin, Cyclosporine, Diazepam, Didanosine, Digitoxin, Docetaxel, Dofetilide, Erythromycin, Famotidine, Felodipine, Grapefruit juice, Haloperidol, Indinavir, Isoniazid, Lansoprazole, Lovastatin, Methylprednisone, Midazolam, Nevirapine, Nifedipine, Omeprazole, Oral hypoglycemics, Phenobarbital, Phenytoin, Pimozide, Quinidine, Ranitidine, Rifabutin, Rifampin, Ritonavir, Saquinavir, Sildenafil, Simvastatin, Sirolimus, Sodium bicarbonate, Sucralfate, Tacrolimus, Triazolam, Trimetrexate, Verapamil, Vincristine, Warfarin
4. Fluconazole:
 Amphotericin B, Celecoxib, Cimetidine, Cisapride, Citalopram, Cyclosporine, Dofetilide, Felodipine, Glipizide, Glyburide, Hydrochlorothiazide, Lovastatin, Midazolam, Oral hypoglycemics, Phenytoin, Pimozide, Prednisone, Quinidine, Rifabutin, Rifampin, Sildenafil, Simvastatin, Sirolimus, Tacrolimus, Theophylline, Triazolam, Warfarin, Zidovudine
5. Terbinafine:
 Cimetidine, Cyclosporine, Nortriptyline, Rifampin, Terfenadine, Theophylline, Warfarin

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Home Care

  • Your doctor may recommend that you soak your feet in salt water or diluted vinegar to help dry up blisters.

Alternative Therapy

  • Tea tree oil has been used as an alternative therapy for treating athlete’s foot with some success. A study from 2002 reported that a 50 percent solution of tea tree oil effectively treated athlete’s foot in 64 percent of trial participants.

Prevention

Because fungi grow particularly well in a moist environment, it’s important to make sure you keep your feet dry. You might try the following, for example:

  • Wash your feet with soap and water every day and dry them thoroughly, especially between the toes.
  • Wash socks, bedding, and towels in water that’s 140°F (60°C) or higher. Combining washing socks and application of OTC antifungal recommendations should treat most cases of athlete’s foot. You can disinfect your shoes by using disinfectant wipes (like Clorox wipes) or sprays.
  • Put antifungal powder on your feet every day.
  • Don’t share socks, shoes, or towels with others.
  • Wear sandals in public showers, around public swimming pools, and in other public places.
  • Wear socks made out of breathable fibers, such as cotton or wool, or made out of synthetic fibers that wick moisture away from your skin.
  • Thoroughly dry your feet with a towel after having a shower or bath, or after swimming
  • Wearing shoes that aren’t too tight and let your feet breathe
  • Not wearing the same pair of shoes two days in a row
  • Taking your shoes off as often as possible
  • Dry feet and toes meticulously after bathing
  • Use desiccating foot powder once or twice daily
  • Avoid wearing occlusive footwear for long periods
  • Thoroughly dry shoes and boots
  • Clean the shower and bathroom floors using a product containing bleach
  • Great shoes with antifungal powder. If treatment of tinea pedis is unsuccessful, consider reinfection, coexistent untreated fungal nail infection, reinfection due to an untreated family member, or an alternative diagnosis.

The following things can help keep you from getting athlete’s foot from infected flakes of skin and stop it from coming back:

  • Wearing flip-flops when using swimming pools, communal showers and changing rooms
  • Not sharing towels, shoes, or socks
  • Washing socks, bedding, and towels at 60 degrees Celsius or more
  • Adding special anti-fungal laundry sanitizers if washing at lower temperatures

There haven’t been any good studies on how effective these preventive measures are.

References

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