treatment of tinea pedis

Last reviewed 07/2021

Tinea confined to the toe webs:

  • topical creams such as an azole cream (e.g. miconazole cream used twice daily for four weeks) may be used. However evidence suggests that topical 1% terbinafine cream used for one week is the most effective topical antifungal available in the UK (1)
  • improved foot hygiene and drying between the toes (2)
  • if the tissue is inflamed then antifungal / topical steroid combinations may reduce symptoms more rapidly. However they have no overall benefit (3)

Systemic therapy and confirmation of diagnosis is appropriate for

  • more complex and multi-site infections (Moccasin pattern tinea).
  • associate toe nail infection (4)

The newer antifungals - oral imidazole or triazole antifungals (e.g. - itraconazole) and oral terbinafine are used more commonly than griseofulvin because they have a broader spectrum of activity and require a shorter duration of treatment (4)

  • for example itraconazole 200mg bd for 7 days or 100mg od for 30 days

Patients should avoid walking barefoot in communal places (5).

Reference:

 

Related pages:

tinea pedis

griseofulvin