Effect of ketoconazole-medicated shampoos on squamometry and Malassezia ovalis load in pityriasis capitis.

Pityriasis capitis is improved by the use of antifungal shampoos. A double-blind randomized, placebo-controlled study was conducted to compare the efficacy of ketoconazole 0.5 percent and 1 percent formulation shampoos. Evaluations were made in seventy-eight volunteers before and after a two-week duration of daily shampooing. Grading the Malassezia ovalis load in dandruff and values of squamometry were used as noninvasive methods to evaluate efficacy.