Comparative study of efficacy of topical amorolfine, luliconazole, sertaconazole, terbinafine in tinea corporis and tinea cruris

Introduction: Dermatophytosis is the superficial fungal infection of keratinized tissue. Topical antifungals are exclusively used for localized lesions of dermatophytosis among which amorolfine, luliconazole, sertaconazole and terbinafine are relatively newer molecules. Aim of the study: To study the therapeutic efficacy and safety of amorolfine, luliconazole, sertaconazole, terbinafine in patients with tinea corporis or cruris. Materials and Methods: A prospective comparative study of the patients who have been clinically diagnosed to have localized tinea corporis or cruris was carried out. A total of 80 patients were included with 20 patients each were prescribed topical amorolfine, luliconazole, sertaconazole and terbinafine in a serial order. Objective evaluation of improvement based on pruritus, erythema and scaling was performed. Amorolfine and luliconazole was advised to apply once daily while sertaconazole and terbinafine to be applied twice daily. Results: Out of 20 patients each, 18 patients in Amorolfine group, 19 in Luliconazole group, 15 patients each in Sertaconazole group and Terbinafine group followed up at the end of 3 weeks. Mean age was found to be 34 years with slight male preponderance. Luliconazole showed best improvement of pruritus, erythema and scaling. Terbinafine showed the least improvement. More number of patients on luliconazole (12 out of 19) showed good improvement of clinical parameters and this finding was also statistically significant (P value- 0.018). Conclusion: Luliconazole may act like a fungicidal antifungal and scores over other 3 topical antifungals, however studies involving larger number is required to confirm these findings. Keywords: Tinea corporis, Tinea cruris, Topical antifungal.