Topical antifungal therapy combined with nail abrasion for the treatment of dermatophytoma: single-center results

Abstract

A few reports have described recently developed antifungal drugs combined with physical therapy for dermatophytoma. A total of 12 patients (8 males and 4 females, mean age 73 years) who visited the Department of Dermatology at Kansai Rosai Hospital between April 2017 and March 2020 diagnosed with dermatophytoma and treated by surgical debridement and topical antifungal drugs were included in this study. The patients had 14 dermatophytoma lesions. Surgical avulsion was performed at the first visit. Ten of the 14 nails were evaluated. By approximately 1 year, seven nails were completely cured with no clinical involvement of the target toenail as shown by the negative potassium hydroxide test. ; tTreatment failed for three nails (<30% improvement or worsening). The second efficacy evaluation was performed at the last visit or when changing therapeutic drugs were changed. This e second efficacy evaluation revealedshowed complete cure in eight nails, marked improvement (>60% improvement in nail involvement ratio) in one nail, and improvement( (30% or more to less than 60%) ) in one nail. All 10 evaluable dermatophytoma lesions disappeared in 16 months. The findings indicate the effectiveness of nail abrasion and topical antifungal drugs in treating dermatophytoma.