Tinea infections are among the most common dermatological conditions throughout the world.
Griseofulvin is a classical oral fungistatic
antibiotic, active against Epidermophyton floccosum, Trichophyton and Microsporum species, the causative fungi of
tinea corporis. To evaluate the efficacy of topical
griseofulvin in the treatment of
tinea circinata using three different vehicles for
drug delivery. Sixteen patients with
tinea circinata were instructed to apply either
griseofulvin gel form in group A or a similar placebo gel for control group; a niosomal gel formulation of
griseofulvin for group B or; a liposomal gel formulation of
griseofulvin for group C. Patients were evaluated both clinically and mycologically after 3 weeks. Marked improvement was seen for groups A, B and C both clinically and mycologically while no improvement was observed in the placebo group. Mild and transient irritation was reported in four patients. Our results show that topical
griseofulvin preparations may be effective and safe in treating
tinea circinata and that further large-scale studies may establish the high efficacy of the niosomal gel formulation.