Foot mycoses - treatment with over-the-counter preparations based on clinical recommendations

Tinea pedis (athlete's foot) is a superficial fungal skin infection caused by dermatophytes, most commonly the anthropophilic dermatophyte Trichophyton rubrum. Clinically, it is characterized mainly by scaling, erythema, and fissure formation, and it may present in three primary forms: interdigital, plantar, and vesiculobullous. The infection is often accompanied by mild pruritus; when fissures develop, burning and pain may also occur. Maceration, fissures, and desquamation of the stratum corneum in the interdigital spaces may serve as entry points for β-haemolytic streptococci, thereby increasing the risk of erysipelas. Another complication is the potential spread of infection to the nails, hands, groin, or other body sites. Tinea pedis is primarily indicated for topical antifungal therapy. Over-the-counter antifungal agents include imidazoles, allylamines, thiocarbamates, and undecylenic acid derivatives. Based on an analysis of clinical studies, their efficacy and duration of treatment have been compared.