Superficial fungal infections. Topical and oral treatment of common types.

Superficial fungal infections are common dermatologic conditions, and patients often visit primary care physicians for evaluation. Diagnosis can be established with direct microscopic examination, fungal culture, and Wood's light examination. Some infections (eg, tinea corporis, tinea cruris, tinea pedis, pityriasis versicolor) are often successfully treated with a topical antifungal alone. Others (eg, tinea capitis, onychomycosis) require use of a systemic antifungal. Physicians should be familiar with available agents and their adverse effects and closely follow patients receiving long-term antifungal therapy.