Abstract
Background: Various antifungal agents, both in oral and topical forms, have been developed for the treatment of dermatophytosis.

Aims and Objectives: The aims of this study were to evaluate the efficacy of 1% terbinafine hydrochloride cream and 1% ciclopirox olamine cream alone and in combination in the treatment of dermatophytosis.

Materials and Methods: A randomized and comparative study was done at the Department of Dermatology, Government Medical College and Hospital, Chandigarh. Sixty patients of clinically diagnosed tinea corporis/tinea cruris/tinea faciei, attending the outpatient department will be allocated to three therapeutic groups of 20 patients each using random tables. Group 1: Topical 1% terbinafine hydrochloride cream twice daily for 6 weeks. Group 2: Topical 1% ciclopirox olamine cream twice daily for 6 weeks. Group 3: Topical 1% terbinafine hydrochloride cream once daily in the morning and 1% ciclopirox olamine cream once daily in the evening for 6 weeks. Inclusion criteria: (i) Body Surface Area – <10%, not requiring systemic therapy. Exclusion criteria: (i) Patients with coexisting dermatophytosis, any antifungal drugs, or pregnant, and lactating women. All the patients were assessed for therapeutic results by clinical evaluation at 3 and 6 weeks of initiation of therapy. Data collected on a pre-tested structured questionnaire and analyzed by Statistical Package for the Social Sciences.

Results: After 6 weeks of treatment in Group 2, there was no erythema in 1 (6.7%) patient, moderate in 2 (13.3%) patients, mild in 12 (80%) patients, and no severity in any patient. After 6 weeks of treatment in Group 1, erythema was mild in 17 (45%) patients. After 6 weeks of treatment in Group 3, erythema was moderate in 1 (5.3%) patients, mild in 15 (78.9%) patients, and three patients had no erythema. None of the patient had severe erythema. P = 0.209 and Chi-square was 5.875.

Conclusion: The combination therapy with both terbinafine hydrochloride and ciclopirox olamine group showed better response with lesser relapse rate with no significant side effects.

Key words: Ciclopirox Olamine; Dermatophytosis; Terbinafine Hydrochloride