Treatment of interdigital tinea pedis with 25% and 50% tea tree oil solution: A randomized, placebo-controlled, blinded study
✍ Scribed by Andrew C Satchell; Anne Saurajen; Craig Bell; Ross StC Barnetson
- Publisher
- John Wiley and Sons
- Year
- 2002
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 79 KB
- Volume
- 43
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 0004-8380
No coin nor oath required. For personal study only.
✦ Synopsis
SUMMARY
Tea tree oil has been shown to have activity against dermatophytes in vitro. We have conducted a randomized, controlled, double‐blinded study to determine the efficacy and safety of 25% and 50% tea tree oil in the treatment of interdigital tinea pedis. One hundred and fifty‐eight patients with tinea pedis clinically and microscopy suggestive of a dermatophyte infection were randomized to receive either placebo, 25% or 50% tea tree oil solution. Patients applied the solution twice daily to affected areas for 4 weeks and were reviewed after 2 and 4 weeks of treatment. There was a marked clinical response seen in 68% of the 50% tea tree oil group and 72% of the 25% tea tree oil group, compared to 39% in the placebo group. Mycological cure was assessed by culture of skin scrapings taken at baseline and after 4 weeks of treatment. The mycological cure rate was 64% in the 50% tea tree oil group, compared to 31% in the placebo group. Four (3.8%) patients applying tea tree oil developed moderate to severe dermatitis that improved quickly on stopping the study medication.