Background: Treatment of dermatophytosis is becoming costlier and challenging.
Aims and objectives: To study the efficacy of salicylic acid peel in dermatophytosis.
Methods: Twenty-five patients (20 males and 5 females) having dermatophytosis with positive potassium hydroxide (KOH) mounts were enrolled in the study. Salicylic acid 30% was applied over the lesions weekly for 4 weeks, thereafter patients were followed up weekly for 4 weeks.
Results: Of the 25 patients, 22 (88%) patients showed clinical and microbiological cure 1 week after the last application, while the remaining 3 patients were nonresponders. Nine (41%) patients of the 22 responders showed recurrences indicating that 4 weeks' treatment is not sufficient in some patients to eradicate fungus and may require longer treatment.
Limitations: A relatively small sample size and lack of long-term follow-up are the shortcomings of our study.
Conclusion: Salicylic acid peel is a cheap and useful option in the treatment of dermatophytic infection.
Keywords: Dermatophytosis; salicylic acid peel; tinea; topical treatment.