Nasrin Hamidizadeh, Ladan Dastgheib, Sara Ranjbar, Farhad Handjani, Peyman Jafari,
Volume 5, Issue 3 (Volume 5, Number 3 2014)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Pityriasis versicolor (PV) is a fungal infection of the skin that is caused by Malassezia species in tropical and subtropical areas. Various treatments such as ketoconazole 2% shampoo are effective in the treatment of PV. In this study, the therapeutic effects of ketoconazole 2% shampoo and Octopirox 1% shampoo on PV were compared.
Methods: Fourty-two patients participated in the study. Twenty-five patients were treated using Octopirox 1% shampoo and 17 patients were treated by ketoconazole 2% shampoo. Each shampoo was administered for 5 minutes after daily showers for three weeks. At the end of the treatment period, patients were evaluated on the basis of the results KOH test and clinical examinations.
Results: At the end of the treatment period in ketoconazole 2% shampoo group, 64.7% of patients were cured. In Octopirox 1% shampoo group, 44% of patients were cured. The detected difference was not statistically significant (P=0.187).
Conclusion: Both shampoos were effective in eliminating the symptoms, but ketoconazole 2% shampoo was more effective in improving the associated hyperpigmentation and erythema than Octopirox 2% shampoo. No side effects were observed in either group.