Itraconazole: new horizons

Background. The double action - antimycotic and anti-inflammatory - of itraconazole, has opened new horizons in the treatment of a number of inflammatory skin disorders in which Malassezia yeasts seem to play a pathogenetic role. Methods. An open study was carried out on 185 patients, including: 160 patients affected by seborrhoeic dermatitis; 5 patients with Malassezia folliculitis; 8 patients with peri-oral dermatitis and papulo-pustular rosacea; 6 patients with adult atopic dermatitis of the face and the neck; and 6 patients with palmoplantar amicrobic pustulosis. In all patients the basic treatment schedule was itraconazole 200 mg/day for 7 days. Results. A marked reduction of signs and symptoms of these diseases was obtained. Conclusions. Itraconazole is a drug to be considered in the treatment of this group of conditions, particularly for seborrhoeic dermatitis and Malassezia folliculitis.