Athlete’s foot disease: A comparative study on marketed products

Abstract

An infection of the foot with fungi, such as the Athlete’s foot, is frequently observed globally, both in men and women. In the present review, different marketed products used in treating Athlete's foot disease were critically analysed and compared. The marketed products include Oral medications and Topical medications like creams, gels, dusting powders, and sprays to meet the needs of Athlete's foot disease patients. Oral products are prescribed only when topical treatments are unsuccessful and the infection becomes systemic or deep-rooted. They may cause mild side effects like nausea, dizziness, and digestive problems to serious side effects like liver damage. In comparison to oral medications, topical fungal therapy is usually preferred due to no systemic side effects, ability to bypass first-pass metabolism, and minimum toxicity. Gels are preferred over creams for being effective and easily washable. With powders, moisture retention may delay the healing process leading to secondary infections with bacteria. Sprays can release the drug easily in hard-to-reach corners of the body. However, propellants used in them are inflammable, and the products are expensive. Oral products are best for treating chronic infections despite their side effects, and topicals are suitable for mild infections, with sprays being the most convenient formulation. Several studies have indicated that topical nanocarriers with antifungal agents display superior therapeutic efficacy and minimal toxicity due to their ability to overcome challenges associated with conventional drug delivery systems like poor retention and low bioavailability. There is a good scope for developing topical nanocarrier-based antifungal formulations to treat Athlete's foot disease with minimum side effects effectively. 

Keywords: Athlete’s foot disease, Orals, Topicals, Creams, Gels, Powders, Sprays.