Comparison of effectiveness between ketoconazole 2% and selenium sulfide 2.5% shampoos in the treatment of tinea versicolor

ABSTRACT

Tinea versicolor is a common superficial mycosis, which is caused by lipophilic yeasts, Malessezia furfur. It is a chronic and recurrent skin disease. It occurs most commonly in young post pubertal people and in hot and humid climates [north and south provinces of Iran]. Comparison of effects of ketoconazole 2% shampoo [Shafa Lab] with selenium sulfide 2.5% shampoo on tinea versicolor. Two-hundred patients with tinea versicolor were divided in 2 groups, each consisted of 100 patients, one group was treated with ketoconazole 2% shampoo and the other one with selenium sulfide 2.5% shampoo. We found out that ketoconazole 2% shampoo was more effective [89% cure rate] than selenium sulfide 2.5% shampoo [35% cure rate]. It seems that ketoconazole 2% shampoo is more effective than selenium sulfide 2.5% shampoo in the treatment of tinea versicolor