Butenafine and superficial mycoses: current status

Background: Butenafine hydrochloride, a benzylamine derivative, exhibits potent fungicidal activity particularly against dermatophytes, aspergilli, dimorphic and dematiaceous fungi.

Objective: To review pharmacokinetics, mechanism of actions and clinical efficacy of butenafine against various dermatophytic and Other superficial Fungal infections.

Methods: Medline search was made using keyword butenafine. All English language articles were considered for this review. For inclusion in clinical efficacy section when ever available randomized controlled trials were considered a priority over Other trials.

Results/conclusions: The drug has excellent penetration into the epidermis and a prolonged retention time following topical application, conferring residual therapeutic activity after treatment cessation. Butenafine possess anti-inflammatory activity too. Topical butenafine 1% cream has been reported to be efficacious for tinea pedis, tinea corporis and tinea cruris in many randomized clinical trials when used for shorter duration. Its efficacy against pityriasis versicolor, seborrheic dermatitis and as anticandidal agent is not yet fully established.