A randomized double blind study comparing topical ketoconazole 2% lotion and topical oxiconazole nitrate 1% lotion in treatment of pityriasis versicolor

After obtaining informed written consent, 60 patients of pityriasis versicolor will be recruited for the study after applying inclusion criteria(clinically and mycologically diagnosed with pityriasis versicolor, both sexes, age above 18 years) and exclusion criteria(patient who have diabetes, malignancy, HIV, under steroids/ immunosuppressive drugs and other known immunocompromised states, patients with history of adverse response to imidazole derivatives or to any component of the formulation, patient who received any kind of anti fungal treatment in last 3 months, pregnant women, severely ill patients, non – compliant patients).

They will be randomized into two groups of 30 each, one group treated with topical ketoconazole 2% lotion once daily for 4 weeks and other group treated with topical oxiconazole nitrate 1% lotion once daily for 4 weeks.

Patient follow up to be done at end of first week , fourth week and 3 months. During each visit, clinical response is graded as cleared, excellent, good, fair, poor, worse. A close watch on any adverse effects of the drugs to be during each visit and relapse rate of disease at end of 3 weeks monitored and documented.