Treatment of pityriasis versicolor with a shampoo containing 1% bifonazole (AgisporR shampoo) in children

Sir, Pityriasis versicolor is a common, chronic superficial infection of the skin caused by Malassezia furfur. It is characterized by yellow to reddish brown or hypopigmented scaly patches on the upper trunk, neck and arms. Mild itching may be present. Pityriasis versicolor affects mostly children and young adults. In this open study we evaluated the clinical efficacy of bifonazole 1% shampoo (AgisporR shampoo, Agis, Israel), a new antifungal product, in children. Twenty‐two children raging in age from 9 to 14 years, who were clinically diagnosed as suffering from mild to severe pityriasis versicolor, were treated with bifonazole 1% shampoo (AgisporR shampoo). Bifonazole 1% shampoo was applied for 3–5 min to the wet trunk and arms once a day for 3 weeks. The same physician evaluated all of the patients before treatment and at the end of the therapy. All patients treated with bifonazole 1% shampoo achieved clinical cure. The drug was well tolerated by the patients with very good compliance; no side‐effects were reported. Several therapeutic modalities are used in the management of pityriasis versicolor including topical application of selenium sulphide shampoo and topical or systemic antifungal agents.1 Topical application of bifonazole 1% cream or solution for 2 to 3 weeks is known to be effective in patients with pityriasis versicolor.2–5 In the present study, daily use of AgisporR shampoo, a new antifungal product containing bifonazole 1%, for 3 weeks was found to be effective, safe and obviously friendly to use, in the treatment of mild to severe cases of pityriasis versicolor in children.