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Iticronazole
Potential efficacity for hair loss : ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

My recommendation

I think that itraconazole could be an excellent treatment for Tinea Capitis as well as for seborrheic alopecia. Although it's not a first-choice treatment, it will be perfect if treatments like griseofulvin or terbinafine are not satisfactory.
Home 9 Medications and others 9 Iticronazole

Itricronazole

Itricronazole is an antifungal drug that works by preventing the growth and spread of fungi that can cause infections. Itricronazole works by interfering with the cell membranes of fungal cells, damaging the cell walls and preventing the fungus from growing and thriving.

It is used to treat fungal skin infections like:

  • Tinea pedis (athlete’s foot)
  • Tinea cruris (jock itch)
  • Tinea corporis (ringworm)
  • Cutaneous candidiasis (yeast infections of skin)

By disrupting fungal cell structures, itricronazole kills fungi or stops fungal overgrowth, helping to clear up uncomfortable fungal infections on the skin. It’s an effective topical and oral treatment usually well-tolerated.

Is it effective against hair loss?

To this day, we have enough studies to confidently assert that itraconazole is an effective treatment for two forms of alopecia: seborrheic alopecia and cicatricial alopecia of the Tinea Capitis type.

Iticronazole in the treatment of Tinea Capitis

Some forms of scarring alopecia are caused by fungal infections and can take on very severe forms. Generally, oral antifungals are used along with antifungal shampoos such as ciclopirox.

Here is an example of cicatricial alopecia of the Tinea Capitis type :

Antifungal medications such as griseofulvin or terbinafine are considered the best treatments for this type of alopecia. However, in some cases where infections are resistant, other antifungals like itraconazole may be used.

 

1992 study : iticronazole vs griseofulvin for Tinea corporis and pedis

In a 1992 study, itraconazole was found to be more effective than griseofulvin in treating Tinea corporis and Tinea pedis. Even though Tinea Capitis operates on the scalp, these forms of Tinea are also caused by fungi from the same family.

 

2019 study : iticronazole and ALA-PDT for Tinea Capitis

In a 2019 study, taking itraconazole alongside a treatment called ALA-PDT (5-aminolevulinic acid with photodynamic therapy) proved effective in treating an advanced case of Tinea Capitis that had evolved into Kerion (a more severe form) in a 9-year-old girl.

Therefore, it is possible that itraconazole could also prove effective for Tinea Capitis, and we may see more in-depth studies in the future.

Iticronazole in the treatment of seborrheic dermatitis?

Seborrheic dermatitis is a common skin condition that causes flaky, dry, white to yellowish scales on oily areas of the skin. It commonly affects the scalp, causing red, itchy, and greasy flaking that can lead to seborrheic alopecia – a form of hair loss due to inflammation from seborrheic dermatitis.

The prevailing theory posits that seborrheic dermatitis springs from an inflammatory response to the overproduction of Malassezia fungus. Iticronazole is an antifungal medication that has the capability to eradicate these types of fungus.

We have numerous studies that mention these effects, here are a few examples:

2004 study : hydrocortizone 1% and iticronazole 200 mg for seborrheic dermatisis

In a 2004 study, 43 patient applied 1% hydrocortisone cream twice daily for 1 month. In addition, they took itraconazole, 200 mg/day, during the first week of the first month and then hydrocortisone cream was stopped and itraconazole (200 mg/day) was given on the first 2 days of the following 11 months.

At the end of the study, 19 of the 28 patients showed a complete improvement, and three patients showed a slight improvement.

This study indicates that itraconazole plays an important role in the treatment of seborrheic dermatisis.

 

2022 study : iticronazole and tacrolimus for seborrheic dermatisis

In a 2022 study, researchers conducted a study on 62 Vietnamese patients to see how well a combination of oral itraconazole and topical tacrolimus worked for treating moderate to severe seborrheic dermatitis.

After the initial treatment, everyone in the study showed a significant improvement.

Then, they split the patients into two groups for maintenance therapy :

  • Groupe 1 : oral itraconazole + tacrolimus + shampoo for three months
  • Groupe 2 : tacrolimus + shampoo

After eight weeks, the ones with continued oral itraconazole showed much better improvement than the other group, and this difference continued at the 16-week mark. The group with continued therapy also had lower recurrence rates.

This study shows us that the combination of itraconazole and tacrolimus is effective against seborrheic dermatitis, and that the maintenance of the treatment is crucial to preserve the positive effects obtained.

Closing thoughts and verdict

I believe that itraconazole could be considered as a potentially effective treatment for Tinea Capitis, provided that treatments such as griseofulvin and terbinafine have been tried first.

As for seborrheic dermatitis and the resulting seborrheic alopecia, itraconazole proves to be an effective treatment. Whether it’s used in combination with other treatments or not, the results are consistently positive.

Precautions & side effects

Side Effects:

  • Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
  • Headache, dizziness
  • Rash
  • Liver damage (rare)

Precautions:

  • Take with food to reduce stomach upset
  • Avoid alcohol
  • Get blood tests to check liver function
  • Use birth control while taking itraconazole and for 2 months after stopping
  • Tell your doctor about any other medications you are taking
  • Tell your doctor if you have heart, kidney or liver disease
  • Itraconazole can interact with many medications. Make sure your doctor knows all the medications you are taking before starting itraconazole

Treatment analyses

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