What are dermatophytoses?

Dermatophytoses are fungal infections affecting the skin, hair, and nails. Common culprits include fungi such as Microsporum and Trichophyton. These infections lead to symptoms like itching, scaling, and redness. Although not life-threatening, they can significantly impair one's quality of life and tend to recur, making effective treatment crucial.

What is clotrimazole and how does it work?

Clotrimazole is an antifungal medication frequently used to treat fungal infections. It works by inhibiting ergosterol synthesis, a crucial component of fungal cell membranes, thereby disrupting the integrity of the fungal cells. Topical application is preferred to minimize systemic side effects. However, the skin's stratum corneum can limit drug penetration, necessitating innovative formulations to improve drug delivery.

What are microemulsions and microemulsion-based gels, and why are they important?

Microemulsions are mixtures of oil, water, and surfactants that spontaneously form stable, clear liquids containing nanometer-sized droplets. They enhance drug solubility and skin penetration. Microemulsion-based gels are created by incorporating a gelling agent into microemulsions, improving viscosity and skin adherence, and are used as a superior method for delivering antifungal agents. This is significant because it allows for better drug delivery and efficacy compared to traditional creams.

How was the effectiveness of microemulsions and microemulsion-based gels tested?

The study compared clotrimazole microemulsions and microemulsion-based gels to a conventional clotrimazole cream. The formulations were tested for antifungal activity against Trichophyton mentagrophytes, as well as for skin permeation and retention. The study used methods such as the agar diffusion method to assess antifungal activity and modified Franz diffusion cells for in vitro penetration studies using pig skin. HPLC was used to measure the drug amounts.

What are the advantages of using clotrimazole microemulsions and microemulsion-based gels?

Clotrimazole microemulsions and microemulsion-based gels offer enhanced drug retention in the skin compared to conventional creams, leading to better bioavailability and reduced risk of systemic side effects. While no clotrimazole was detected in the receptor fluid for any of the formulations, the amount retained in the skin membrane was significantly higher with microemulsions and microemulsion-based gels, indicating improved efficacy and targeted delivery. This could result in more effective treatments, reduced recurrence, and improved patient outcomes.

Microemulsion droplets attacking fungal structures on skin.

Is Your Antifungal Cream Working? Microemulsions Might Be the Answer

Mira Elwood in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 4 min read.

"Discover how microemulsion-based gels could revolutionize the treatment of fungal skin infections, offering better drug delivery and fewer side effects compared to conventional creams."

Fungal infections of the skin, hair, and nails—dermatophytoses—are frustratingly common. These infections, caused by fungi like Microsporum and Trichophyton, lead to uncomfortable symptoms such as itching, scaling, and redness. While rarely life-threatening, these infections can significantly diminish one's quality of life and often recur, making effective treatment a persistent challenge.

Clotrimazole (CTZ) is a widely used antifungal medication that inhibits ergosterol synthesis, disrupting fungal cell integrity. Topical application is favored to avoid systemic side effects. However, the skin's stratum corneum acts as a formidable barrier, limiting drug penetration and efficacy. Therefore, innovative formulations are needed to enhance drug delivery to the site of infection.

Microemulsions (MEs) have emerged as a promising drug delivery system for topical applications. These mixtures of oil, water, and surfactants spontaneously form stable, clear liquids with nanometer-sized droplets. MEs enhance drug solubility, and their components can boost skin penetration. By incorporating a gelling agent, microemulsion-based gels (MBGs) can be created to improve viscosity and skin adherence, offering a superior method for delivering antifungal agents.

Microemulsions vs. Conventional Creams: A New Era in Antifungal Treatment?

Microemulsion droplets attacking fungal structures on skin.

A recent study published in Skin Pharmacology and Physiology explores the potential of clotrimazole microemulsions (CTZ-ME) and microemulsion-based gels (CTZ-MBG) in treating dermatophytosis. Researchers compared these formulations to a conventional CTZ cream, focusing on antifungal activity, skin permeation, and retention. The goal was to determine if MEs and MBGs could improve drug delivery and efficacy compared to traditional creams.

The study meticulously evaluated the performance of CTZ-ME and CTZ-MBG against Trichophyton mentagrophytes, a common dermatophyte. Here’s a summary of the key methods and findings:

Formulation: CTZ-ME and CTZ-MBG were prepared with 1% w/w clotrimazole.
Antifungal Activity: The agar diffusion method was used to assess antifungal activity against T. mentagrophytes.
Skin Penetration: Pig skin was used in in vitro penetration studies with modified Franz diffusion cells.
Analysis: HPLC was used to measure drug amounts in the receptor fluid, skin membrane, and donor compartment.

The results indicated that CTZ-ME and CTZ-MBG exhibited significant inhibition zones against T. mentagrophytes, while the conventional cream showed no such effect. Notably, no CTZ was detected in the receptor fluid for any of the formulations over 24 hours. However, the amount of CTZ retained in the skin membrane was markedly higher with CTZ-ME and CTZ-MBG compared to the conventional cream, suggesting enhanced skin bioavailability and reduced risk of systemic side effects.

The Future of Fungal Infection Treatment

Microemulsions and microemulsion-based gels hold considerable promise for improving the topical treatment of fungal infections. Their ability to enhance drug retention in the skin, coupled with effective antifungal activity, suggests a potential advantage over conventional creams. As research continues to refine these formulations, they may offer a more effective and targeted approach to managing dermatophytosis, reducing recurrence and improving patient outcomes. These findings highlight a significant step forward in dermatological treatments, potentially leading to more effective solutions for common and persistent fungal infections.