Naftifiin

Naftifiin is not widely recognized as a distinct, approved medication in medical literature. The term appears to be a misspelling of naftifine, a topical antifungal agent used to treat superficial dermatophyte infections. Naftifine is an allylamine antifungal that works by inhibiting squalene epoxidase, an enzyme in fungal sterol biosynthesis. Inhibition disrupts ergosterol production and causes accumulation of toxic squalene, leading to damage of the fungal cell membrane and inhibited growth.

Indications for the related topical drug include infections of the skin caused by dermatophytes, such as tinea pedis (athlete’s foot), tinea cruris (jock itch), and tinea corporis (ringworm). It is typically formulated as a 1% topical preparation—creams, gels, or solutions—and applied to affected areas, usually twice daily, for a period of about 1 to 4 weeks depending on the infection and response.

Side effects are generally limited to local reactions at the application site, including burning, stinging, redness, or itching. Rare hypersensitivity or dermatitis can occur. Systemic absorption is minimal with topical use, so systemic drug interactions are unlikely, though patients should follow product instructions.

Precautions include avoiding use on broken skin or mucous membranes and consulting a clinician if there is no improvement after several weeks, if symptoms worsen, or if there is pregnancy or lactation. If the question refers to naftifiin as a separate compound, it is not widely documented; for dermatophyte infections, naftifine remains the better-supported reference.