Antifungal Creams

Treating Fungal Skin Infections

Fungi thrive where skin stays warm and damp, which is why these infections favor the feet, groin and skin folds. They are common and rarely serious, and most respond well to an antifungal cream, as long as it is used for long enough.

Common Types

• Athlete's foot (tinea pedis): itchy, peeling or cracked skin between the toes
• Ringworm (tinea corporis): a ring-shaped, scaly patch with a clearer center; no worm is involved
• Jock itch (tinea cruris): a red, itchy rash in the groin and inner thighs
• Candida intertrigo: a moist red rash, often with small spots at its edge, under the breasts, in the groin or between folds
• Vaginal thrush: itching, soreness and a thick white discharge with little smell

Clotrimazole Products

Clotrimazole is an azole antifungal that damages the fungal cell membrane and stops the fungus growing.

How to use

• Wash and dry the area, then apply a thin layer two or three times a day, covering the rash and a margin of normal skin around it.
• Itching usually eases within days, but keep applying for about two weeks after the skin looks clear. Stopping early is the main reason infections return.
• For thrush, use the vaginal cream exactly as the pack directs, usually at bedtime with the applicator. It can weaken latex condoms and diaphragms, so use another form of contraception during treatment and for at least five days afterwards. If you are pregnant, speak to a doctor or midwife first.

Steroid-combination creams

Clocip B contains beclomethasone, a corticosteroid that quickly calms redness and itch. It is meant for short courses on inflamed rashes, as directed by your doctor, after which plain clotrimazole can finish the treatment. Avoid long-term use on the face or groin, and don't use it on children without medical advice. Prolonged steroid use can thin the skin, cause stretch marks and allow a fungal infection to spread while masking its appearance.

Hygiene Tips

Dry carefully between the toes and in skin folds, change socks and underwear daily, choose breathable cotton and footwear, and wear sandals in communal showers. Don't share towels, and wash towels and bedding regularly. Ringworm can come from pets, so a cat or dog with patchy hair loss may need a vet.

When to See a Doctor

• Infection of the nails or scalp, which usually needs tablets rather than cream
• A rash that is spreading, covers a large area or hasn't improved after two weeks
• You have diabetes or a weakened immune system
• Thrush for the first time, more than twice in six months, in pregnancy, or if you are under 16 or over 60
• Unusual discharge, a strong smell, blisters, sores, pelvic pain or fever
• Skin that becomes hot, swollen, painful or weeps pus, which may signal a bacterial infection

A rash that itches intensely at night and affects others in the household may be scabies; see our scabies guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is ringworm contagious?

Yes. It spreads through skin contact, shared towels and infected animals, so treat it promptly.

Does my partner need treatment for thrush?

Not usually, unless they also have symptoms.

This page is for general guidance only and should not replace advice from a doctor or pharmacist. Read the leaflet supplied with each product, and seek medical advice if an infection does not clear or keeps returning.