Fungal skin infections

Fungal skin infections are caused by different types of fungi and can be a common culprit of itchy skin.

Fungi invade and grow in dead keratin, a protein that makes up your skin, hair and nails. The different types of fungal infections are divided into groups based on what type of fungus is involved.

Canesten HC cream

Canesten HC cream contains two active ingredients, clotrimazole and hydrocortisone. Clotrimazole is an antifungal medicine used to treat infections with fungi and yeasts. Hydrocortisone is a corticosteroid medicine that is applied to the skin to relieve the symptoms of inflammation.

What is it used for?

Skin infections caused by yeasts (eg Candida), dermatophytes (eg Trichophyton, Tinea), moulds and other fungi, such as those listed below, when rapid relief from inflammation and itching is also needed:

Athlete’s foot (tinea pedis).

Fungal infection of the groin, ie jock itch (tinea cruris).

Ringworm (tinea corporis).

Fungal nappy rash caused by infection with Candida albicans.

Sweat rash caused by infection with Candida albicans.

Relieving the external symptoms (candidal vulvitis) of vaginal thrush (candidal vaginitis). (This cream should be used in combination with another medicine that treats the infection inside your vagina – ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice about which products to use.)

Inflammation of the penis and/or foreskin (candidal balanitis) caused by infection with Candida albicans (also known as thrush).

How does it work?

Clotrimazole kills fungi and yeasts by interfering with their cell membranes. It works by stopping the fungi from producing a substance called ergosterol, which is an essential component of fungal cell membranes. The disruption in production of ergosterol causes holes to appear in the fungal cell membrane.

The cell membranes of fungi are vital for their survival. They keep unwanted substances from entering the cells and stop the contents of the cells from leaking out. As clotrimazole causes holes to appear in the cell membranes, essential constituents of the fungal cells can leak out. This kills the fungi and treats the infection.

Clotrimazole cream is used to treat a wide range of skin infections caused by fungi. These include infections with dermatophytes such as tinea, eg ringworm (tinea corporis), athlete’s foot (tinea pedis), and jock itch (tinea cruris) and infections with yeasts such as candida, eg fungal nappy rash, sweat rash, or thrush affecting the outside of the vagina (vulva and labia) or the end of the penis.

Hydrocortisone reduces skin inflammation by stopping skin cells from producing various inflammation-causing chemicals that are normally released when the skin reacts to irritation. These inflammation-causing chemicals include prostaglandins and various other inflammatory substances. They cause blood vessels to widen and other inflammatory substances to arrive, resulting in the affected area of skin becoming red, swollen and itchy. By preventing these inflammatory chemicals from being released in the skin, hydrocortisone reduces inflammation and relieves its related symptoms such as redness and itchiness.

The combination of medicines in Canesten HC cream is used to treat fungal skin infections when rapid relief from the symptoms of inflammation, such as itching, is also needed.

How do I use it?

Canesten HC cream should be applied thinly and evenly to the affected area(s) of skin twice daily and rubbed in gently.

Wash your hands after applying the cream.

Canesten HC cream should be used for a maximum of seven days. If the infection is still present after this time treatment can be continued with steroid-free Canesten cream. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice.

If you are using Canesten HC cream to treat athlete’s foot you should make sure you wash and dry the feet, especially between the toes, before applying the cream.

If you are using Canesten HC cream to treat vaginal thrush it will only relieve the external symptoms of the infection, such as itching, inflammation and soreness. It won’t treat infection inside your vagina, and so should be used in combination with a thrush treatment that does, for example clotrimazole pessaries or cream that are inserted into the vagina, or an antifungal medicine taken by mouth. Your doctor or pharmacist can advise you about which products to use.

To read the patient information leaflet for this product please click here:

https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/medicine/30544

Daktacort hydrocortisone cream (miconazole, hydrocortisone)

Daktacort hydrocortisone cream contains two active ingredients, an antifungal called miconazole and a steroid called hydrocortisone.

What is Daktacort hydrocortisone cream used for?

Inflamed athlete’s foot (tinea pedis).

Infection and inflammation between folds of skin, eg between the buttocks or thighs, or beneath the breasts, due to overgrowth of Candida fungi in these warm, moist areas (Candidal intertrigo, sometimes known as sweat rash).

Daktacort hydrocortisone cream is recommended for these infections when you also want rapid relief from the symptoms of inflammation, eg itching. The miconazole treats the infection, while the hydrocortisone reduces the associated redness and itching.

If you have a fungal infection without any symptoms of inflammation, an antifungal medication without hydrocortisone may be more appropriate for you. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you are in doubt.

Daktacort hydrocortisone cream should not be used to treat children under 10 years of age, unless prescribed by a doctor.

How does Daktacort hydrocortisone cream work?

Daktacort hydrocortisone cream contains two active ingredients, miconazole and hydrocortisone.

Miconazole kills fungi, yeasts and some bacteria (Staphylococcus and Streptococcus species). Miconazole works by causing holes to appear in fungal cell membranes. This allows essential constituents of the fungal cells to leak out, which kills the fungi and clears up the infection.

Hydrocortisone reduces inflammation in the skin by stopping skin cells from producing inflammatory substances such as prostaglandins. These are normally released when the skin reacts to irritation or infection. They cause blood vessels to widen and other inflammatory substances to arrive, making the affected area of skin become red, swollen and itchy. By preventing them being released in the skin, hydrocortisone reduces inflammation and relieves redness and itchiness.

When the initial inflammation has cleared up, treatment of the infection should be continued with a medicine containing just an antifungal.

How do I use Daktacort hydrocortisone cream?

Wash and dry the affected areas of skin thoroughly before applying the cream.

For adults and children aged 10 years and over, Daktacort hydrocortisone cream should be applied thinly and evenly to the affected areas of skin and rubbed in gently twice a day.

Wash your hands after applying the cream to avoid spreading the infection to other areas of the body, or to other people.

The cream can be used for a maximum of seven days. If the infection is still present after this time, treatment should be continued with steroid-free Daktarin cream or Daktarin powder. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice.

What should I know before using Daktacort hydrocortisone cream?

This cream is for external use on the affected area(s) of skin only.

Do not apply Daktacort hydrocortisone cream to broken areas of skin. The cream should not be used to treat large areas of skin.

Do not apply Daktacort hydrocortisone cream to the face, and avoid getting it in contact with your eyes, mouth and nose.

The treated area(s) of skin should not be covered with airtight dressings, as this will increase the absorption of hydrocortisone into the body, which could increase the risk of local side effects such as skin thinning (see below). You should only use airtight dressings over the affected area if instructed to by your doctor.

Daktacort hydrocortisone cream should not be used to treat anal or genital areas, unless prescribed by a doctor.

Daktacort hydrocortisone cream should not be used on areas of skin affected by

Viral skin infections such as chickenpox, shingles, cold sores or genital herpes.

Acne.

Ringworm (tinea corporis) infections, unless prescribed by a doctor.

Other skin infections, unless prescribed by a doctor.

Daktacort hydrocortisone cream should not be used if you are allergic to any of its ingredients. If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using Daktacort hydrocortisone cream and inform your doctor or pharmacist.

To read the patient information leaflet for this product please click here:

https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/medicine/3354

Service details

Price: Small charge

Frequency: When required…

Fungal skin infections

Introduction