Ketoconazole cream helps treat skin infections like

  • Jock itch
  • Athlete’s foot
  • Ringworm
  • Dandruff

ketoconazole cream helps treat another skin condition – pityriasis (tinea versicolor). It is a fungal skin infection that makes the skin color around the arms, chest, neck, and legs light or dark. This cream prevents fungal growth. This cream treats fungal infections effectively. It is available in form of gel, cream, shampoo, and aerosol foam. Do not use this cream in areas like the mouth, nose, vagina, and eyes. If the medicine enters your eyes, wash it with water.

How to use the cream?

  • This cream is to be applied on skin only.
  • Before using it clean the affected area properly and dry it.
  • Apply this cream to the affected skin once/twice a day as recommended by your skin specialist.
  • The duration and dose of this cream depend on the particular skin infection treated.
  • Do not use this cream in excess amounts. Else, you may see increased side effects.
  • The cream should be applied to cover the entire skin area that is affected including some parts of the surrounding skin.
  • Wash your hands after you apply this cream
  • Avoid using a bandage to cover the affected area after applying this cream unless your skin doctor tells you to do so.
  • Using this cream regularly will fetch maximum benefits. 

Side effects of Ketoconazole cream

  • Vomiting
  • Abdominal pain
  • Nausea
  • Increased liver enzymes
  • Itching
  • Diarrhea
  • Abnormal liver function tests
  • Application site redness
  • Application site burning
  • Adrenal insufficiency

Important things to share with a doctor before using this cream

Tell your skin specialist about the following

  • If you are allergic to this cream.
  • If you have allergic reaction to azole antifungal like miconazole, econazole etc.,
  • If you suffer from other allergies.

This cream may have some inactive elements as well. They can result in some other problems as well as allergic reactions. So, discuss with your medical expert to know more details. Also, tell your medical profession about your medical history.

Important facts

  • For fungal infections, this cream can take 2 to 3 weeks to work. For an athlete’s foot, it takes 6 weeks to show improvement.
  • The cream destroys the fungi that are responsible for leading to infections.
  • The common side effects of this cream are red and irritated skin
  • You have to use this cream once/twice a day to treat most infections.

Who can & cannot use Ketoconazole cream?

  • This cream is suitable for adults and children above 12 years of age.
  • This cream is not advisable for everyone. So, discuss with your medical professional to know if you can use it. Also, tell your medical expert if you have any allergies.

How to manage the side effects of this cream?

Try to use less cream. Make sure you apply it properly to the area that needs treatment. Rub the cream gently. Make sure you do not use tight clothing as it can cause sweating.

If you notice that the burning sensation, redness, and itching don’t improve after a couple of days, and get severe suddenly, then stop the application of this cream. Consult your skin specialist.

Useful Tips

Breastfeeding women

If you are nursing your baby while using this cream on the chest, wash the cream on your breasts & nipples thoroughly. Also, wash your hands before you start feeding your baby.

Pregnant women

Women can apply this cream during pregnancy. It is safe as only small amounts of the cream get absorbed into the body and it will not cause any harm to the baby.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q-Can I consume alcohol while using this cream?

Alcohol consumption is fine while using this cream.

Q-Will the use of ketoconazole cream disturb my fertility?

This cream is absorbed in very small amounts into your body. There are no reports of this cream affecting fertility in males or females.

Q-Can I drive a vehicle while using ketoconazole cream?

Yes. Driving a vehicle is safe while using this cream.

Q-Will the use of this cream hinder my contraception?

Using this cream will not hinder any contraceptive you are using which includes emergency contraception and combined pill too.

ketoconazole cream Interactions with other medication

  • Only small amounts of this cream get absorbed into the body. So, you can use this cream as a skin treatment with most medicines.

ketoconazole cream Interaction with other skin treatments

If an individual is using a mild steroid ointment to treat inflammation or swelling caused by a skin infection, apply the cream during morning hours and apply this cream during evening hours. If you are using this cream two times a day, then wait for a minimum of 30 minutes after applying it and then apply the steroid cream.

Well, drug interactions can alter the way medications can work or elevate the chances of severe side effects. Hence, keep a list of the medicines you are using with you. It can help you tell your physician what prescription or non-prescription medicines you are using. Also, you need to tell him about herbal products, supplements, or any other medicines you are using. Do not change the dosage of the drugs, start/stop using them without a medical expert’s approval.

Ketoconazole cream helps treat a range of skin infections. Does that mean it helps treat genital herpes as well? Before answering this question, let us understand more about genital herpes.

Genital herpes is a chronic infection that is not curable.  This infection occurs due to either of 2 herpesviruses.

.  Herpes simplex 1- (HSV-1)

.  Herpes simplex 2 – (HSV-2)

Both can spread via sexual contact. While undergoing treatment for genital herpes, one must consider the fact that it is a lifelong illness.

You can manage herpes and live a normal life without worrying about the disease.  You need to follow the treatment in the long run and listen to the doctor’s advice.

When it comes to the treatment of genital herpes, antiviral drugs play an important role. Antiviral medications can

  • Relax genital sores & pain in their initial stages
  • Offer relief in the initial stages and in further eruptions too.
  • Avoid infection from spreading to a sexual partner.

Well, not everyone with genital herpes opts for medication, antiviral medicine comes with several benefits for many people who experience herpes symptoms.

If you have genital herpes infection, the doctor will suggest oral antiviral medicines to soothe your symptoms at the initial stages and for further episodes of infection.

The doctor may ask you to take antiviral drugs every day to reduce the possible symptoms and safeguard your partners.

Note: Antiviral medications do not kill the virus completely. It stays in your body, so, if you stop taking the medicine, you may witness frequent or severe eruptions. You may be at risk of passing the virus to others.

The 3 antiviral drugs mentioned below are to be taken orally to treat genital herpes

.  famciclovir (Famvir)

.  acyclovir (Zovirax)

.  valacyclovir (Valtrex)

Ketoconazole cream has reported antiviral actions against HSV-1 and -2 and interdependent antiviral action when combined with acyclovir. So, this cream cannot treat genital herpes condition alone. Since it is meant to treat fungal infections such as athlete’s foot, ringworm, etc.,

Do not try to use this cream to treat genital herpes as this condition spreads through sexual contact and is a chronic disease that needs lifelong treatment through the antiviral drugs mentioned above.