What is ketoconazole cream used for?

Ketoconazole topical cream is an antifungal medication. It’s prescribed to treat a variety of skin infections caused by fungus or yeast. Your doctor may prescribe ketoconazole topical cream to treat conditions, such as:

• candidiasis of the skin
• ringworm
• athlete’s foot
• jock itch
• tinea versicolor

Ketoconazole topical cream is a generic drug, but it’s also available in a brand-name version called Nizoral. Ketoconazole is only available with a prescription from your doctor. Ketoconazole comes in other forms, like shampoo and an oral tablet. Your doctor can determine the right form and strength of ketoconazole for you.

Ketoconazole topical cream works by killing the fungus causing an infection. It typically takes around 2 to 3 weeks for ketoconazole to work on most fungal infections.

Cutaneous candidiasis

Candidiasis is a fungal infection that occurs when there is an overgrowth of a type of yeast called Candida. Candida naturally lives on your body. But overgrowth of Candida can cause raised, discolored, itchy bumps that appear as a rash on your skin.

An overgrowth of candida can occur anywhere in or on your body. Cutaneous candidiasis means it occurs on your skin. It commonly occurs in the folds of your skin, such as:

• underarms
• groin
• between your fingers
• under your breasts

Ketoconazole cream may help balance the amount of candida and ease some of the symptoms, such as itchiness. Doctors typically prescribe ketoconazole 2% cream. It’s applied once per day, covering the affected and surrounding areas.

Ketoconazole cream typically works as soon as you apply it. But you need to keep using the cream for around 2 weeks for candidiasis.

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Ringworm

Ringworm, also known as tinea corporis, is a type of fungal skin infection. It’s common and highly transmissible. Despite its name, it is actually a fungus that causes ringworm and not a worm.

The most common symptoms of ringworm include:

• circular, discolored scales or patches with a raised border
• itchy skin
• hair loss in the area affected by ringworm

Ringworm can appear anywhere on your body and has different names depending on where you have it, such as:

• tinea pedis (athlete’s foot)
• tinea cruris (jock itch)
• tinea capitis (scalp and hair)
• tinea manuum (hands)
• tinea barbae (beard)
• tinea faciei (face)
• tinea unguium or onychomycosis (toenails or fingernails)

Doctors typically prescribe ketoconazole 2% cream to treat ringworm infection. It’s applied once per day for 2 to 3 weeks. For athlete’s foot, they may prescribe ketoconazole cream for up to 6 weeks. For a ringworm infection on the toenails, they may prescribe it for more than 6 weeks.

Ketoconazole cream typically starts working as soon as you start using it, but it’s important to continue using it for the full amount of time that your doctor recommends.

Doctors may prescribe a different form of ketoconazole depending on the place of infection. For example, they may prescribe ketoconazole shampoo to treat tinea capitis.

People often confuse eczema and ringworm due to their similar appearance. But eczema is a different kind of condition not caused by a fungus. Although you can use ketoconazole cream to treat ringworm, it is not approved for treating eczema. Your doctor can help determine the difference between ringworm and eczema and suggest appropriate treatment.

Tinea versicolor

Tinea versicolor, also known as pityriasis versicolor, is a common fungal infection that causes patches of discolored skin. The overgrowth of Malassezia, which is a type of yeast or fungus, causes this infection. This fungus naturally lives on your skin, but an excess can cause small, round patches of discolored itchy, or dry skin.

It most commonly affects the skin on your shoulders, back, and upper chest. Hot weather and humidity can make tinea versicolor worse. Because of this, it’s more common in people who live in tropical climates.

To treat tinea versicolor, doctors typically prescribe ketoconazole 2% cream. They typically recommend you apply it once per day to cover the affected area and the area surrounding it. The cream typically starts working soon after using it, but doctors usually recommend using it for around 2 weeks.

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Side effects

Like most medications, ketoconazole cream may cause side effects in some people.

Some possible side effects of ketoconazole cream include:

• skin irritation
• stinging
• itchiness

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist to learn more about ketoconazole cream’s possible side effects and what you can do if they are more severe.

Summary

Ketoconazole topical cream is a prescription antifungal medication used to treat different skin conditions caused by fungus or yeast, such as candidiasis of the skin, ringworm, athlete’s foot, jock itch, and tinea versicolor.

Doctors typically prescribe ketoconazole 2% cream for these conditions, and it usually takes around 2 to 3 weeks for your symptoms to clear up.

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist about the uses and possible side effects of ketoconazole cream. Also, let them know if you do not get any relief from the symptoms after using ketoconazole cream.