Your Body On Clotrimazole
Theres fungus among us. Theres a wide variety of fungi that live on our skin and in our bodies. If that sounds gross, just know that its normal. Most of the time, youll have no idea its there. Why? Because helpful bacteria in the neighborhood keep that fungus from growing out of control. These organisms are all part of whats called your microbiome.
Unfortunately, taking antibiotics, certain medications for asthma and autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, and even pregnancy can upset the balance. They kill the good-for-you bacteria and allow the fungi to have its way. The result? A fungal infection, or mycosis. That will make your life a lot less pleasant. Were talking uncomfortable skin conditions like athletes foot and jock itch, as well as vaginal yeast infections and thrush, which affects your mouth and throat.
Before Using Topical Clotrimazole
- tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to clotrimazole, any other medications, or any of the ingredients in clotrimazole cream or liquid. Ask your pharmacist for a list of the ingredients.
- tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take.
- tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. If you become pregnant while using clotrimazole, call your doctor.
Who Can And Cannot Take Terbinafine
Tablets, cream and gel can be prescribed for adults and children aged 1 year and over.
The cream, gel and spray that you can buy in a pharmacy or supermarket is suitable for people aged 16 years or older. The solution is only suitable for adults .
To make sure terbinafine is safe for you, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you:
- have had an allergic reaction to terbinafine or any other medicines in the past
To make sure the tablets are safe for you, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you:
- have ever had liver or kidney problems
- are pregnant, trying to get pregnant or are breastfeeding
Don’t Miss: Cranberry Pills For Yeast Infection
Causes Of Jock Itch In Women
Jock itch is caused by a fungus called tinea, from the same family of fungi responsible for ring worm and athletes foot. What causes this fungal infection of the groin in females? Tinea likes to live in hot, moist environments. Thats why it spreads easily in places like locker rooms and public showers and can readily be passed by sharing contaminated towels or gym clothes. Wearing tight clothes, especially underwear, exercise clothes and bathing suits also encourages its growth.
Treating A Fungal Infection
The good news is that most fungal infections can be easily treated with over-the-counter medication. See your pharmacist for advice on the right type of medication to take, or book an appointment with your GP. Women who are pregnant should speak with their GP before taking medication for thrush.
Follow our tips below for preventing fungal infections this summer, and get some information on treating them if you do get infected.
Recommended Reading: Yeast Infection Treatment For Dog Ears
How To Take Terbinafine Tablets
Swallow the tablet whole with a drink of water.
You can take terbinafine tablets with or without food. It’s best to take your tablets at the same time each day.
The usual dose is 1 tablet, taken once a day. You will usually take the tablets for 2 to 6 weeks. This depends on the type of infection you have and how serious it is.
If you have a fungal nail infection, you will probably need to take the tablets for several months. These infections take a while to clear.
What Other Drugs Will Affect Miconazole Topical
It is not likely that other drugs you take orally or inject will have an effect on topically applied miconazole. But many drugs can interact with each other. Tell each of your health care providers about all medicines you use, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.
Also Check: How To Treat Yeast Infection During Pregnancy
How Long Do Penile Yeast Infections Last
This depends on how advanced the yeast infection is, how fast you treat it, and how well it responds to medication. If you treat the infection with over-the-counter meds, youll usually apply these for one to three weeks.2 Ideally, this will be enough to make the yeast infection go away for good. If that doesnt do the trick, youll need to see your doctor for next steps and an updated timeline. Youll most likely need to take a single dose of oral antifungal medication, or, if symptoms are severe, two single doses, three days apart, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Dont Miss: Bladder Infection Back Pain Right Side
How To Use Jock Itch Relief Cream
Use this medication on the skin only. Clean and thoroughly dry the area to be treated. Apply this medication to the affected skin, usually twice a day or as directed by your doctor. Dosage and length of treatment depends on the type of infection being treated. Do not apply this more often than prescribed. Your condition will not clear faster, but side effects may be increased.
Apply enough medication to cover the affected area and some of the surrounding skin. After applying this medication, wash your hands. Do not wrap, cover or bandage the area unless directed to do so by your doctor.
Do not apply this medication in the eyes, nose, mouth, or .
Use this medication regularly in order to get the most benefit from it. Remember to use it at the same times each day.
Continue to use this medication until the full prescribed amount is finished, even if symptoms disappear after starting clotrimazole. Stopping the medication too early may allow the fungus to continue to grow, which may result in a relapse of the infection.
Inform your doctor if your condition lasts after 4 weeks of treatment or gets worse at any time.
Recommended Reading: What Antibiotics Treat Yeast Infections
How To Use Terbinafine Spray
Put the spray on the infected area once or twice a day for 1 to 2 weeks.
If you’re using the spray on the area between your toes, or on your bottom or groin, you can cover the skin with a clean strip of gauze afterwards. This type of light dressing is available to buy at pharmacies and is especially helpful to use at night.
What Questions Should I Ask My Doctor
- How did I get jock itch?
- How long is jock itch contagious?
- What steps can I take to prevent jock itch from spreading to other parts of my body?
- What steps can I take to prevent jock itch from spreading to other people?
- Whats the best treatment for jock itch?
- Should I avoid any medications or treatments?
- What steps can I take to keep from getting jock itch again?
- Should I look out for signs of complications?
A note from Cleveland Clinic
Jock itch is an unpleasant condition. Its itchy and annoying. It can also sting or burn. However, antifungal medications or home remedies will help you get rid of jock itch. Be sure you dont scratch your groin, as it can spread the fungus to other parts of your body. Its important to follow your healthcare providers treatment plan, too. If you dont finish your full course of medicine, jock itch can come back. Ask your healthcare provider how you can keep jock itch from spreading to other parts of your body or other people.
You May Like: How To Tell If Yeast Infection Or Bv
Clotrimazole May Cause Side Effects If You Experience Any Of These Symptoms Stop Using Clotrimazole And Call Your Doctor:
- blistering, redness, swelling, itching, burning, stinging, peeling, hives, or skin cracks
Clotrimazole may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while using this medication.
If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online or by phone .
Risk Factors For Jock Itch
If the following factors apply to you, you might have a higher risk of jock itch:
- Youre a teenager.
- You have overweight or live with obesity, which increases how many skin folds you have. The fungi that cause jock itch thrive in sweaty skin folds.
- You have a tendency to sweat, which increases the moisture of the skin and encourages dermatophytes to multiply.
- Your immune system doesnt function as it should due to an underlying health condition or treatment for a condition. People who are immunocompromised have
Read Also: How To Treat Yeast Infections At Home
Common Conditions Treated By Clotrimazole
Before we get into specifics, one important reminder: Make sure you actually have one of these conditions before you pick up a tube at the drugstore. Yes, that means get your suspicious symptoms verified by your doctor or pharmacist. Also important to note: These infections can be contagious both to other people and other parts of your body. That makes prompt treatment even more important.
Ringworm Despite its name, this common fungal infection does notrepeat, notinvolve worms of any kind. It gets its name from the ring-like pattern it can form on your skin. About 40 types of fungi can cause ringworm, and the infection goes by different names depending on where it occurs on your body.
Thrush : This type of fungal infection occurs in your mouth and throat and can cause soreness, loss of taste and white patches that look like cottage cheese. Fortunately, your doctor can prescribe clotrimazole lozenges. You suck on it and it distributes the antifungal medication around your mouth, says McCurdy. Treatment takes 10 to 14 days. Good oral hygiene can help prevent thrush. Thrush can also affect nursing moms and their babies, who experience oral symptoms. In some cases, clotrimazole cream can be applied to the nipples. Talk to your doctor and pediatrician. Its important that both mom and baby be treated to prevent passing the infection back and forth.
What If I Forget To Take It Or Use It
If you forget to use your terbinafine cream, gel or spray, do not worry. Just apply it as soon as you remember and then keep following your usual routine.
If you forget to take a terbinafine tablet, take it as soon as you remember, unless it’s nearly time for your next dose. In this case, just skip the missed dose and take your next one as normal until you have finished the course.
Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed dose.
If you forget doses often, it may help to set an alarm to remind you. You could also ask your pharmacist for advice on other ways to remember your medicines.
Recommended Reading: How To Get Rid Of Penile Yeast Infection
What Is Jock Itch
Jock itch is a common fungal infection similar to ringworm. Jock itch causes an itchy, stinging, burning rash on the skin around your groin, inner thighs and butt crack . Tinea cruris is another name for jock itch. Tinea is another name for ringworm, and cruris means groin.
With this infection, your skin may become scaly and cracked or develop bumps or blisters.
How Do Otc Antifungal Creams Compare To Prescription
OTC antifungal creams are typically used to treat mild and common fungal skin infections like ringworm, jock itch, and athletes foot. Some are also used to treat vaginal yeast infections.
In some cases, prescription antifungal creams might be stronger or more effective at treating certain types of fungal infections. Some prescription products also contain a corticosteroid. A corticosteroid can be helpful for itching, swelling, and redness associated with a fungal skin infection. These include clotrimazole/betamethasone cream and nystatin/triamcinolone.
Don’t Miss: Dr Berg Nutritional Yeast Tablets
What Should I Avoid While Using Clotrimazole Topical
Avoid getting this medication in your eyes, nose, or mouth.
Avoid using other skin medications on the areas you treat with Lotrimin AF Cream unless your doctor tells you to.
Avoid wearing tight-fitting, synthetic clothing that doesn’t allow air circulation. Wear clothing made of loose cotton and other natural fibers until the infection is healed.
What Causes Jock Itch
To put it bluntly, your crotch can be a breeding ground for the fungus that causes jock itch, especially after a sweaty workout. If you dont have time for a shower immediately after you work out, the sweat and bacteria our pores naturally emit down there have nowhere to go. It creates a tempestuous environment for tinea , Dr. Radusky says.
If you have diabetes, you also may be more at risk. Diabetes increases your risk of jock itch in two ways: the excess sugar emitted in your sweat is a fantastic food for fungus, and your immune system is not as strong in general, making you more at risk for common skin infections, he advises.
You May Like: How To Treat Yeast Infection Cuts
When Should I Contact My Doctor About Jock Itch
If your symptoms dont improve after 2 weeks of home treatments, you should make an appointment to see your doctor. You may have developed a secondary infection that needs prompt treatment.
If you dont already have a dermatologist, you can browse doctors in your area through the Healthline FindCare tool.
Top 3 Fungal Treatment Options
If youre struggling with a fungal infection like ringworm, jock itch, candida, or another condition, dont stress. These conditions are quite common and almost always treated easily with the right care. Find out more about these types of fungal infections and the host of available fungal infection treatment options on the market today.
Don’t Miss: How Can You Get Yeast Infection
How Soon After Treatment Will I Feel Better
With proper diagnosis and treatment, your jock itch should go away in one to eight weeks. And, be sure to follow your healthcare providers instructions.
Its also important to finish your full course of medicine. During the early healing stages, itchiness and irritation will fade. Even if your symptoms go away, you may still have jock itch. If you dont finish your full course of medicine, your jock itch can come back and be harder to treat.
Which Antifungal Creams Are Available Otc
Many skin fungal infections are mild problems that can be treated with OTC creams. But as youre browsing these products, be sure to check the label first. Some brands sell multiple different types of antifungals under the same brand name.
Lets dig into what you should know about a few popular options.
Don’t Miss: Where To Buy Brewing Yeast
What Is This Medicine
MICONAZOLE is an antifungal medicine. It is used to treat certain kinds of fungal or yeast infections of the skin.
This medicine may be used for other purposes ask your health care provider or pharmacist if you have questions.
COMMON BRAND NAME: Desenex, Lotrimin AF Powder, Micro-Guard, Mitrazol, Remedy, Zeasorb Athlete’s Foot, Zeasorb Jock Itch
How Are Yeast Infections Treated
Prescription and OTC medications both treat vaginal yeast infections. If this is your first time experiencing a yeast infection, its best to talk with your doctor for an official diagnosis.
However, if youre familiar with the symptoms, youll likely be able to pick up an OTC medication to treat the yeast infection.
Talk with your doctor to assess your symptoms and treatment needs if:
- your symptoms dont go away after finishing treatment
- the infection comes back within 2 months
- you have four or more yeast infections within 12 months
Prescription yeast infection medications can include oral pills, creams, ointments, or gels. Diflucan is an oral medication usually prescribed as one dose. For a severe yeast infection, your doctor may recommend a longer prescription course.
Other available OTC or prescription medications include:
Be sure to always finish the entire treatment course, even if your symptoms resolve before completing the medication.
Most OTC treatments are either topical creams and gels or oral medications. Although they all have the common goal of alleviating symptoms, they tend to work differently.
Don’t Miss: Does Eating Yogurt Help Get Rid Of Yeast Infections
Will Jock Itch Go Away On Its Own
Jock itch doesnt typically go away on its own. If its left untreated, it can spread to other areas of your body, including your:
- Nails: Fungal nail infections can be more difficult to treat. Theyre often more resistant to many treatments.
- Hands: A similar fungal infection can spread to your hands. This happens when you scratch your infected groin with your hands or use the same towel to dry off both areas.
- Feet: The same fungus that causes jock itch can also spread to your feet. Its a condition called athletes foot. The fungus typically spreads from your groin to your feet through your underwear. It can also spread by using the same towel to dry off both areas.