Daktarin

Daktarin

Daktarin is an antifungal topical cream used to treat fungal infections such as athlete’s foot, jock itch and ringworm.

Other formulations of Daktarin, such as Gyno-daktarin and Daktarin Oral Gel, are intended to treat thrush (candida) infections.

What are ringworm, jock itch, and athlete’s foot?

Ringworm (tinea corporis), Dhobie itch/jock itch (tinea cruris) and athlete’s foot (tinea pedis) are skin infections caused by fungi pathogens. These infections are contagious and should be treated as soon as possible to avoid infecting other people.

Fungal skin infections can spread to other parts of the body. This commonly occurs with athlete’s foot and fungal nail infections. The fungi of athlete’s food between the toes can spread to the toenail, resulting in a fungal nail infection.

Similarly, a ringworm infection which spreads to your groin area is commonly referred to as jock itch.

Symptoms of a fungal skin infection include:

• Bald spots on scalp
• Blisters
• Broken skin
• Discolouration of nails
• Itching skin
• Peeling skin
• Raised ring shaped rash
• Scaling or flaky skin

While the condition can be uncomfortable, it is important to resist the urge of scratching infected rashes, as this increases the risk of spreading the infection to other parts of your body.

Fungal infections can be easily treated with over-the-counter and prescription medicines, like Daktarin Cream.

How Does Daktarin Work?

Daktarin contains an antifungal called miconazole nitrate.

This compound interferes with the production of a chemical, called ergosterol, which the fungi cells need to survive. By inhibiting the cell’s ability to produce ergosterol, the walls of the fungal cell become weakened and the contents of the cells spill out, thus killing the infection.

Similar to antibiotics, you must complete your course of treatment with antifungals.

How Do I Use Daktarin?

Daktarin cream is a topical cream intended for external use only.

The cream is applied directly to the affected area.

It is important to always wash your hands before and after applying Daktarin cream.

How long you use Daktarin cream for, as well as how quickly your infection will be cleared, will depend on the type of fungal infection you have and the severity of the infection.

For fungal skin infections (jock itch, ringworm, athlete’s foot):

You should use Daktarin twice daily for fungal skin infections.

After the symptoms have cleared, continue using Daktarin for a further 7 days to prevent the infection from recurring.

For fungal nail infections:

The doctor will tell you whether you should apply it once or twice a day, depending on the severity of the infection.

You should continue using Daktarin for 10 days after your symptoms have cleared.

Applying Daktarin cream:

• Wash the affected area with mild soap and warm water. Pat dry the area with a clean towel. Avoid rubbing the towel to prevent irritation.
• Apply enough cream to form a thin layer over the affected skin and surrounding area.
• After applying the cream, wash your hands thoroughly.

If you have any concerns about the amount of cream you should use, or how to apply the cream, speak to your doctor or pharmacist for advice.

What should I do if I forget to use Daktarin cream when I should?

If you forget a dose of Daktarin, do not apply the forgotten dose.

Apply your next dose as normal and continue using Daktarin cream as directed by your doctor.

Do not apply more Daktarin to make up for your forgotten dose.

Applying more Daktarin cream will not clear your infection any faster, but can increase your risk of side effects.

What should I do if I have used too much Daktarin cream?

If you have used too much Daktarin cream, you may experience skin irritation. In this case, skip one or two applications and begin using Daktarin again afterwards, according to your instructions.