Antifungal creams are a type of medicine prescribed to treat fungal skin infections.

A range of fungal skin infections including athletes foot, ringworm, yeast infections, oral & vaginal thrush and pityriasis versicolor.

Fungal infections of the skin are very common; and rarely serious. They are caused by fungi which usually live harmlessly on your skin, soil and food which can occasionally thrive and multiply on a particular skin surface and cause infection.

Antifungal creams work by damaging the cell wall of the fungus and therefore killing the fungus.

The dose depends on the condition; some courses may be as short as a few days using the cream twice daily.

The course for a complicated fungal infection may be longer up to a few weeks.

The creams usually cause no side effects.

Some people may complain of an itch or burning when the cream is first applied.

Avoid sharing your cream with anyone else who may have similar infection.

Avoid sharing towels.

Avoid whilst on this medication.

There is minimal absorption from the skin and this is not known to be harmful.

Being pregnant can increase the risk of vaginal thrush, and often treatment with antifungal creams is quite safe. Always discuss this with your doctor.

The manufacturers advise to be used with caution due to limited data available.