Nizoral Cream (ketoconazole) is an antifungal medication applied topically to fungal infections on the skin. Like most topical antifungals, results are usually noticeable within the first few days of use and serious side effects are extremely rare.

Conditions most commonly treated with Nizoral Cream include:

• Athlete's foot
• Jock itch
• Ringworm
• Tinea versicolor
• Seborrheic dermatitis
• External thrush
• Certain yeast infections

On average, a fungal infection treated with Nizoral Cream will be completely cleared up in two to four weeks.

Effective Use of Nizoral Cream

While for the most part use of Nizoral Cream is self-explanatory, there are some things to keep in mind to ensure treatment is trouble-free:

• Nizoral Cream should be applied twice a day to the affected skin, extending a short ways onto surrounding healthy skin.
• It should never be applied to mucous membranes, open wounds, or skin with a bacterial, viral, or unknown infection.
• The application site should not be covered with airtight dressings or clothing.

In most cases the recommended treatment is two weeks, even if all symptoms vanish before then (as they often do). There may be lingering fungus in amounts too small to cause noticeable symptoms but in sufficient quantities to cause a resurgence of the infection if treatment is stopped early. Similar to antibiotics, stopping treatment too early can contribute to resistant fungus.

Some infections are tougher than others, and it may take up to four weeks of twice-daily application for symptoms to be completely eradicated. This is particularly true of seborrheic dermatitis; four weeks of treatment is the norm rather than the exception.

Treatment may be repeated as-needed if the infection recurs in the future, assuming the medication produced good results the first time.

If the infection is not cleared up in two to four weeks, treatment may continue longer, but having the infection checked out by a doctor is highly recommended. Likewise if the condition worsens during treatment. Depending on the type of fungus involved, alternative medications may be more effective.

On Safety

As mentioned above, Nizoral Cream, and other topical antifungal medications, are very unlikely to produce serious adverse effects if used properly. Persistent improper use, which includes applying the medication to open wounds, non-fungal infections, or mucous membranes, or covering the application site with an airtight dressing, can produce potentially serious adverse reactions over time.

The greatest concern with Nizoral Cream is ingestion; if pets or children accidentally eat the cream, emergency medical attention should be sought.

Applied properly Nizoral Cream does not penetrate the skin to be absorbed into the bloodstream, which provides additional advantages over oral administration:

• It is considered safe for use in pregnant or breast-feeding women. If applying the cream to breasts to treat thrush, be sure the medication is washed off before feeding.
• It is safe for use in individuals with liver damage or other preexisting conditions which prevent use of oral antifungals.
• It will not interact with other medications, supplements or foods.

In short, if Nizoral Cream is used properly, there is virtually no risk of serious or dangerous adverse effects.

Side Effects

Since the medication does not enter the bloodstream, side effects are typically restricted to the application site. The one exception is if there is an extreme allergic reaction to treatment, which is exceedingly rare, but which may cause life-threatening swelling of the face and throat, difficulty breathing, heartbeat changes and confusion or unconsciousness.

The most commonly experienced side effects include:

• Mild burning, stinging, or tingling sensation during application
• Dry skin at or around application site
• Other mild irritation at or around application site

Less commonly more serious side effects may develop at the application site, including:

• Blistering or bleeding
• Redness, swelling or pain
• Rash, itching or hives

While very unlikely to be dangerous, if the above symptoms do develop discontinue use of Nizoral Cream until speaking with a doctor.