General
Description & Use
A antifungal agent used for fungal infections of the skin such
as athlete's foot, jock itch, groin infections, ringworm, candidiasis,
scalp infections, nail infections, fungal nappy rash and for vaginal
yeast infections.
How
does it work?
Daktarin
cream contains the active ingredient miconazole. Miconazole is
an antifungal medicine used to treat infections with fungi and
yeasts. Miconazole kills fungi and yeasts by interfering with
their cell membranes. It works by stopping the fungi from producing
a substance called ergosterol, which is an essential component
of fungal cell membranes. The disruption in production of ergosterol
disrupts the fungal cell membrane, causing holes to appear in
it.
The
cell membranes of fungi are vital for their survival. They keep
unwanted substances from entering the cells and stop the contents
of the cells from leaking out. As miconazole causes holes to appear
in the cell membranes, essential constituents of the fungal cells
can leak out. This kills the fungi and treats the infection. Miconazole
also has some antibacterial action and kills certain bacteria
that may also be present in the infection. Daktarin
cream is used to treat fungal infections of the skin and nails.
The medicine is for external use only. It should not be taken
by or used inside the mouth. Avoid contact with the eyes. Wash
and dry the skin thoroughly before applying the cream. Unless
the infected skin is on your hands, wash your hands after applying
the cream to avoid spreading the infection to other areas of the
body, or to other people. It is important to keep using this medicine
for ten days after the symptoms of the infection have cleared
up. This is to ensure that the infection is fully treated and
thus prevent it coming back. If symptoms persist consult your
doctor.
What
is athlete's foot?
Athlete's foot (the medical term is tinea pedis) is not something
that only athletes can get. It is, in fact, a very common fungal
infection which generally occurs between your toes and is extremely
contagious. You can get athlete's foot just by using a communal
changing room or even sharing a towel. If left untreated the
condition can spread to the soles and sides of the foot and
to the toenails. Athlete's foot may be further complicated by
a bacterial infection, accompanied by an unpleasant smell.
Signs and symptoms often include:
What
causes athlete's foot
Athlete's foot is a fungal infection of the foot caused usually
by one of 3 different types of fungi. As it is not usually known
which of these fungi has caused your athlete's foot, you need
a treatment, such as Daktarin, which is effective against all
the types of fungi that can cause athlete's foot.
When
and how should I treat it?
You should treat athlete's foot as soon as you notice the first
signs of infection. The skin often becomes inflamed and itchy
with areas of ‘dead skin', moistness or blistering and
cracking or peeling. It is important to treat the infected area
quickly and thoroughly. Daktarin offers a range of anti-fungal
sprays, creams and powders that can be used to treat athlete's
foot.
How
can I prevent re-infection?
Even if you've got rid of your athlete's foot, it is very easy
to re-infect yourself. It is important to remember that the
fungi that cause athlete's foot thrive in warm, moist conditions.
Therefore, it is important to dry thoroughly after bathing,
particularly between your toes. The fungi can live in your shoes,
socks and on your towels if you don't change them regularly
enough. You should wear good quality cotton socks that allow
your feet to breath and make sure you wash them at 60°C
to destroy fungal spores.
