Clotrimazole 1% External Cream

Always use Clotrimazole 1% Cream as described in the patient information leaflet or as advised by your pharmacist.

To use Clotrimazole 1% Cream:

• Before first use, pierce the tube seal by inverting the cap over the end of the tube and pressing against it (please note: this depends on the brand of your medication)
• Wash and dry the affected area thoroughly before applying the cream. Keep a separate towel to use on the affected area and never share it with anyone in the household to avoid spreading the infection. For athlete's foot, take particular care to dry between the toes, and change and wash socks frequently to prevent re-infection.
• Apply a thin and even layer of cream to the affected area and the surrounding skin, then rub in gently
• Apply two to three times daily, or as advised by your pharmacist or doctor.
• A strip of cream about half a centimetre long is enough to cover an area roughly the size of the hand
• Wash your hands after application unless your hands are the area being treated

Treatment duration depends on the type and site of infection. Symptoms such as itching or soreness may improve within a few days, but red or scaly skin can take longer to clear. Continue treatment for at least 2 weeks after symptoms have cleared, unless the patient information leaflet or a healthcare professional advises otherwise.

• Candidal infections, including external thrush symptoms: usually at least 2 weeks
• Dermatophyte infections, including ringworm, athlete's foot and jock itch: usually at least 4 weeks

Do not continue treatment beyond the recommended course unless advised by a doctor or pharmacist.

Most people start to notice an improvement in itching, redness and irritation within a few days of starting Clotrimazole 1% Cream. The visible signs of the infection, such as scaling, soreness or rash, may take longer to disappear and depend on the type and severity of the infection.

To help prevent the infection from returning, continue treatment for at least 2 weeks after symptoms have cleared, unless the leaflet or a healthcare professional advises otherwise.

Clotrimazole 1% Cream is suitable for most adults.

Do not use Clotrimazole 1% Cream if you:

• Have had an allergic reaction to clotrimazole, cetostearyl alcohol, benzyl alcohol or any of the other ingredients listed in the patient information leaflet
• Plan to use it to treat a fungal nail infection or a scalp infection, as the cream does not penetrate these areas effectively
• Are unsure whether your rash is caused by a fungal infection, particularly on the face or in sensitive areas

If you are pregnant, think you may be pregnant or are breastfeeding, speak with a pharmacist or GP before using the cream.

Most people tolerate Clotrimazole 1% Cream well, although side effects can occur. Possible side effects include:

• Redness, itching, burning, stinging or irritation at the application site
• Skin rash or peeling in the treated area

Stop using the cream and speak to a pharmacist or GP if irritation is severe or persistent, or if you develop blistering, swelling or signs of an allergic reaction.

Seek urgent medical attention if you develop swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat, difficulty breathing, fainting or a widespread rash.

Speak to a pharmacist or GP if your symptoms do not start to improve within 7 days, get worse, keep returning, or have not cleared after the recommended treatment course. You should also seek advice if the rash is on your face, scalp, nails or genitals, if you are unsure whether the rash is fungal, or if you have pain, discharge, ulcers, fever or signs of infection.

The active ingredient is clotrimazole 1% w/w. The other ingredients can vary depending on the manufacturer, so always check the patient information leaflet supplied with your medicine.

Some clotrimazole creams contain ingredients such as cetostearyl alcohol or benzyl alcohol, which may cause local skin reactions or mild irritation in some people.

Yes, Clotrimazole 1% Cream can be used to help manage the external symptoms of thrush, including itching, redness and soreness around the vulva or penis.

For internal vaginal thrush, an internal treatment such as Canesten Pessary, Canesten Duo (which contains both an internal pessary and an external cream) or oral Fluconazole is more appropriate. Clotrimazole 1% Cream is not designed to be used inside the vagina.

For male thrush, often referred to as candidal balanitis, a thin layer of Clotrimazole 1% Cream applied two to three times daily to the head of the penis and under the foreskin can help manage the infection. Follow the patient information leaflet or your pharmacist's advice on treatment duration. Seek medical advice if symptoms are severe, recurrent, associated with discharge, ulcers, pain when passing urine, or possible STI exposure.

Yes, Clotrimazole 1% Cream is suitable for managing ringworm (tinea corporis), a fungal infection that typically appears as a circular, scaly, red rash on the body.

Apply a thin layer of cream to the affected area and a small margin of surrounding skin two to three times daily. Treatment should be continued for at least four weeks, even if the rash appears to have cleared sooner, to help prevent recurrence.

Alongside the cream, these self-care measures can help clear the infection and lower the risk of it returning:

• Wear loose-fitting clothes made from natural materials such as cotton or a material designed to draw away moisture from the skin
• Wash the affected area daily and dry the skin thoroughly. Pay particular attention to skin folds.
• Avoid scratching the affected skin, as this can spread the infection to other parts of the body
• Wash your hands before and after each application (unless you are treating your hands)

Ringworm can spread between people. To reduce the risk of passing it on:

• Start your treatment as soon as possible
• Do not share towels, bed linen, combs or clothing with anyone else
• Wash towels, clothing and bed linen frequently, at a high water temperature where possible to remove fungal spores

Yes, Clotrimazole 1% Cream can be used to help manage athlete's foot (tinea pedis), a common fungal infection that affects the feet and is often found between the toes.

To use Clotrimazole 1% Cream for athlete's foot:

• Wash the feet thoroughly with soap and water, paying particular attention to the skin between the toes
• Dry the feet carefully with a clean towel, ensuring the spaces between the toes are completely dry
• Apply a thin layer of cream to the affected areas and a small margin of surrounding skin
• Repeat two to three times daily for the recommended treatment course, usually up to four weeks, and always follow the patient information leaflet or pharmacist's advice

To reduce the risk of reinfection:

• Wear well-fitting, breathable footwear that keeps the feet cool and dry, and avoid shoes that leave your feet hot and sweaty
• Alternate your shoes every two to three days so that each pair has time to dry out fully, and consider replacing old footwear that may be contaminated with fungal spores
• Wear clean, absorbent cotton socks each day, and wash socks and towels frequently at a high temperature
• After washing, dry your feet thoroughly, especially between the toes, dabbing them dry rather than rubbing
• Avoid scratching the affected skin, as this can spread the infection to other parts of the body, and wash your hands after applying the cream

Athlete's foot spreads easily. To avoid passing it on or reinfecting yourself:

• Use a separate towel for your feet and wash it regularly
• Do not share towels, socks or shoes with other people
• Wear flip-flops or other protective footwear in communal areas such as changing rooms, showers and swimming pools, rather than walking around barefoot

Yes, Clotrimazole 1% Cream can be used to help manage jock itch (tinea cruris), a fungal infection that affects the groin, inner thighs and can sometimes spread towards the buttocks.

To use Clotrimazole 1% Cream for jock itch, apply a thin layer of cream to the affected area and a small margin of surrounding skin two to three times daily. Continue applying it for the full recommended course, which can last up to four weeks. Continue applying the cream even if the rash appears to have cleared sooner, as stopping the treatment too early can increase the risk of the infection returning.

Alongside the cream, some simple self-care measures can help the infection clear and reduce the chance of it returning:

• Keep the affected area clean and dry, washing daily and drying thoroughly afterwards, as drying is one of the most important steps, and delay dressing until the skin is fully dry
• Wear loose-fitting cotton underwear and change it daily, and avoid tight underwear or trousers, which trap heat and moisture
• Avoid scratching the affected skin, as this can spread the infection to other parts of the body, and wash your hands after applying the cream

Jock itch spreads easily and is often linked to athlete's foot, so a few further steps help to avoid passing it on or reinfecting yourself:

• Do not share towels, and wash towels, underwear and bed linen frequently at a high temperature
• Use a separate towel for the affected area, or dry the groin before the feet
• If you also have athlete's foot, treat it at the same time, and put your socks on before your underwear, to avoid spreading the fungus from your feet to your groin

Clotrimazole 1% Cream should only be used on the face if a fungal infection, such as ringworm of the face (tinea faciei), is likely or has been confirmed. Keep it away from the eyes, lips and inside of the mouth.

Not all rashes on the face are fungal. Conditions such as eczema, rosacea, seborrhoeic dermatitis and acne may look similar but require different treatments. Consult with your GP before applying an antifungal cream to your face.

Clotrimazole 1% Cream can damage the latex used in condoms and diaphragms when it is applied on or around the genitals. This means they may not provide reliable protection against pregnancy or sexually transmitted infections. Their effectiveness can remain reduced for at least 5 days after you finish treatment.

If you use latex condoms or a diaphragm, consider a non-latex alternative, or rely on alternative methods of contraception during treatment and for a few days afterwards.

Clotrimazole 1% Cream does not affect hormonal methods of contraception, such as the combined pill, the progestogen-only pill or emergency contraception.

If you are treating thrush, it is also advisable to avoid vaginal sex until treatment is complete to reduce the risk of passing the infection to a partner.

Consult with your GP or midwife if you are pregnant, trying to become pregnant or breastfeeding before using Clotrimazole 1% Cream.

No, Clotrimazole is not a steroid. Clotrimazole is an antifungal medicine that belongs to the imidazole class, and it works by targeting the cell membrane of fungi and yeasts rather than reducing inflammation in the way a steroid does.

Combination products such as Canesten HC (Hydrocortisone with Clotrimazole) do contain a mild steroid (hydrocortisone 1%) alongside clotrimazole, but Clotrimazole 1% Cream on its own contains no steroid component.

Clotrimazole 1% Cream and Canesten 1% Cream contain the same active ingredient at the same strength (clotrimazole 1%) and are used to manage many of the same fungal skin infections. However, the inactive ingredients and packaging may differ.

• Clotrimazole 1% Cream is the generic (unbranded) version. It is typically the more affordable option, because there are no brand-development or marketing costs built into the price.
• Canesten 1% Cream is the original branded product, manufactured by Bayer. Some patients prefer the familiarity of the branded packaging, particularly if they have used Canesten previously.

Both are UK-regulated medicines containing clotrimazole 1%, so the choice usually comes down to product preference, tolerance of inactive ingredients and price.

Yes, Clotrimazole 1% Cream is a Pharmacy (P) medicine in the UK, which means it can be supplied without a prescription following a brief pharmacist assessment. It is available over the counter at most high-street pharmacies, as well as online from registered UK pharmacies such as Pharmica.

When you order Clotrimazole 1% Cream from Pharmica, a registered pharmacist reviews each order to confirm that the treatment is suitable before it is dispatched in discreet packaging. There is no need to book a GP appointment or supply a prescription.