Clotrimazole is an antifungal medicine. It's used to treat skin infections caused by a fungus (yeast). It works by killing the fungus that is causing the infection.
Clotrimazole treats different types of fungal infections, including:
- athlete's foot
- ringworm
- fungal nail infection
- infected nappy rash
- rash in folds of skin (intertrigo)
Clotrimazole is available as a cream, spray and a solution that you put on your skin. The treatment you use will depend on where the infection is on your body.
You can buy clotrimazole from a pharmacy or shop.
Clotrimazole is also available as external and internal cream and pessaries, to treat vaginal thrush.
Key facts
- It usually takes around 7 days of clotrimazole treatment for fungal infections to improve.
- Apply clotrimazole to the infected area 2 or 3 times a day for at least 2 weeks.
- Do not use clotrimazole cream, spray or solution for more than 4 weeks, unless a doctor tells you to. Fungal infections can become resistant to clotrimazole and it can stop working properly.
- The most common side effect of clotrimazole is skin irritation in the area you've treated.
- Always wash your hands after treating the infection to stop it from spreading.