Clotrimazole 1% Cream

Male Thrush Doctor Service

The recommended treatment for thrush in men depends on which area of the body is affected.

For thrush that doesn't affect the penis, a type of anti-fungal cream called topical imidazole is usually recommended. (Fluconazole is the first-choice treatment for thrush that affects the penis. It's also used as an alternative antifungal medication if your symptoms do not improve within 14 days of using a topical imidazole.)

Topical imidazoles work by breaking down the membranes (walls) of the fungi cells. Examples of topical imidazoles include:

• clotrimazole
• econazole
• ketoconazole
• miconazole

Most of these treatments are available also from your pharmacist without a prescription. Your pharmacist can advise which treatment is most suitable for you.

Clotrimazole 

Clotrimazole is an antifungal medicine, it belongs to a group of medicines called imidazoles and is an antifungal agent which fights the cause of fungal skin infections.

Clotrimazole is used to treat fungal skin infections caused by a fungus (yeast).  It acts by breaking down fungal cell walls leading to cell death, as well as preventing the fungal cells from growing and reproducing.

Clotrimazole treats different types of fungal infections including:

• athlete's foot
• ringworm
• fungal sweat rash
• external genital thrush
• fungal nail infection
• rash in folds of skin (intertrigo).

Clotrimazole 1% Cream contains the active substance clotrimazole. It is also used to relieve irritation of the end of the penis (external thrush), which may be associated with thrush.

Most of these skin infections are caused by fungal or yeast organisms.

• When Clotrimazole is applied to the infected area of skin it works by destroying the fungus or yeast which has caused the infection.
• They are characterised by sore, red, itchy and often scaly skin.

These infections are common and can be highly contagious. It is important that good hygiene measures are practised, such as hand washing and using separate towels, to prevent the spread of infection.  

If you are unsure whether you have one of these fungal skin infections, seek the advice of your doctor or pharmacist.

• Clotrimazole is an antifungal agent used in the treatment of fungal skin infections.
• Clotrimazole is commonly used in the treatment of athlete's foot, ringworm and sweat rashes.
• Clotrimazole should be applied 2-3 times a day for at least one week after symptoms have resolved.

About Thrush In Men

Thrush is a yeast infection caused by a fungus called Candida albicans. Both men and women can get thrush, though it is more often associated with women. The medical term for thrush is candidiasis.

What It Looks Like

In men, it usually affects the head of the penis – causing irritation, discharge and redness.  It can also affect the skin, known as candidal skin infection, and the inside of the mouth, known as oral thrush.

What Causes Thrush?

The fungus candida albicans occurs naturally in your body, particularly in warm, moist areas, such as inside the mouth and around the genitals.

It does not usually cause problems because it is kept under control by your immune system (the body’s natural defence against illness and infection) and other types of bacteria in the body.

However, certain conditions can cause the fungus to multiply and lead to infection. You are more likely to be at risk of thrush if:

• you have a weakened immune system
• you are obese, with large rolls of skin (an environment where fungi can often thrive)
• you have type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes – as the high levels of glucose associated with diabetes can encourage the fungus to breed; people with diabetes also tend to sweat more, creating a perfect breeding environment for the fungus

Should I See A Doctor?

If you suspect thrush for the first time, it's best to see a doctor for a diagnosis. This is because the symptoms can be similar to those of a sexually transmitted infection (STI). Your GP will be able to tell the difference.

If you've had thrush before and you recognise the symptoms, you can treat it yourself with over-the-counter medication.

You should also visit your GP if you have a weakened immune system and you have thrush. This is because there is a risk that a thrush infection could progress to a more serious case of invasive candidiasis. Read our page on the complications of thrush for more information about invasive candidiasis.

Treating & Preventing Thrush

You can treat thrush without prescription medications. For thrush affecting your penis, ask your chemist for clotrimazole cream or a tablet called fluconazole. For thrush infections in your groin or elsewhere, the chemist can supply a cream.

It's possible for thrush to spread during sex, but it's not an STI. However, both sexual partners may need thrush treatment to prevent re-infection. Re-infection from a female partner is common. Seek advice from a pharmacist or your GP.

However, not all cases are caused by sex, and many cases develop in men and women who are not sexually active.

You can help prevent thrush by cleaning your penis regularly and using a condom while having sex with your partner (if they have thrush).

• Avoid using perfumed soaps or shower gels on your genitals, as they can cause irritation. Make sure you dry your penis properly after washing.
• Wearing loose-fitting cotton underwear can help prevent moisture building up under your foreskin, which lowers the chances of the candida fungus multiplying. 

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. As with all medicines, some people may be allergic to the cream. If you are allergic, a reaction will occur soon after you start using it.

If you experience an allergic reaction, stop using Clotrimazole and tell your doctor straight away or contact the Accident and Emergency Department of your nearest hospital.

Signs of an allergic reaction may include:

• Weakness, feeling dizzy or faint
• Swallowing or breathing problems
• Rash
• Swelling of the lips, face, throat or tongue
• Nausea

After you apply the cream you might experience:

Itching, rash, blisters, burning, discomfort, swelling, irritation, redness or peeling of skin. This may mean that you are allergic to the cream.

For a full list of side effects, read the Patient Information Leaflet.

If you get any side effects, stop using the cream and talk to your doctor, our Rightdose pharmacists. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet.

You can help to make medicines safer by reporting any side-effects to the Yellow Card Scheme at www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard.

Before taking any medication, it is important to read the Patient Information Leaflet. You can find information leaflets for your medicines by typing them into the search bar at medicines.org, or by contacting us.

Patient Information Leaflet Clotrimazole 1% Cream 20g

Do not use Clotrimazole:

• if you are allergic to clotrimazole or any of the other ingredients of this medicine.

Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.

How to store Clotrimazole Cream

• Store in a cool dry place.
• Do not use this cream after the expiry date which is stated on the carton after EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
• Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.

Before using any medication, it is important to read the Patient Information Leaflet. You can find information leaflets for your medicines by typing them into the search bar at medicines.org, or by contacting us.

Directions:

Always use this medicine exactly as described in the patient information leaflet or as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.

Clotrimazole cream should be applied to the affected area 2-3 times daily for at least a week after symptoms have resolved.

• Before use, pierce the tube seal by inverting the cap over the end of the tube and press.
• The infected skin should be washed and dried thoroughly, especially between the toes, before applying the cream.
• Clotrimazole should be applied thinly and evenly to the affected areas, two or three times daily and rubbed in gently.
• A strip of cream (½ cm long) is enough to treat an area of about the size of the hand.
• The duration of the treatment depends upon the type of infection. Use the cream for at least two weeks for candida (thrush) infections or at least one month for other infections.
• If you have an athlete’s foot, it may help to use an antifungal dusting powder as well. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to recommend one.

The symptoms of skin infection such as itching or soreness, should improve within a few days of treatment although signs such as redness and scaling may take longer to disappear. If symptoms persist, consult your doctor.

Clotrimazole is for external use only.

• Do not put the cream in your mouth or swallow it.
• If the cream is swallowed accidentally, tell your doctor straight away or contact the Accident and Emergency Department of your nearest hospital.
• If you accidentally get cream in your eyes or mouth, wash immediately with water and contact your doctor.

Clotrimazole contains cetostearyl alcohol

This medicine contains cetostearyl alcohol which may cause local skin reactions (e.g. rash, itching or redness).

Clotrimazole contains benzyl alcohol

This medicine contains benzyl alcohol which may cause mild local irritation.

If you forget to use Clotrimazole

Apply the cream as soon as possible, then continue the rest of your treatment as usual.

If you stop using Clotrimazole

Do not suddenly stop using Clotrimazole as this may cause the symptoms of the infection to return.

You can help the treatment to work if you follow these simple steps:

• Keep the affected skin areas clean.
• Pay particular attention to drying the skin, but avoid excessive rubbing.
• Always wash your hands after treating the infection to prevent it from spreading.
• Do not share towels, bath mats, etc. with other people as you could spread the infection to them.
• Although the infected area will itch, try not to scratch. Scratching will damage the surface of the skin and cause the infection to spread further.

If you have athlete’s foot:

• Remember to dry the skin between the toes thoroughly.
• Wash your socks, stockings and tights thoroughly in hot water to remove any shed skin or fungal spores.
• Change your footwear daily if possible.

Warnings and precautions

Do not use Clotrimazole:

• if you are allergic to clotrimazole or any of the other ingredients of this medicine.

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using Clotrimazole if you have used a cream containing clotrimazole or a similar medicine before and suffered an allergic or unpleasant skin reaction. This may have been a skin rash or itching in the area the cream was applied.

• Do not smoke or go near naked flames - risk of severe burns. Fabric (clothing, bedding, dressings etc) that has been in contact with this product burns more easily and is a serious fire hazard. Washing clothing and bedding may reduce product build-up but not totally remove it.

Other medicines and Clotrimazole

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription.

• Clotrimazole is not known to interact with any other medicines.

As with other creams, Clotrimazole may reduce the effectiveness of rubber contraceptives, such as condoms or diaphragms. Consequently, if you are using this cream on the vulva or penis, you should use alternative precautions for at least five days after using this product.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

It is advised that you consult your doctor or pharmacist before using this treatment if you are pregnant or breastfeeding  or are planning to have a baby before using Clotrimazole. If you have informed your doctor or midwife already, follow his/her instructions carefully.

Driving and using machines

Clotrimazole will not affect your ability to drive or operate machinery.

Ingredients:

The active substance is clotrimazole. Each gram of cream contains 10 mg of clotrimazole (i.e. 1% w/w).

The other ingredients are benzyl alcohol (see section 2 “Clotrimazole contains benzyl alcohol”),, polysorbate 60, cetyl esters wax, cetostearyl alcohol (see section 2 “Clotrimazole contains cetostearyl alcohol”), octyldodecanol, sorbitan monostearate and purified water.

What Clotrimazole looks like and contents of the pack

Clotrimazole Cream 1% is a smooth white cream and is available in tubes of 20g or 50g.