If you are using clotrimazole to treat athlete's foot or ringworm, your symptoms should improve over 4 weeks of treatment. Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve during this time or if your symptoms get worse at any time during your treatment.
Ringworm on the skin like athlete's foot (tinea pedis) and jock itch (tinea cruris) can usually be treated with non-prescription antifungal creams, lotions, or powders applied to the skin for 2 to 4 weeks. There are many non-prescription products available to treat ringworm, including: Clotrimazole (Lotrimin, Mycelex)
The symptoms of fungal infections, such as itching or soreness, should get better within a few days of treatment. Red and scaly skin may take longer to get better. You may need treatment for between 1 and 4 weeks. Keep using clotrimazole for 2 weeks even if your symptoms have gone.
Ringworm usually goes away within 4 weeks of treatment.
Apply clotrimazole to the affected area 2 to 3 times a day. It will work better if you can use it 3 times a day.
If you are using clotrimazole to treat athlete's foot or ringworm, your symptoms should improve over 4 weeks of treatment. Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve during this time or if your symptoms get worse at any time during your treatment.
Long-term use of combination corticosteroid creams can cause severe redness and burning with ringworm.
Mild cases of ringworm clear up within a few weeks. More serious infections may require treatment for six to 12 weeks. Some other things you can do to promote healing: Keep the affected area clean and dry.
Antifungal medications are your best bet to cure ringworm fast. Antifungal medications are available over the counter (OTC) or by prescription and come in cream, ointment and pill form.
Apply enough clotrimazole to cover the affected and surrounding skin areas, and rub in gently. Keep this medicine away from the eyes.
Patients should not use tampons, douches, or spermicides during treatment. The patient should also receive instruction to abstain from sexual activity during treatment. Vaginal clotrimazole products may cause damage to condoms, diaphragms, and cervical caps and cause them to fail.
Using too much of this medicine or using it for a long time may increase your risk of having adrenal gland problems. The risk is greater for children and patients who use large amounts for a long time.
Terbinafine (Lamisil) comes in creams, sprays, and gels and can treat athlete's foot, jock itch, and other ringworm infections on the skin. The CDC says terbinafine seems to be the most effective treatment for tinea pedis.
See your GP if your symptoms have not improved after two weeks of treatment, because you may need to take antifungal tablets. Both terbinafine and griseofulvin tablets can be used to treat ringworm infections, as well as another antifungal medicine called itraconazole (see below).
Because the fungi can live indefinitely on the skin, recurrences of ringworm are likely. Treatment may need to be repeated. If you have ringworm symptoms, see your healthcare provider for treatment recommendations. It is important to note that common home remedies do not effectively treat this condition.
When cleaning the area with ringworm, wash the affected area(s) and dry it (them) with a clean towel. Use another clean towel to dry the other parts of your body. Before using these towels again, wash them in hot, sudsy water. To keep the area dry, avoid wearing clothes, socks, and shoes that make you sweat.
Most mild cases of ringworm usually clear up in 2 to 4 weeks. But treatment might be needed for up to 3 months if the infection is more serious, or affects the nails or the scalp.
The rash caused by a ringworm infection is usually round or oval and has a raised border. It starts small and slowly grows larger.
If your child's ringworm is worsening, he or she will have these signs and symptoms: Fever. Pus or drainage. Rash is warm to the touch.
You typically apply the antifungal twice a day for 10 to 14 days. To treat the itch, it often helps to apply a wet, cool washcloth to the area for 20 to 30 minutes. You may need to apply cool compresses 2 to 6 times a day.
Common side effects
discomfort or swelling in or around your vagina. pain or a burning or stinging feeling after putting the pessary in. lower stomach pain or pain in the pelvic area. bleeding from the vagina.
The telltale sign is a red, scaly patch on light skin or brown or gray patches on skin of color. You may also get bumps that itch. Over time, the bump turns into a ring- or circle-shaped patch. It may turn into several rings.