Skin diseases can be caused not only by bacteria, but also by fungi. And with such an infection, local agents that can destroy fungi are most in demand. One of them is Clotrimazole. It comes in many forms, but ointment is most commonly used for skin conditions. Is it allowed in childhood, for what diseases is it used and how does it work?
Release form and composition
Clotrimazole in the form of an ointment is a white or white-yellow thick homogeneous mass with a peculiar smell. On sale there are packages with different amounts of ointment - 15 g, 20 g, 30 g or others. They all contain an active compound called, like the drug, clotrimazole. The concentration of this substance in 1 gram of ointment is 10 mg (1%).
The auxiliary ingredients vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. Among them you can see propylene glycol, methylcellulose, propyl parahydroxybenzoate, cetostearyl alcohol, polysorbate 80, monoglycerides, glycerol and other compounds.
In addition to the ointment, Clotrimazole is represented by several more dosage forms:
- Cream, solution or gel. Such preparations contain 1% of the active substance and are also used for local skin treatment.
- Vaginal tablets or suppositories, prescribed mainly for adults with genital thrush.
Operating principle
The main component of the ointment has antifungal effect. It disrupts the process of synthesis of cell membranes, as a result of which fungal cells become more permeable and destroyed.
If the concentration of clotrimazole is low, then the drug will have a fungistatic effect, that is, it will only slow down the development and growth of pathogenic fungi. A high concentration of an active compound destroys fungi (fungicidal) by influencing enzymes inside the cells of the pathogen.
The drug is active against yeast-like fungi (including candida), molds and dermatophytes.
In addition, it is able to destroy pathogens of skin diseases such as erythrasma and tinea versicolor. The drug also acts on some bacteria, for example, on bacteroids, staphylococci and streptococci.
After application to the skin, the drug acts mainly locally. In this case, the highest concentration of the active compound is noted in the epidermis, and the medication penetrates into the deeper layers of the skin worse.
Indications
Clotrimazole ointment is used for:
- Fungal skin diseases;
- Fungal lesions of the feet;
- Fungus infection of skin folds;
- Fungus of the hands;
- Superficial forms of candidiasis;
- Pityriasis versicolor;
- Mycoses, which were complicated by a purulent bacterial infection.
From what age is it allowed to take?
The use of Clotrimazole ointment in children is possible at any age, but before starting treatment, you should consult your doctor to make sure there is a fungal infection. It is not recommended to smear the skin of a child at 1-5 years old or at a different age without examination by a pediatrician or dermatologist.
Contraindications
The medication is not prescribed for children who have previously had an allergic reaction to clotrimazole or other ingredients of the ointment. There are no other contraindications for childhood in the annotation to the drug.
If the child has liver pathologies, then the work of this organ during treatment with Clotrimazole should be regularly checked. In addition, the medication should not be applied to the skin around the eyes, and if no effect is observed after three days of use, you should consult a doctor to confirm the diagnosis.
Side effects
Since clotrimazole is very poorly absorbed when applied externally, the use of the ointment does not provoke systemic side effects. However, the drug can cause local adverse reactions and allergies.
Small patients sometimes complain that the area treated with the ointment tingles, bakes or itches.
Some children experience flaking, redness, irritation, or swelling of the skin after applying the medicine.
In rare cases, treatment results in paresthesias and rashes. To avoid such negative effects of therapy, the first application of the ointment should be on a small area of the skin. After waiting a few hours and making sure that there are no redness, rashes and other allergy symptoms, then the medication can be used according to the scheme prescribed by the doctor.
Instructions for use and dosage
The drug is applied to the skin twice or three times a day with a thin layer. Before processing, the skin should be cleaned - washed with soap and wiped dry. The applied ointment is gently rubbed into the affected area. The oiled skin is left open until the product is completely absorbed.
The duration of use of the drug in each case should be determined by the doctor, taking into account the severity of the infection, the localization of the process and the reaction of the skin to treatment. For example, with foot fungus, the ointment is used for 2-3 weeks, and with dermatomycosis - at least 4 weeks. As a rule, after the symptoms have completely disappeared, it is recommended to lubricate the skin for another week or longer.
Overdose
In the annotation to the ointment, the manufacturer notes that the use of the drug in higher doses does not lead to any negative reactions, since the medication acts mainly at the site of application to the skin.
Interaction with other drugs
If you use Clotrimazole at the same time with drugs that contain nystatin, amphotericin B or natamycin, this will reduce the therapeutic effect of the ointment. Treatment of the skin with Clotrimazole does not affect the treatment with other means, because it is practically not absorbed and does not enter the bloodstream.
Terms of sale and storage
Clotrimazole in the form of an ointment can be easily purchased at almost any pharmacy, since it is an over-the-counter drug. The average price of a tube containing 20 g of ointment is 35-40 rubles. You need to store the medicine at home at a temperature of 5 to 20 degrees Celsius in a dry place where the medicine will not be available to babies. The shelf life of this form of Clotrimazole is 2 years.
Reviews
The treatment with Clotrimazole ointment responds mostly well. Mothers confirm that such a remedy effectively helps with diaper rash caused by Candida, with lichen and other fungal skin lesions. This form is called convenient to use, inexpensive and effective, and adverse reactions to the ointment are very rare.
Analogs
Instead of Clotrimazole ointment, you can use another drug with the same active ingredient:
- Amiclone. Such a domestic drug is 1% cream.
- Candide. This medicine of Indian production is presented in a wide variety of dosage forms. Powder, solution and cream are used to treat the skin. For adults with candidiasis, vaginal tablets and vaginal gel are prescribed. Babies are most often prescribed a 1% solution for topical use, which is treated for candidal stomatitis.
- Kandibene. This German drug is available in solution (it is used to treat the skin) and in the form of vaginal tablets.
- Kanesten. This medicine is a 1% spray and is produced in Germany.
- Candizol. This medication is available in India in the form of vaginal tablets and 1% cream.
- Canison. This Indian medicine is available in the form of an ointment, solution and vaginal tablets.
In addition, instead of clotrimazole drugs, the doctor may prescribe other antifungal agents, for example, Fluconazole, Mycoson, Nystatin, or Pimafucin.
If necessary, such medicines are supplemented with anti-inflammatory drugs, vitamins and other therapies in order to act on the infection in a complex manner and, as a result, get rid of it completely.
You will learn more about Clotrimazole in the following video.
