Home
/
NowPatient Blog
/
What is daktacort cream used for?

What is daktacort cream used for?

Navin Khosla NowPatientGreen tick
Created on 4 Nov 2024
Updated on 4 Nov 2024

Daktacort is an over-the-counter treatment that can be used to treat fungal infections. Typically it can be used to treat infections in areas that can get warm, and sweaty. It’s these conditions that allow fungal infections to thrive. These fungi can infect humans when they come into contact with the skin, nails, or mucous membranes, leading to an overgrowth and subsequent infection. Let’s closely examine what Daktacort is and what it can be used to treat.

What are fungal infections?

Fungal infections are caused by fungi. They are tiny organisms that can live on the surface of the skin or in moist areas such as the mouth, gut, and vagina. The ideal conditions for fungi to grow are warm, moist places, so they often cause skin, nail, and hair infections. They can also cause serious lung infections.

Fungi cause infections by breaking through the cell membrane and growing inside the cell. They release toxins that damage the cell and surrounding tissue. Fungi can also reproduce by releasing spores into the air. These spores can then land on your skin or be inhaled into your lungs. Once on your body, they can grow and cause an infection.

Fungi cells contain a nucleus and other components protected by a membrane and a thick cell wall containing chitin. Chitin is a large, structural polysaccharide which is incredibly strong, making fungi harder to kill.

What does Daktacort treat?

  • Athlete’s foot (Tinea Pedis): This infection affects the feet, particularly the spaces between the toes, causing itching, redness, scaling, and sometimes blisters
  • Sweat rash: This is a fungal skin infection that primarily affects the groin area, underarms, and under the breasts causing a red, itchy rash

Do not use Daktacort to treat ringworm unless directed to by a doctor as it can worsen the condition.

Athlete’s foot

Athlete’s foot is a skin infection that is caused by a fungal infection. The fungus usually grows in moist areas, such as showers, locker rooms and pools. The fungus can also spread from person to person through contact with contaminated surfaces. The infection usually begins between the toes, where the skin is soft and moisture levels are high. From there, it can spread to other parts of the foot. In severe cases the infection can spread to the nails or even to other parts of the body. People who have athlete’s foot often have damp or sweaty feet. Symptoms of athlete’s foot include:

  • Itchy skin
  • Burning skin
  • Red, irritated skin
  • Cracked and peeling skin
  • In severe cases, the infection can spread to the nails or even to other parts of the body

Some people may also be susceptible to recurrent infections. To prevent athlete’s foot, it is important to keep the feet clean and dry. Wearing shoes that allow the feet to breathe is also important. If someone has athlete’s foot, they should avoid sharing towels or shoes with others.

Sweat rash

A sweat rash caused by fungus can occur where folds of skin are present such as underarms, breasts, top of legs and the groin. Sweat rash causes itchiness, redness, the affected area to become scaly or begin to flake, a burning sensation or discomfort during exercise or activities that cause sweating.

Certain risk factors increase the chance of developing a sweat rash. These include:

  • Excessive sweating
  • Tight workout clothes which may cause friction and trap moisture
  • Poor hygiene
  • A weakened immune system
  • Obesity or being overweight, causing you to sweat more
  • Eczema or dermatitis
  • Athlete’s foot, which may cause the infection to spread to your groin area

What does Daktacort contain?

This product contains two active ingredients:

  • Miconazole nitrate
  • Hydrocortisone acetate

Daktacort cream also contains liquid paraffin, butylhydroxyanisole, purified water and benzoic acid.

How does Daktacort cream work?

Miconazole

Miconazole is an imidazole antifungal. It works by stopping the growth of fungi that cause infection and blocking the production of ergosterol, an important part of the fungal cell membrane.

Hydrocortisone

Hydrocortisone is a mild corticosteroid (steroid) used to reduce inflammation. When applied to the skin, it reduces inflammation and swelling. By suppressing the body’s natural inflammatory response, it can also help relieve redness, itching, and other symptoms associated with skin irritation.

How do you apply Daktacort cream?

  • Wash the infected area and dry it well
  • Apply a small amount of Daktacort cream to the affected area and rub it in gently until the cream has disappeared
  • Unless your doctor tells you differently, apply a small amount of Daktacort cream to the affected area 2 or 3 times each day
  • Wash your hands carefully after applying the cream to avoid spreading the infection to other parts of the body or to other people
  • Use a separate hand towel for your use to prevent the spreading of the infection

Store in a cool, dry place out of sight and reach of children. Do not use after the expiry date.

Precautions to using Daktacort hydrocortisone cream

  • Do not use on cold sores, acne, herpes, chicken pox or shingles
  • Do not use on the genital or anal area
  • Do not use on face, eyes or mucous membranes
  • Do not use on ringworm unless directed by a doctor
  • Do not use it if you are allergic to any of the ingredients
  • Do not use on affected area for more than 7 days
  • Do not use on broken skin, under dressings or baby’s nappies
  • Do not use this medication if you are currently using a barrier method of contraception such as condoms or diaphragms as their effectiveness may be reduced

Daktacort side effects

Using Daktacort cream can have side effects, although they are usually mild and pass in a few days.

Side effects can include:

  • Skin irritation
  • Dry skin
  • Skin discolouration
  • Thinning of skin
  • Allergic reaction (rare)

If you experience any serious side effects such as hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat, difficulty swallowing or difficulty breathing stop using the medication and seek medical attention immediately. Before starting any medication speak to your healthcare provider and read the patient information leaflet provided.

Use of Daktacort HC cream during pregnancy and breastfeeding

Speak to your doctor or pharmacist for advice before starting this medication if you are pregnant or breast-feeding or are planning a pregnancy.

Conclusion

Daktacort is an effective topical treatment for athletes’ foot, sweat rashes and other conditions under the guidance of a healthcare professional. Caution should be taken with certain groups of people such as young children, pregnant women and the elderly. Always inform your healthcare provider about any other medications you are taking before using Daktacort, including herbal medicines, vitamins and supplements.

Sources

Medical Disclaimer

NowPatient has taken all reasonable steps to ensure that all material is factually accurate, complete, and current. However, the knowledge and experience of a qualified healthcare professional should always be sought after instead of using the information on this page. Before taking any drug, you should always speak to your doctor or another qualified healthcare provider.

The information provided here about medications is subject to change and is not meant to include all uses, precautions, warnings, directions, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or negative effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a particular medication does not imply that the medication or medication combination is appropriate for all patients or for all possible purposes.

Now Patient Data Security

Data Security

Trusted and certified to keep your data safe.

Learn moreNow Patient Data SecurityNow Patient Data Security

WHY WE BUILT NOWPATIENT

We are committed to helping everyone, everywhere live healthier lives

The NowPatient virtual care platform provides you with access to trusted health information, affordable treatments, management of chronic health conditions and continuous monitoring for health risks. NowPatient can be accessed by downloading the App or using your web browser.

Download our app today

NowPatient dashboard

Your Questions Answered

For your peace of mind, we can answer your questions quickly

What does NowPatient do?

NowPatient is an online pharmacy & telehealth service that is available in the US and UK. Our service is FREE and packed with useful features that can help you save money on the cost of your medications, access virtual treatments, and provide tools that can help improve your overall health.

Get started today and benefit from medication remindersGet Treated PrivatelyNHS online pharmacyGP appointment bookingRx savings cardDrug CouponsUS drug savings programshealth conditions informationgenetic testinghome test kitsBMI RisksType 2 Diabetes Riskspollen meterair quality monitor, and lots more!

Our service is operated by experienced medical professionals in the United States and the United Kingdom. You can view the online services that we provide by clicking Features.

UK users can safely and securely buy medicines online that treat a wide range of medical conditions. UK customers can also order NHS prescriptions online with the benefit of free tracked delivery.

US customers, regardless of insurance coverage, can enjoy huge savings on prescription medications using our various drug savings programs including drug coupons, savings card and manufacturer-sponsored patient assistance programs.

Where is NowPatient located?

NowPatient has offices in the United Kingdom and United States.

In the UK, we are located at:

NowPatient
28 Chipstead Valley Road
Coulsdon
Surrey
CR52RA

In the US, we are located at:

NowPatient
8911 North Capital of Texas Highway
Suite 4200 #1263
78759
Austin, TX

How can I contact NowPatient?

To contact NowPatient, please use the contact form available on the Contact Us page.

Alternatively, if you need to speak to us, you can reach us on the following numbers:

UK telephone number – 020 388 51 500
US telephone number – 1-866-967-1977

Who owns NowPatient?

NowPatient is owned and operated by Infohealth Ltd, a licensed online pharmacy with services spanning the UK, US and Rest of the World. Infohealth Ltd is registered in England and Wales under company number 04004930 and our registered office is at Lynwood House, 373 – 375 Station Road, Harrow, England, HA1 2AW.

Our website is www.nowpatient.com. Our App is called “NowPatient” and can be downloaded from the App Store (for Apple devices) or Google Play (for Android devices).

Can you tell me more about your NHS online pharmacy?

NowPatient’s Pharmaceutical services in the UK are provided by Infohealth Limited trading as ‘Infohealth Pharmacy’.

Our dispensing pharmacy is regulated and authorized for internet sales by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), registration number 1036487. You can view our license credentials on the General Pharmaceutical Council website. Our superintendent pharmacist who is responsible for the safe and effective oversight of medicines supplies is Mr Amish Patel (Registration Number 2042705).

Medicines are not ordinary items of commerce. All medicines or healthcare product sales are made under the supervision of a registered pharmacist who is licensed by the GPhC. At all times, we endeavour to provide a professional and transparent service whose primary goal is to ensure that the best interests of the patient are served.

How do I make a complaint?

From time to time, we accept that our service levels may not be up to your expectations. NowPatient welcomes concerns, compliments and complaints as valuable feedback that will help us learn from your experiences and make improvements. Feedback can be provided via our clear and transparent Complaints Procedures.

Can you tell me more about NowPatient’s prescribing services for treatments offered?

Our prescribing services are regulated by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC). We provide the following regulated activity:

• treatment of disease, disorder, or injury
• transport services, triage, and medical advice are provided remotely
• caring for adults over 65 years old
• caring for adults under 65 years old

NowPatient prescribing services are run by Infohealth Limited. The Clinical Safety Officer and nominated individual is Mr Navin Khosla.

Can you tell me more about NowPatient’s US services?

Our head of US services is Dr. Jamie Winn.

You can lower the cost of your prescription medications using our various savings programs which include drug coupons, savings card and manufacturer-sponsored patient assistance programs.

We do not provide any prescribing services or dispensing services in the United States.

Is NowPatient legit and can I trust information from NowPatient?

Yes. NowPatient provides trustworthy and accessible clinical, health education and prescription services. We are also trusted by the NHS to deliver clinical and NHS repeat prescription dispensing across the whole of England. In the United States, we work with over 65,000 pharmacies to deliver considerable costs savings for our users.

NowPatient is operated by experienced licensed medical professionals in the United Kingdom and United States. Our Medical Team can be found here.

Our service is trusted by thousands of patients worldwide. You can read their reviews on our Trustpilot:

NowPatient Trustpilot

What are NowPatient’s opening hours?

Our office hours are:

UK – Monday-Friday 9am-6pm GMT
US – Monday-Friday 8am-5pm EST

Please note that we are closed at weekends.

In the event of a medical life-threatening emergency please call:

UK – 999
US – 911

In the event of a medical emergency which is not life-threatening please call:

UK – 111

Find more answers