Learn About Common Antifungals
Antifungal medication stops fungus from growing. Some of them even kill the fungus entirely! Most of you, ladies, apply this as a cream or ointment. That said, you will see some oral forms offered as well! Expect to take this medication for 2 to 4 weeks and to try a few different ones before you find what works best. Of course, review your medical history and current medications with your doctor first!
Antifungals are common as a dandruff treatment, often as prescription dandruff shampoo. You will take an oral prescription for yeast infections, though! Antifungal medicines for athlete's foot and ringworm are offered as creams. Ladies, the best antifungal medicine for you is out there. Start learning about the common ones to talk about with your doctor!
Clotrimazole
Clotrimazole handles fungal skin infections like ringworm. It treats athlete's foot as well! You will often see this one for pityriasis also. Ladies, you will usually get this as an ointment. Make sure to do what your doctor says! Most of the time, you apply it 2 times in a day. You can't put a bandage on it, though, and you have to wash your hands right after. Of course, you can get oral tablets of this medication. These treat yeast infections in your mouth and throat. Ladies, you have to dissolve each tablet in your mouth fully. This takes about 30 minutes! Most of you get 5 of them a day, but your doctor helps make this choice.
Although it's a great one, it has side effects. Expect common ones like vomiting, nausea, upset stomach, and itching. Mouth discomfort happens too! Talk to your doctor when these happen to you. Do it when your infection doesn't disappear in 4 weeks!
Econazole
Econazole handles athlete's foot and ringworm, just like the medication before this! This antifungal even gets rid of yeast infections on your skin. It's even an option for discolored skin from tinea versicolor! Ladies, expect to apply this once or twice a day, depending on your condition. Ringworm and athlete's foot usually takes 1 application, and yeast infections take 2! The time you use it changes also, but typically lands at 2 or 4 weeks.
Of course, keep precautions in mind. You can't take this without talking to your doctor when you're breastfeeding or pregnant. Your current medications matter a lot also. Tell your doctor about everything! You will avoid interactions with things like blood thinners this way. Also, ladies, don't keep the foam version of this antifungal near the sun. Don't use it by open flames or heat either! Finally, keep watch for side effects like itching, redness, stinging, and burning where you apply this antifungal. Call your doctor right away when these are severe!
Terbinafine
You will take terbinafine by mouth. This antifungal treats infections in your hair and nails! That said, you can't take this one when you're pregnant or if you have liver disease. Ladies, ask your doctor about it first when you have liver issues, a weak immune system, or lupus. They will make sure you're safe!
Of course, side effects exist on this one. Expect common effects like nausea, diarrhea, headaches, rashes, and an upset stomach. It's possible to have abnormal liver function tests too! That means you have to consider liver side effects, like dark pee, jaundice, and appetite loss. Another one is when your stool has a clay color to it!
Ketoconazole
Ketoconazole helps with athlete's foot, ringworm, and pityriasis, like many other antifungals! It also treats seborrhea! Many of you will get it as a cream to apply on your skin or scalp. Of course, ladies, make sure your skin's clean when you do! Don't put it on open wounds or very irritated skin. Unfortunately, you will have to avoid this one if you're breastfeeding or have asthma. Some allergies make it unsafe too, such as ones to sulfites and other antifungals. Econazole is one of the examples!
Common side effects are out there. They include hair color and texture changes, thinning hair, and dry or itchy skin. Shortness of breath isn't common, but you have to call your doctor right away about it! Do this when you feel any pain where you applied this medication. You should avoid using harsh products, including soap, when you're on this one. When you have pityriasis, keep out of the sun!
Fluconazole
Fluconazole is another strong antifungal. You will take it for infections when they're in your lungs, blood, mouth, bladder, and esophagus! Ladies, expect it when your immune system is compromised or you have cancer. It prevents these infections that we just mentioned! This medication even helps when you're trying to treat meningitis from HIV and AIDs. That said, your doctor has to assess you first. It's a concern when you have things like kidney disease, liver disease, and heart disease. A history of HIV, AIDs, and cancer matters too when they're assessing this antifungal.
Although it's effective, it has side effects. The ones you see the most, ladies, are things like nausea, dizziness, stomach pain, and headaches. Taste changes and diarrhea often appear too! You need to avoid medication interactions, so talk to your doctor. This one interacts with blood pressure medication, cholesterol drugs, and blood thinners. Most of the time, a dose change helps. That said, switching medications is a common choice here too!