Ketoconazole
About
Ketoconazole is an antifungal medicine. It's used to treat skin infections caused by a fungus (yeast). It can also prevent them coming back. It treats different types of fungal infections including: athlete's foot jock itch, an infection in the groin area sweat rash (intertrigo), a rash that usually appears in folds of skin dandruff and seborrhoeic dermatitis, where your scalp or other areas of your skin become scaly and dry or greasy pityriasis versicolor, sometimes called tinea versicolor, where small patches of skin become scaly and change colour Ketoconazole works by killing the fungus that causes the infection. Ketoconazole is available as a cream or shampoo. You can buy most ketoconazole creams and shampoos in pharmacies and shops. You can also get them on prescription. For treating pityriasis versicolor, you'll need a prescription. Ketoconazole also comes as tablets but these usually only treat a rare condition called Cushing's syndrome. The tablets are available on prescription only, and they are not covered here. Ketoconazole usually works within 2 to 3 weeks for most fungal infections, but it can take 6 weeks for athlete's foot to get better. The most common side effect of ketoconazole cream and shampoo is irritated skin. For most infections, you'll usually use the cream once or twice a day and the shampoo twice a week. Some people use ketoconazole shampoo every 1 to 2 weeks to help stop dandruff coming back. Page last reviewed: 16 August 2024 Next review due: 16 August 2027
Key facts
Ketoconazole usually works within 2 to 3 weeks for most fungal infections, but it can take 6 weeks for athlete's foot to get better.
The most common side effect of ketoconazole cream and shampoo is irritated skin.
For most infections, you'll usually use the cream once or twice a day and the shampoo twice a week.
Some people use ketoconazole shampoo every 1 to 2 weeks to help stop dandruff coming back.