Description
Daktacort Hydrocortisone Cream is a medicine which is used to treat inflamed sweat rash or Athlete’s Foot.
The cream contains the following ingredients:
- Hydrocortisone acetate is a mild ‘topical steroid’ which reduces inflammation, swelling, redness and itching of the skin.
- Miconazole nitrate is an antifungal which works by destroying both the fungus that causes the infection and some of the associated bacteria which may also be present.
Sweat rash (candida intertrigo, or ‘thrush’ of the skin folds) is a sore, itchy red rash found in areas where the skin rubs together e.g. below or between the breasts, underarms, tops of legs or the groin or other skin areas.
Athlete’s Foot is a fungal skin infection causing soreness, itching and flaking between the toes or on the soles or sides of the feet. If you have a fungal infection without any symptoms of inflammation, an antifungal medication without hydrocortisone acetate may be more appropriate. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you are in doubt.
How do you catch Athlete’s Foot?
It’s extremely infectious so anyone can pick it up, especially people sharing communal changing rooms and showers.
Once the fungal spores have been transferred onto the feet, they thrive in the warm, moist areas between the toes. The skin soon becomes inflamed and itchy with flaking or cracking occurring.
The infected flakes of skin are then shed onto the floor or into the socks and shoes by walking or friction.
Someone else will be easily infected if they step on these flakes, or if they share towels or footwear with someone who has already got Athlete’s Foot.
What is more, even if you’ve already got rid of your Athlete’s Foot, it’s very easy to re-infect yourself. The spores can live on or in your shoes or socks and if you don’t change them regularly, or treat them with antifungal powders or spray powders, the Athlete’s Foot soon returns.
How to prevent re-infection
If you want to avoid the vicious circle of re-infection, here are a few helpful hints.
- Spray inside your shoes and socks with fungicidal powder before putting them on.
- Don’t wear the same pair of shoes every day. This helps reduce the build-up of sweat which provides the moisture on which the fungus thrives.
- Avoid synthetic footwear. Choose cotton socks and leather shoes which allow your feet to breathe.
- Avoid sharing towels or footwear.
- Avoid walking barefoot in changing rooms.
- Dry thoroughly between your toes and keep toenails short as this reduces the number of places fungi can grow.