Daktarin Aktiv Cream is used to treat athlete's foot.

It works by destroying both the fungus that causes the infection and some of the bacteria which may also be present.

This product is one of a group of medicines called "antifungals" which are used to treat infections caused by fungi including yeasts, and some bacteria.

Active Ingredients: Miconazole nitrate

Each gram contains 2%w/w (20mg per gram) of miconazole nitrate

The cream also contains the following inactive ingredients: water, macrogol and glycol stearate, unsaturated polyglycolysed glycerides, liquid paraffin, benzoic acid (E210)* and butylated hydroxyanisole (E320)**.

* Benzoic acid is a mild irritant to the skin, eyes and mucous membranes.
** Butylated hydroxyanisole is an irritant to the eyes, skin and mucous membranes

• Do not use Daktarin Aktiv Cream
• if you think that you may have had an allergic reaction to any form of Daktarin, any of the inactive ingredients, or a similar antifungal in the past. An allergic reaction may be recognised as a rash or itching at the site of infection which gets worse after applying the cream.

Talk to your pharmacist or doctor before using the cream if this applies to you. They will then decide whether Daktarin Aktiv Cream is suitable for you.

• Special precautions
• Do not put Daktarin Aktiv Cream into the eyes - it is for application to the skin.
  
  
• Pregnancy and breast feeding
  If you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant or breast feeding, you should talk to your doctor who will decide if you can use Daktarin Aktiv Cream.
  
  
• Other medicines
  If you are taking certain medicines that are used to slow down blood clotting, contact your doctor who may wish to check they are working correctly.

Use
Daktarin Aktiv Cream is for external use only

Each time you use the cream:
Wash the infected skin and dry it well. As many skin conditions are infectious, you should keep a towel and a flannel for your own use so that you do not infect anyone else.

Rub the cream gently on to the affected area twice daily, e.g. at night and in the morning. Relief from the symptoms may occur quickly but It is important that you continue to use the cream for at least 10 days after the symptoms have cleared to prevent them from coming back.

Unless the infected skin is on your hands, wash your hands carefully to avoid spreading the infection to other parts of the body or to other people. Similarly, clothing which comes into contact with the infected areas should be washed and changed frequently. Daktarin Aktiv Cream is non-greasy and should not stain clothes.

If symptoms persist, talk to your doctor.

Accidental swallowing of this product is normally harmless but you should contact your doctor as a precaution.

Side-effects
Daktarin Aktiv Cream is usually well tolerated. Occasionally, irritation of the skin may occur. If the irritation is severe, stop using the cream and talk to your doctor.

Very rarely, a severe allergic reaction may occur. If you develop swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat, generalised itch and difficulty breathing, stop using the cream and contact your doctor immediately.

In very rare cases, rash, itching, redness swelling or a burning feeling can occur. If these follow each application may indicate an allergy to the medicine in which case you should stop using it.

If your medicine affects you in any other way, you should tell your doctor or pharmacist

What is athlete's foot?

It is a fungal infection that affects your feet, particularly between your toes.

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 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, the athlete's foot soon returns.

How to treat athlete's foot
Athlete's foot should be treated as soon as you notice the first signs of infection. The fungus grows so fast that it is important to treat the affected area quickly and thoroughly. Ask your pharmacist for advice.

A spray powder ensures that the treatment gets right between the toes as well as treating the whole foot.

However, if the infection has led to badly cracked skin, you should use a cream which is more soothing.

There are also powders to help dry the skin as well as treat the infection.

What happens if I don't treat athlete's foot?
As it looks and feels unpleasant, athlete's foot is quite hard to ignore. But if it doesn't receive treatment, the skin can crack leaving it open to bacterial infections. As bacteria grow and spread over the feet, this can lead to an unpleasant smell adding to your discomfort. As most people with smelly feet prefer to keep their shoes on, athlete's foot just gets worse as the bacteria and fungi thrive in the warm, moist conditions. If left untreated, you start a vicious circle of re-infection, and these infections can spread further.

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.