Ketoconazole cream is a medication used to treat skin infections such as athletes foot, jock itch, ringworm, and certain kinds of dandruff, as well as a skin condition known as pityriasis (tinea versicolor), which causes a lightening or darkening of the skin of the neck, chest, arms, or legs. The cream is also sometimes used with other medications to treat skin conditions that are often worsened by fungal infection such as diaper rash, eczema, impetigo, and psoriasis.
Like any medication, ketoconazole cream may cause side effects. Some of the common side effects include stinging, swelling, irritation, dryness, or redness of the treated skin. Other side effects may include changes in hair texture, blisters on the scalp, dry skin, itching, oily or dry hair or scalp, and irritation, itching, or stinging in the place where the medication is applied.
Rare side effects of ketoconazole cream may include acne, bleeding from a sore in the mouth, blistering, crusting, irritation, itching, or reddening of the skin. In addition, the cream may cause hair discoloration, abnormal hair texture, removal of the curl from permanently waved hair, hair loss, itching, burning sensation of the skin, or blistering, peeling, or redness of the skin.
Ketoconazole cream contains sodium sulfite anhydrous, a sulfite that may cause allergic-type reactions including anaphylactic symptoms and life-threatening or less severe asthmatic episodes in certain susceptible people. If you are allergic to sulfites or have asthma, your risk of a reaction is higher.
If you experience severe burning, irritation, redness, pain, or oozing where the medicine is applied, stop using ketoconazole cream and call your doctor immediately.
