Ketoconazole is an antifungal medication used to treat various types of skin infections caused by fungi or yeast. It can also help prevent these infections from recurring. Some of the specific conditions that ketoconazole is used to treat include:
- Athletes foot (tinea pedis)
- Jock itch (tinea cruris)
- Ringworm (tinea corporis)
- Dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis (conditions that cause flaky, itchy, and inflamed skin on the scalp and other areas of the body)
- Sweat rash (intertrigo), a rash that usually appears in folds of skin
- Pityriasis (tinea versicolor), a fungal infection that causes lightening or darkening of the skin on the neck, chest, arms, or legs
Ketoconazole is available in various forms, including creams, shampoos, and oral tablets. The cream is typically used for small areas of skin, while the shampoo is used for the scalp and other hair-bearing areas. The oral tablets are used for more severe or systemic fungal infections.
