Luliconazole

Key facts

• Luliconazole is an antifungal cream applied to the skin to treat infections caused by dermatophyte fungi, the organisms behind athlete's foot, jock itch and ringworm.
• It is usually applied once a day to the affected area and a small margin of surrounding skin, for one to two weeks depending on the infection.
• If your skin has not improved after finishing the recommended course, see a doctor or pharmacist rather than continuing treatment on your own. Persistent symptoms may mean the diagnosis is wrong, that it is not a fungal infection at all, or that a different treatment is needed.
• Seek urgent care if the area becomes increasingly red, swollen, hot or painful, or if you develop fever, which can mean a bacterial infection has set in.

What luliconazole treats

Luliconazole treats common fungal skin infections: tinea pedis (athlete's foot), tinea cruris (jock itch) and tinea corporis (ringworm of the body), all caused by dermatophyte fungi. It is applied only to the skin and is not used for nail, scalp or internal fungal infections.

How luliconazole works

Fungal cells rely on a substance called ergosterol to build a stable outer membrane. Luliconazole blocks an enzyme the fungus needs to make ergosterol, weakening the fungal cell membrane so the organism cannot survive or multiply. This clears the infection from the skin over the course of treatment.

Before you take it

• Confirm with a doctor or pharmacist that the rash looks like a fungal infection before starting. Other skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis or bacterial infections can look similar but need different treatment.
• Tell your pharmacist if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, so they can confirm it is appropriate for you.
• Avoid contact with the eyes, inside the nose or mouth, and open wounds.
• Wash and dry the affected area before applying, and wash your hands afterwards unless your hands are the area being treated.

Side effects

Common effects: mild stinging, burning, redness, or itching at the application site.

Seek urgent medical care for:

• Increasing redness, swelling, warmth, or pain in the treated area, or fever, which can mean a bacterial infection.
• Signs of an allergic reaction: rash spreading beyond the treated area, hives, facial swelling, or difficulty breathing.
• No improvement, or worsening, after finishing the full recommended course.

Safety essentials

• Complete the full course even if symptoms improve early, to reduce the chance of the infection coming back.
• If there is no improvement after the recommended course, review with a doctor. Persistent symptoms may mean the problem is not fungal and needs a different diagnosis and treatment.
• Keep the cream for skin use only; do not apply it to the eyes, mouth, nose, or open wounds.
• Keep the affected area clean and dry between applications, since fungi thrive in warm, moist skin folds.

This page is educational and does not replace advice from a doctor or pharmacist who knows your health history.