What Is Ciclopirox Cream Used For?

Ciclopirox is a generic prescription medication available in a number of different forms. Doctors commonly prescribe the cream form of Ciclopirox for the treatment of infections caused by fungus.

Function

• Ciclopirox functions by preventing fungal cells from growing and spreading, which eventually leads to their death.

Uses

• Doctors prescribe Ciclopirox cream for a number of uses, including the treatment of ringworm of the body, foot, or groin, the scalp infection sun fungus, and oral thrush, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Time Frame

• Doctors typically prescribe Ciclopirox for use twice daily for the treatment of infections, explains the Mayo Clinic. Symptoms often improve within one to two weeks of treatment, reports the U.S. National Library of Medicine, but you may need to use Ciclopirox cream for longer to ensure that all the fungus causing the infection is destroyed.

Side Effects

• Side effects of Ciclopirox cream include skin itching and burning, but these effects are very rare, explains the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Considerations

• Doctors rarely prescribe Ciclopirox for use in pregnant women, as some forms of the medication, like the nail lacquer, are known to cause fetal abnormalities in laboratory animals, warns the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Ciclopirox is not approved for use in children under 10 years of age, warns the Mayo Clinic.