Canesten Hydrocortisone (with acetate)

Patient Leaflet Updated 29-Jun-2022 | Bayer plc

Canesten Hydrocortisone Athlete's Foot 1%, 1% w/w Cream

PATIENT INFORMATION LEAFLET

Canesten®

Hydrocortisone Athlete's Foot 1%, 1% w/w cream

Clotrimazole & Hydrocortisone acetate

Read all of this leaflet carefully because it contains important information for you.

This medicine is available without prescription.

However, you still need to use Canesten Hydrocortisone Athlete's Foot 1%, 1% w/w cream carefully to get the best results from it.

  • Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
  • Ask your pharmacist if you need more information or advice.
  • You must contact a doctor or pharmacist if your symptoms worsen or do not improve after 7 days.
  • If you have any unusual effects after using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist.

IN THIS LEAFLET

1. What is Canesten Hydrocortisone Athlete's Foot cream and what is it used for?
2. Before you use Canesten Hydrocortisone Athlete's Foot cream
3. How to use Canesten Hydrocortisone Athlete's Foot cream
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Canesten Hydrocortisone Athlete's Foot cream
6. Further information

1. WHAT IS CANESTEN® HYDROCORTISONE ATHLETE'S FOOT CREAM AND WHAT IS IT USED FOR?

Canesten Hydrocortisone Athlete's Foot cream is used to treat athlete's foot and fungal infected skin folds when there are additional symptoms of inflammation (such as swelling, redness and itching).

Canesten Hydrocortisone Athlete's Foot cream treats the fungal skin infection and reduces the swelling and itching caused by it.

If you are unsure whether you have one of these fungal skin infections, seek the advice of your doctor or pharmacist

The active substances in Canesten Hydrocortisone Athlete's Foot cream are clotrimazole and hydrocortisone acetate. Clotrimazole belongs to a group of medicines called imidazoles which destroy the fungi and some bacteria that cause skin infections. Hydrocortisone acetate is a mild steroid which reduces swelling, redness and itching associated with inflammation of the skin.

2. BEFORE YOU USE CANESTEN® HYDROCORTISONE ATHLETE'S FOOT CREAM
Do not use Canesten Hydrocortisone Athlete's Foot cream:
  • If you have a fungal infection without specific symptoms of inflammation, as an antifungal medicine without hydrocortisone may be more appropriate.
  • If you are allergic (hypersensitive) to clotrimazole, hydrocortisone or any of the other ingredients, including cetostearyl alcohol or benzyl alcohol, of Canesten Hydrocortisone Athlete's Foot cream.
  • On areas of broken skin.
  • On large areas of skin (more than 5-10% of body surface).
  • For longer than 7 days.
  • To treat cold sores or acne.
  • On your face, eyes, mouth or mucous membranes.
  • On any untreated bacterial skin infection, such as syphilis or tuberculosis.
  • On vaccination reactions.
  • On shingles, chicken pox, rosacea or herpes.

If you are unsure about any of these restrictions, speak to your doctor or pharmacist.

Unless prescribed by a doctor, you should not use Canesten Hydrocortisone Athlete's Foot cream:
  • If pregnant or breastfeeding.
  • In children under 10 years.
  • In the vagina or on the vulva.
  • On the penis or scrotum.
  • Around the anus.
  • To treat ringworm.
  • On areas of skin affected by eczema, psoriasis or dermatitis.

If you are unsure about any of these restrictions, speak to your doctor or pharmacist.

Warnings and precautions:
  • As with all steroids, long-term, continuous use on large areas of skin should be avoided.
  • Do not cover the area being treated with a dressing or bandage.
  • Contact your doctor if you experience blurred vision or other visual disturbances.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding:

If you are pregnant, breastfeeding or trying for a baby, tell your doctor or midwife before using Canesten Hydrocortisone Athlete's Foot cream.

If you have informed your doctor or midwife already, follow his/her instructions carefully.

Important information about some of the ingredients:

This product contains cetostearyl alcohol which may cause local skin reactions (e.g. contact dermatitis). The medicine also contains 20mg benzyl alcohol in each gram of cream. Benzyl alcohol may cause allergic reactions and mild local irritation.

3. HOW TO USE CANESTEN® HYDROCORTISONE ATHLETE'S FOOT CREAM

If Canesten Hydrocortisone Athlete's Foot cream has been prescribed for you by your doctor, follow any instructions he/she may have given you.

If you have purchased this product without a prescription, follow these directions closely.

  • Before use, pierce the tube seal by inverting the cap over the end of the tube and press.
  • If feet are infected; before applying the cream, they should be washed and dried thoroughly, especially between the toes.
  • Canesten Hydrocortisone Athlete's Foot cream should be applied thinly and evenly to the affected areas two or three times daily and rubbed in gently.
    Approximately 1cm of cream per application should be sufficient.
  • Do not cover the area being treated with a dressing or bandage.
  • As with all products containing hydrocortisone, you should wash your hands immediately after applying the cream.

Treatment should be continued for no more than 7 days.

The symptoms of skin infection, such as itching or soreness, should improve within a few days of treatment, although signs such as redness and scaling may take longer to disappear. If the symptoms persist or do not start to improve after 7 days, consult your doctor.

Canesten Hydrocortisone Athlete's Foot cream is for external use only:

Do not put the cream in your mouth or swallow it.

If the cream is swallowed accidentally, tell your doctor straight away or contact the Accident and Emergency Department of your nearest hospital.

If you accidentally get cream in your eyes or mouth, wash immediately with water and contact your doctor.

If you forget to use Canesten Hydrocortisone Athlete's Foot cream:

Apply the cream as soon as possible and then continue the rest of treatment as usual.

You can help the treatment to work if you follow these simple self-help tips:
  • Although the infected area will itch, try not to scratch. Scratching will damage the surface of the skin and cause the infection to spread further.
  • Keep the affected skin areas clean.
  • Pay particular attention to drying the skin, including between the toes, but avoid excessive rubbing.
  • Do not share towels, bath mats, etc. with other people as you could spread the infection to them.
  • Always wash your hands after treating the infection to prevent it from spreading.

If you have Athlete’s Foot:
  • Remember to dry the skin between the toes thoroughly.
  • Wash your socks, stockings and tights thoroughly in hot water to remove any shed skin or fungal spores.
  • Change your footwear daily if possible.

4. POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS

Like all medicines, Canesten Hydrocortisone Athlete's Foot cream can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.

As with all medicines, some people may be allergic to the cream.

If you are allergic, a reaction will occur soon after you start using it.

If you experience an allergic reaction, stop using Canesten Hydrocortisone Athlete's Foot cream and tell your doctor straight away or contact the Accident and Emergency Department of your nearest hospital. Signs of an allergic reaction may include:

  • Rash.
  • Swallowing or breathing problems.
  • Swelling of your lips, face, throat or tongue.
  • Weakness, feeling dizzy or faint.
  • Nausea.

After you apply the cream you might experience:

  • Itching, rash, blisters, burning, discomfort, swelling, irritation, redness or peeling of skin, blurred vision.

Treatment should be limited to 7 days unless advised otherwise by your doctor. If you apply the cream to a large area or under a dressing, or if you use the cream for more than 2 weeks, you may experience skin reactions such as:

  • Broken veins.
  • Excess hair growth.
  • Stretch marks.
  • Thinning or whitening of skin.
  • Secondary infections.
  • An acne-like rash.

Reporting of side effects

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store.

By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

5. HOW TO STORE CANESTEN® HYDROCORTISONE ATHLETE'S FOOT CREAM

Keep out of the sight and reach of children.

This product should be stored in the original carton.

Do not store above 25°C.

Do not use Canesten Hydrocortisone Athlete's Foot cream after the expiry date which is stated at one end of the carton and on the end of the tube of cream. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.

Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required. These measures will help to protect the environment.

6. FURTHER INFORMATION
What Canesten Hydrocortisone Athlete's Foot cream contains:
  • The active substances are clotrimazole and hydrocortisone acetate. Each gram of cream contains 10mg clotrimazole and 11.2mg hydrocortisone acetate (equivalent to 10mg hydrocortisone).
  • The other ingredients are benzyl alcohol, cetostearyl alcohol, triceteareth-4-phosphate, medium chain triglycerides, purified water, sodium hydroxide and hydrochloric acid.
    See Section 2 'Do not use' and 'Important information about some of the ingredients' for cetostearyl and benzyl alcohol advice.

What Canesten Hydrocortisone Athlete's Foot cream looks like and contents of the pack:

Canesten Hydrocortisone Athlete's Foot cream is available in tubes containing 15g of white cream.

Marketing Authorisation Holder:
Bayer plc
400 South Oak Way
Reading
RG2 6AD
UK

Manufacturer:
GP Grenzach Produktions GmbH
79639 Grenzach-Wyhlen
Germany

Remember: If you have any doubts about using Canesten Hydrocortisone Athlete's Foot cream correctly, seek the advice of your doctor or pharmacist.

For UK residents only: if you have any questions or would like more information, call our Canesten Advice Line on 0845 758 5030.

Calls charged at local rate.

This leaflet was last revised in April 2022.

Canesten is a registered trademark of Bayer AG, Germany.

88915100

Company Contact Details
Bayer plc
Address

400 South Oak Way, Reading, Berkshire, RG2 6AD

Telephone

+44 (0)118 206 3000

WWW

http://www.bayer.co.uk

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