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Pharmacy, clinic and prescribers based in Greater Manchester.
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Variety of delivery options including next day & free delivery.
Pharmacy, clinic and prescribers based in Greater Manchester.
Start your treatment with a quick and free online consultation.
Fill in a quick online consultation for our licensed pharmacists to review.
Our pharmacists will review your treatment to ensure it’s suitable.
Your treatment will be delivered to your door quickly & discreetly.
| Medication Name | Canesten 1% w/w Cream |
| Medication Form | Cream |
| Used For | Athlete’s foot, ringworm, fungal sweat rash, fungal nappy rash and external thrush symptoms |
| Who Can Use | Adults and children |
| Active Ingredient(s) | Clotrimazole 1% w/w |
| Usual Dose | Apply thinly two or three times a day |
| Common Side Effects | Skin irritation, burning, itching |
| Prescription Required | No |
| Patient Information Leaflet | Canesten 1% Cream Patient Information Leaflet |
Canesten 1% Clotrimazole Cream is used to treat fungal skin infections such as ringworm, athlete’s foot, fungal sweat rash and fungal nappy rash. It’s also used to relieve irritation of the vulva or the end of the penis when this is linked to thrush.
This Canesten antifungal cream treats fungal skin infections caused by both fungi (dermatophytes) and yeasts (candida). Available in 20g and 50g tubes, Canesten clotrimazole cream works on the fungus at the source and helps clear it from the skin.
The active substance in Canesten Cream is clotrimazole. Clotrimazole belongs to a group of antifungal medicines called imidazoles. It fights the cause of fungal skin infections by attacking the fungus responsible and stopping it spreading.
Canesten Cream contains the active ingredient clotrimazole 1% w/w. As the fungus dies off, any itching and soreness often improve within a few days of treatment, while signs such as redness and scaling may take a little longer to fade.
Canesten Cream is suitable for adults and children, including babies when treating fungal nappy rash. If you aren’t sure the problem is a fungal infection, consult your doctor or pharmacist before you start.
Don’t use Canesten Cream if you:
Speak to your doctor or midwife before using Canesten Cream if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding or trying for a baby.
Keep using the cream for the full course of treatment, even once your skin starts to feel better. How long you’ll need it depends on the type of infection, but most need at least two weeks and some take up to four weeks to clear fully. If your symptoms haven’t improved or they get worse, speak to your doctor or pharmacist.
Like all medicines, Canesten Cream can cause side effects, though not everyone gets them while using this cream. Most are mild and affect the area where you’ve applied the cream.
After applying the cream, you might notice:
Some people can be allergic to the cream and a reaction usually happens soon after you start using it. Stop using it and tell your doctor straight away, or contact your nearest A&E, if you notice:
You can report any side effects through the Yellow Card Scheme.
Active ingredient: clotrimazole 1% w/w
Other ingredients: benzyl alcohol, polysorbate 60, sorbitan stearate, cetyl palmitate, cetostearyl alcohol, octyldodecanol and purified water
Canesten Cream can be applied to the external genital area to ease the itching and soreness that come with thrush, either around the vulva or on the tip of the penis. It’s for external use only, so it shouldn’t be used inside the vagina.
To treat internal thrush, you’ll need a pessary and cream made for internal use, so ask your pharmacist for advice.
Canesten Cream can be used during pregnancy and while breastfeeding, but let your doctor or midwife know before you start so they can check if it’s the right choice for you. If you’re using it on or near the nipple area, wash your breasts before feeding your baby.
The main difference is the strength of clotrimazole. The 1% cream is a general antifungal for a range of fungal skin infections, like athlete’s foot, ringworm and sweat rash, as well as external thrush irritation. The 2% version, Canesten Thrush Cream External, is more concentrated and aimed specifically at relieving the external symptoms of vaginal thrush. Both contain the same active ingredient and work in the same way.
You’ll usually notice the itching and soreness beginning to settle within a few days of starting the cream. The more visible signs, such as redness and scaling can take a little longer to fade. A full course generally runs to somewhere between two and four weeks, so it’s worth sticking with it.
Canesten Cream can be used on babies to treat fungal nappy rash. Since nappy rash can have several causes, check with your doctor or pharmacist first to confirm it’s a fungal infection before you start treating it.
Because Canesten Cream works on the surface of the skin and very little of it passes into the body, it isn’t known to interfere with medicines you take by mouth. If you’re putting other creams or ointments on the same patch of skin, or you’re at all unsure, speak to your pharmacist for advice.
Canesten Cream may reduce the effectiveness of rubber contraceptives such as condoms and diaphragms. If you’re applying it around the genital area, use an additional method of contraception during treatment and for at least five days after your last application. The effect is only on latex barrier methods, so it won’t have any impact on contraceptive pills or other hormonal contraception.
Page content authored by Amjad Khan, last reviewed by Dr Hussain Ahmad on 17th July 2026.
