A gold star for Daktarin Gold (Daktarin Gold Cream)

Member Name: Tracy_1127

Product:	Daktarin Gold Cream
Date:	07/09/09 (85 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: see review

Disadvantages: see review

I can't bear humid weather, finding it impossible to keep your skin dry even when you don't actually feel hot and clothes sticking to you, and I'm sure most of you will agree this summer has been a particularly humid one. So much so I noticed when I stepped out of the shower each day and tried to dry myself off I just couldn't get rid of the moisture on my skin. This is a situation that often leads to problems with the skin and clogged pores and spots are just one of many.

My problem was around the front of my ribcage where my bra strap sits on my skin. Due to the humidity I couldn't keep my skin dry and I developed a rash that was a bit red, very itchy and burnt if I got hot or got hot water on it. Being someone with a big bust I've had this problem before and the non-medical approach is to dry the area thoroughly and apply talc which dries the rash out and gets rid of it but this year it was so humid that didn't work.

This is known as Intertrigo which translates to sweat rash. If you are overweight and have, for want of a better word, folds of skin that don't get air to them you can get it in these too and also anywhere clothing sits tightly on the body. I'm slim but unlucky or lucky enough to have a big bust so my bra strap is always the area this appears. It starts off as a sweat rash then because of the lack of air to the area it becomes fungal in nature and if you scratch it it can get infected. Mine didn't get infected but this cream covers that angle too.

After the usual method didn't work I realsied I should get some cream to get rid of it so I searched online and found Daktarin Gold was specifically for this type of rash as well as athletes foot and Dhobie Itch which is sweat rash in the groin area also known as "jock itch" as lots of male athletes get it. I bought a 15g tube of cream for £4.35.

The active ingredient in Daktarin Gold is ketoconazole which is an anti-fungal. It also contains alcohol amongst other things which is for a drying out effect. If you've had a bad reaction to any of the ingredients you should not use this cream and if pregnant or breast-feeding you should ask the pharmacist first. As with all creams keep out of the eyes and mouth and wash hands before and after use. Possible side effects are basically skin reactions.

Applying the cream is easy you just wash and dry the area then rub a small amount into the skin twice a day. You may find the cream works in a week or it can take up to six weeks to work and once it has worked you continue using it for 3 days afterwards. I read online Intertrigo can take a few weeks to clear up so I knew it might take a while.

The tube is a bog standard metal one with a screw off lid and the cream is a thick white cream that smells of chemicals which isn't very nice but you can't smell it on your skin. I used a pea sized blob for each side of my ribs as you only need to apply a thin layer.

I wear a fresh bra daily so any product got washed off rapidly but it doesn't mark clothing anyway and if you use it for jock itch or athletes foot you would need to change any items of clothing on these areas daily too. But then who doesn't anyway? Anyone who needs telling you shouldn't share towels when you have any fungal skin problems but I don't ever share towels anyway.

So I showered, dried the skin as best I could with the weather as it was and applied this cream twice a day. It cooled the rash and reduced the itch on contact but it took 3 weeks for the rash to go completely. I did as instructed and used the cream for a further 3 days and thankfully the rash disappeared for good. In fact after those weeks of use I still had and have half a tube left so it lasts ages and if you only have one area to treat a 15g tube is probably going to be enough unless it's a very large area.

I was very pleased with this cream, it helped with the symptoms while it worked on the cause and despite the humidity continuing got rid of the problem. I would definitely use it again if necessary and recommend it to anyone in need of a cream to deal with a rash that is fungal in nature. Even children can use this cream so it's very versatile.

A full 5 stars from me, effective, inexpensive and easy to use.

Summary: Recommended