Various medications for water fleas, with or without a doctor's prescription

Not fleas, the cause of water fleas is a fungal infection due to wet and damp feet. Not only does the skin on your feet break, the infection can also spread to other parts such as the hands. What are the medicines for water fleas?

Choice of a potent water flea medication

Water fleas, aka tinea pedis, can make your feet feel uncomfortable and itchy all day long. But don't worry, there are many treatment options that doctors usually recommend to reduce symptoms. There are natural remedies for water fleas, there are also medicines for water fleas medically.

The following are various medical drugs for tinea pedis, from those without a prescription to those that need to be prescribed from a doctor.

Over-the-counter water flea medication

As the first treatment for water fleas, you are usually advised to use topical medications in the form of anti-fungal creams or ointments that can be purchased at pharmacies. These drugs are included in antifungal drugs that can work to eradicate the fungus.

Antifungal medication is applied to the affected skin and a small area around it twice a day. Usually, the treatment is carried out for two to four weeks, then continued for one to two weeks after the scars start to disappear.

But again, some drugs may have different rules of use. Here are some options for the remedy.

Terbinafine

Terbinafine is a water flea medication in the form of an ointment or spray (spray) with a function to treat skin infections due to fungal attacks, while preventing their re-growth. Pay attention to how to use the drug before using it.

Terbinafine is an external medicine that can only be used by applying a thin layer to the infected skin.

Doctors usually recommend giving this ointment only twice a day. Don't forget to always wash your hands before and after using terbinafine.

Clotrimazole

Clotrimazole is a drug used to treat various fungal skin infections. One of them is of course water fleas. You can get this drug freely at the nearest pharmacy or through a doctor's prescription.

Use this drug only on the outer skin by way of applying it. The severity of the water flea condition will determine how long the treatment is and what dose to use. You may need to use this medication about 2 times a day for a period of 4 - 8 weeks.

Sometimes the doctor will advise you to keep using clotrimazole even though the condition of the water fleas has improved considerably. This is done so that the fungus does not appear again.

Make sure to use this medication regularly and as directed for optimal healing results.

Butenafine

Another choice of water flea medication that you can use is butenafine. Just like terbinafine and clotrimazole, butenafine also comes in the form of an ointment that you should apply slowly to your skin to combat fungal development. You can get it at the nearest pharmacy.

However, butenafine should only be applied to the infected skin and not the nails. How to use it must be in accordance with the rules on the packaging, approximately twice a day and not too often to exceed the rules of use.

This medicine must be used regularly if you want to speed up the recovery process.

Miconazole

Miconazole is an antifungal drug that works to stop the growth of the fungus that causes infection. Apart from being used as a water flea medication, miconazole is also often used to treat other types of ringworm.

Miconazole comes in many forms, including creams, powders, and sprays. Medicines should only be used for external use. Although it can treat the symptoms of water fleas, this medication cannot work on affected nails.

Tolnaftate

Similar to the previous medication, tolnaftate can stop the growth of the fungus that causes skin infections. Tolnaftate can be found in the form of creams, liquids, powders, gels, and sprays.

When used regularly, usually twice a day, tolnaftate can reduce symptoms effectively. For example, the itching and burning you experience should subside in two to three days. Even if your condition starts to improve, you should still continue the conversion for at least two weeks.

Don't forget to clean the infected area first before starting to apply the medicine. When finished, wash your hands so that the infection doesn't spread.

Tinea pedis medicine with a doctor's prescription

If the above medicines don't work or your infection is severe, you may need to use stronger drugs. This medicine must be obtained by prescription from a doctor.

In fact, the ingredients in prescription drugs are similar to over-the-counter drugs such as clotrimazole or miconazole. It's just that, the dosage is stronger. If necessary, the doctor will also provide oral medications such as itraconazole or fluconazole tablets.

Itraconazole is an antifungal drug that can inhibit ergosterol, a component that plays a role in the formation of fungal cell walls. This medicine can be taken with food.

Just like itraconazole, fluconazole also works to block ergosterol. Fluconazole is usually consumed once a day, either with or without food.

Depending on your condition, the dose given will vary from patient to patient. However, this drug should not be consumed by pregnant women because it can cause birth defects. Nursing mothers are also not advised to take this drug because it can flow into breast milk.

In addition to anti-fungal drugs, there are also hydrocortisone drugs that will be given if the water flea condition does not heal. Low-dose hydrocortisone can be obtained without a prescription, but you should get a prescription medication if the dose is stronger.

Usually, this drug is only used for a few days. Treatment is then continued with other antifungal ointments.

Regardless of the drug chosen, it's a good idea to consult your doctor first. The reason is, there are some drugs that may not be suitable for everyone. When in doubt, the doctor will help recommend the right medication.