|Main use||Active ingredient||Manufacturer|
|Athlete's foot||Tolnaftate, chlorhexidine hydrochloride||Reckitt Benckiser|
How does it work?
Mycil powder contains two active ingredients, tolnaftate and chlorhexidine hydrochloride.
Tolnaftate is an antifungal medicine used to treat skin infections caused by fungi. Antifungal medicines kill fungi by interfering with their cell membranes, causing holes to appear in the fungal cell membrane. The cell membranes of fungi are vital for their survival. They keep unwanted substances from entering the cells and stop the contents of the cells from leaking out. As tolnaftate causes holes to appear in the cell membranes, essential constituents of the fungal cells can leak out. This kills the fungi and treats the infection. Tolnaftate is used mainly to treat athlete's foot, which is a fungal infection of the skin on the feet.
Chlorhexidine is an antiseptic that is effective against a wide range of bacteria that are often present with athlete's foot and other skin conditions.
Mycil powder is used to treat athlete's foot, and can also be effective in fungal infections of the groin (dhobie itch) and prickly heat. It may also be helpful in conditions where excessive sweating causes tenderness and skin irritation.
The powder should be applied to the affected areas of skin twice a day. Wash and dry the affected areas of skin first, then dust liberally with the powder. When treating athlete's foot you should pay special attention to getting the powder beween the toes. You can also dust the powder inside socks and shoes.
You should continue treatment with the powder for at least a week after the symptoms have cleared up to make sure the infection has been fully treated.
Routine use of the powder can help prevent re-infection.
What is it used for?
- Treatment and prevention of athlete's foot (tinea pedis).
- Fungal infection of the groin (dhobie itch or tinea cruris).
- Prickly heat (miliaria).
- Sweat rash.
- This medicine is for external use only.
- Avoid getting the powder in the eyes.
- If symptoms do not start to improve within ten days, stop using this medicine and consult your doctor.
- You should continue treatment for at least a week after the symptoms have cleared up to make sure the infection is fully treated.
Not to be used in
- Allergy to any ingredient.
This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or
any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have
previously experienced such an
If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine.
- There are no known harmful effects when this medicine is used by pregnant or breastfeeding mothers.
Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.
- Skin irritation in people hypersensitive to any of the ingredients.
The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the drug's manufacturer.
For more information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist.
How can this medicine affect other medicines?
This medicine is not known to affect other medicines.
Other medicines containing the same active ingredient
There are currently no other medicines available in the UK that contain this combination of active ingredients.
Mycil ointment contains tolnaftate in combination with a different antiseptic called benzalkonium chloride.
Mycil athlete's foot spray contains just tolnaftate.