Tolnaftate
Topical antifungals
Topical antifungals
Topical thiocarbamate for athlete's foot, jock itch and ringworm of the body; sold without prescription as cream, powder, gel or spray.
Quick facts
- Group
- Topical antifungals
- Target
- Dermatophyte fungi and Malassezia in the outer skin layer
- Used for
- Tinea pedis · Pityriasis versicolor
- Key effects
- Skin irritation where applied
- Monitor
- Improvement within the expected weeks
- ATC
- D01AE18
No doses: the clinician sets them by the current guideline.
Mechanism of action
Tolnaftate is a thiocarbamate topical antifungal. Applied to the skin, it stops the growth of the dermatophytes and Malassezia that cause most skin ringworm and pityriasis versicolor, but it does not work against Candida.
- Applied to clean, dry skin over the lesion
- Reaches the fungi in the outer layer of the skin
- Fungal growth stops
- New healthy skin replaces the infected layer
Indications
- Tinea pedis (athlete's foot), tinea cruris (jock itch) and tinea corporis (ringworm) Dermatophytosis (tinea) and onychomycosis →
- Pityriasis versicolor (Malassezia) Pityriasis versicolor →
Adverse effects
- Skin irritation where applied
Contraindications
- Allergy to tolnaftate or any ingredient of the product
Key interactions
- Dressings, cosmetics or other skin products on the same area
- Not applied over the treated area unless a clinician advises it.
What is monitored
- Improvement within the expected weeks; persistent symptoms need medical review
- Spread of the rash, nail or scalp involvement (which need other treatment)
Administration and safety
- External use only: kept out of the eyes, nose and mouth and never swallowed
- Applied to clean, dry skin; powders and sprays go between the toes
- Continued for some time after symptoms clear
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Applied only to the skin; human data in pregnancy are lacking, and pregnancy is mentioned to the clinician or pharmacist.
Nursing care
- Teach to dry the feet well, change socks and use sandals in shared showers
- Explain that stopping when the itch goes often brings relapse
- Report rashes that spread or involve the nails or scalp
- Teach hand washing after application
Pharmacokinetics
- Absorption
- Applied to the skin for local action.
Test yourself
Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it.
To which chemical group does tolnaftate belong?
The thiocarbamates; it is a topical antifungal for dermatophyte skin infections.
Which infections is tolnaftate used for?
Dermatophyte skin infections: athlete's foot, jock itch and ringworm of the body.
Is tolnaftate a good choice for skin candidiasis?
No. Tolnaftate acts on dermatophytes and Malassezia but is ineffective against Candida; an azole is used instead.
Connections
← Back to the class: Topical antifungals
Educational content on how drugs work; not a prescribing guide and no substitute for a health professional's advice. No doses are given.
Sources: Tolnaftate: MedlinePlus Drug Information (MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine), 2026); ATCDDD - ATC/DDD Index (WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology, 2026).
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Representative model, for educational purposes only.