Does ketoconazole cream contain hormones?
Disease description:
My skin has been a bit itchy lately, and I heard that ketoconazole cream is effective. However, I'm worried that it might contain hormones—could using it cause side effects? Does this medication actually contain hormones?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Liu Wenmin
Under normal circumstances, ketoconazole cream does not contain hormones.
Ketoconazole cream is a topical antifungal medication; its main ingredient is ketoconazole, a broad-spectrum antifungal agent used to treat fungal skin infections such as tinea corporis, tinea cruris, tinea pedis, and pityriasis versicolor. It does not contain any hormonal components. Hormones are trace amounts of active substances secreted by living organisms, including animal, plant, and microbial cells. They regulate various bodily functions such as metabolism, growth and development, reproduction, and sexual characteristics. Long-term or improper use of hormones may cause a series of side effects, such as skin thinning, pigmentation, and hair growth.
The mechanism of action of ketoconazole cream mainly involves highly selective interference with the activity of fungal cytochrome P-450, thereby inhibiting the biosynthesis of ergosterol in the fungal cell membrane, achieving fungistatic and fungicidal effects. Patients undergoing treatment for fungal infections do not need to worry about side effects associated with hormones.
When using ketoconazole cream, patients should follow medical advice and avoid long-term or extensive application to prevent adverse reactions.
