Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Are They?How They WorkTypes of InfectionsTypes of DrugsSymptomsWhen to Contact a Provider
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Are They?
How They Work
Types of Infections
Types of Drugs
Symptoms
When to Contact a Provider
There are millions of types of fungi, including yeasts and molds. Fungi occur naturally in many places—and some within our bodies—they rarely cause severe disease.Some conditions that weaken the immune system might make you more susceptible to these kinds of infections and require treatment using antifungal medications.
There are several types of antifungal medications, and this article will explore the different varieties, when they might be used, and what to expect while taking them.
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What Are Antifungal Medications?
Antifungal drugs are a class of medications that are used to treat invasive fungal infections. There is a wide range of types, strengths, formulations, and uses for the medications in this class.
Over-the-Counter Antifungals for Athlete’s Foot
Each type of antifungal works in a different way. Certain antifungals target specific types of fungus, while others can be used on a wide range of species. Typically, these medications work in one of the following ways:
How long it takes for an antifungal infection to clear depends on the type and location of your infection. Some fungal skin infections can start to clear in days to weeks, while systemic infections can take months to resolve completely.Always continue treatment for the entire regimen.
What Types of Infections Do Antifungals Treat?
While nail, vaginal, skin, and oral fungal infections are most common, there are many other ways a fungal infection can appear.
Some common fungal infections that are specific to location are:
Common Fungal Infections
Some types of fungi naturally exist on our skin and in our bodies, but our immune systems keep the effects of these fungi in check to prevent infections or serious problems.
The most common types of fungal infections in humans include:
Fungal infections can impact any part of the body, even your lungs.
Who Is At Risk of Fungal Infections?
Fungi are opportunistic, meaning they can infect anyone that comes in contact with them.
With that being said, your risk of fungal infection is higher if you are immunocompromised due to cancer, HIV infection, cancer treatment,immunosuppressive drugs, or other reasons.
You may also be more at risk for fungal infection if:
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Types of Antifungal Medications
There are four main types of antifungal medications. They each work in a specific way to treat certain types of fungal infections.
Allylamines
Antifungal medications in this group attack the membranes of fungal cells, eventually destroying them. This type of medication can treat a variety of fungal infections of the skin, nails, and hair.
There are two main formulations ofallyamines—Lamisil (terbinafine) and Naftin (naftifine).
Azoles
Examples of medications found in the azole category include:
These medications are available in different strengths, including some that can be purchased over the counter and others that require a prescription. Azoles are also usually offered in a variety of formulations from powders to creams.
Although these antifungals are very useful, their popularity has led to a level of resistance.
Additionally, there are some types of fungus that don’t respond to certain antifungals. In many cases, it’s best to consult a healthcare professional if you are unsure which antifungal is the right choice for your symptoms.
You may be recommended a different antifungal than what you are using, or a product that combines more than one type of antifungal medication in a single application.
Dangerous InteractionsMany types of medications interact with one another, and not always in a good way. Antifungals are no exception. Azoles, in particular, are prone to drug-to-drug interactions that can cause serious complications likeabnormal heart rhythms. Always let your healthcare provider know of all the medications you take, including vitamins and supplements, to prevent possible interactions with a new prescription or treatment.
Dangerous Interactions
Many types of medications interact with one another, and not always in a good way. Antifungals are no exception. Azoles, in particular, are prone to drug-to-drug interactions that can cause serious complications likeabnormal heart rhythms. Always let your healthcare provider know of all the medications you take, including vitamins and supplements, to prevent possible interactions with a new prescription or treatment.
Echinocandins
This is a newer type of antifungal that damages and destroys the cell wall of the fungus.While there are few adverse reactions with other medications and limited side effects with this antifungal, it’s only available as an intravenous treatment. Antifungals in this group are usually used to treat invasive candidiasis.
Examples of medications in this group include:
Polyenes
Amphotericin B is one formulation in this class, and it’s one of the most potent antifungals. Medications in this class are often used in systemic infections, which are fungal infections that impact the entire body.
These types of antifungal medications are typically used to treat infections like:
Examples of this type of antifungal include:
Symptoms of Fungal Infections
Symptoms of fungal infections vary depending on the type of fungus causing the infection and what body system is being affected.
Skin
There are many types offungal infections that affect the skin. Exact symptoms may vary, but may include:
Nails
When fungal infections impact the nails, they may become:
Groin
Another common area for fungal infections is the groin. This can come in the form of a vaginal yeast infection or jock itch. In both cases, symptoms include itchiness and irritation but vaginal yeast infections may also lead to pain during urination and thick or foul-smelling discharge.Jock itch, on the other hand, usually has more superficial symptoms like skin flaking or redness.
Oral
When yeast infections develop in the mouth, throat, or esophagus, these are calledthrush. You may experience a wide range of symptoms that include:
When to Contact a Healthcare Provider
Most fungal infections cause minor or superficial symptoms like itching, redness, or general discomfort. However, when fungal infections become systemic (affecting the entire body), symptoms can become more diverse and mimic several other conditions.
Symptoms of systemic fungal infections include:
If you have any of these symptoms and they arenot going away, or if your fungal infection isn’t clearing with the use of over-the-counter (OTC) antifungal medications, contact a healthcare provider. Your provider may need to investigate your symptoms to rule out other infections, or prescribe a stronger antifungal medication for you.
Summary
There are thousands of types of fungus that can lead to a wide range of infections and symptoms. Antifungal medications can kill fungus cells or stop them from growing, but it’s important to know which medications are best to treat which types of fungal infection. Even when you are using the right form of medication, it can take weeks to months to clear fungal infections completely.
Varieties of Fungal and Yeast Infections
18 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Denham S, Wambaugh M, Brown J.How environmental fungi cause a range of clinical outcomes in susceptible hosts.JMB. 2019 Jul;431(16):2982-3009. doi:10.1016/j.jmb.2019.05.003Jana S, Gayen S, Kumari R, et al.Mechanism of action of antifungal agents. Mechanism of action of antifungal agents. In:How Synthetic Drugs Work. 2023;1(1):431-445. doi:10.1016/B978-0-323-99855-0.00019-1Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Ringworm and fungal nail infections basics.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Types of fungal diseases.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Fungal diseases.Murray PR, et al.Antifungal agents.Medical Microbiology.2021.Mijaljica D, Spada F, Harrison I.Emerging trends in the use of topical antifungal-corticosteroid combinations.J Fungi (Basel). 2022 Aug;8(8):812. doi:10.3390/jof8080812Fisher M, Alastruey-Izquierdo A, Berman J, et al.Tackling the emerging threat of antifungal resistance to human health.Nat Rev Microbiol. 2022 Mar;20(1):557-571. doi:10.1038/s41579-022-00720-1Shrestha S, Fosso M, Garneau-Tsodikova, S.A combination approach to treating fungal infections.Sci Rep. Nov 2015;5(17070). doi:10.1038/srep17070.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Antimicrobial-resistant fungal diseases.Van Daele R, Spriet I, Wauters J, at al.Antifungal drugs: What brings the future?.Medical Mycology.June 2019;57(3):S328-S343. doi: 10.1093/mmy/myz012.SzymańskiM, Chmielewska S,CzyżewskaU, Malinowska M, Tylicki A.Echinocandins - structure, mechanism of action and use in antifungal therapy.J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem. 2022 Mar;37(1):876-894. doi:10.1080/14756366.2022.2050224Nett JE, Andes DR.Antifungal agents: Spectrum of activity, pharmacology, and clinical indications.Infect Dis Clin N Am. March 2016;30(1):51-83. doi:10.1016/j.idc.2015.10.012.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of ringworm and fungal nail infections.U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.Vaginal yeast infections.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Candidiasis.Northwestern Medical Center.Symptoms of fungal infections.Center for Disease Control.Symptoms of candidiasis.
18 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Denham S, Wambaugh M, Brown J.How environmental fungi cause a range of clinical outcomes in susceptible hosts.JMB. 2019 Jul;431(16):2982-3009. doi:10.1016/j.jmb.2019.05.003Jana S, Gayen S, Kumari R, et al.Mechanism of action of antifungal agents. Mechanism of action of antifungal agents. In:How Synthetic Drugs Work. 2023;1(1):431-445. doi:10.1016/B978-0-323-99855-0.00019-1Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Ringworm and fungal nail infections basics.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Types of fungal diseases.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Fungal diseases.Murray PR, et al.Antifungal agents.Medical Microbiology.2021.Mijaljica D, Spada F, Harrison I.Emerging trends in the use of topical antifungal-corticosteroid combinations.J Fungi (Basel). 2022 Aug;8(8):812. doi:10.3390/jof8080812Fisher M, Alastruey-Izquierdo A, Berman J, et al.Tackling the emerging threat of antifungal resistance to human health.Nat Rev Microbiol. 2022 Mar;20(1):557-571. doi:10.1038/s41579-022-00720-1Shrestha S, Fosso M, Garneau-Tsodikova, S.A combination approach to treating fungal infections.Sci Rep. Nov 2015;5(17070). doi:10.1038/srep17070.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Antimicrobial-resistant fungal diseases.Van Daele R, Spriet I, Wauters J, at al.Antifungal drugs: What brings the future?.Medical Mycology.June 2019;57(3):S328-S343. doi: 10.1093/mmy/myz012.SzymańskiM, Chmielewska S,CzyżewskaU, Malinowska M, Tylicki A.Echinocandins - structure, mechanism of action and use in antifungal therapy.J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem. 2022 Mar;37(1):876-894. doi:10.1080/14756366.2022.2050224Nett JE, Andes DR.Antifungal agents: Spectrum of activity, pharmacology, and clinical indications.Infect Dis Clin N Am. March 2016;30(1):51-83. doi:10.1016/j.idc.2015.10.012.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of ringworm and fungal nail infections.U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.Vaginal yeast infections.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Candidiasis.Northwestern Medical Center.Symptoms of fungal infections.Center for Disease Control.Symptoms of candidiasis.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Denham S, Wambaugh M, Brown J.How environmental fungi cause a range of clinical outcomes in susceptible hosts.JMB. 2019 Jul;431(16):2982-3009. doi:10.1016/j.jmb.2019.05.003Jana S, Gayen S, Kumari R, et al.Mechanism of action of antifungal agents. Mechanism of action of antifungal agents. In:How Synthetic Drugs Work. 2023;1(1):431-445. doi:10.1016/B978-0-323-99855-0.00019-1Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Ringworm and fungal nail infections basics.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Types of fungal diseases.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Fungal diseases.Murray PR, et al.Antifungal agents.Medical Microbiology.2021.Mijaljica D, Spada F, Harrison I.Emerging trends in the use of topical antifungal-corticosteroid combinations.J Fungi (Basel). 2022 Aug;8(8):812. doi:10.3390/jof8080812Fisher M, Alastruey-Izquierdo A, Berman J, et al.Tackling the emerging threat of antifungal resistance to human health.Nat Rev Microbiol. 2022 Mar;20(1):557-571. doi:10.1038/s41579-022-00720-1Shrestha S, Fosso M, Garneau-Tsodikova, S.A combination approach to treating fungal infections.Sci Rep. Nov 2015;5(17070). doi:10.1038/srep17070.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Antimicrobial-resistant fungal diseases.Van Daele R, Spriet I, Wauters J, at al.Antifungal drugs: What brings the future?.Medical Mycology.June 2019;57(3):S328-S343. doi: 10.1093/mmy/myz012.SzymańskiM, Chmielewska S,CzyżewskaU, Malinowska M, Tylicki A.Echinocandins - structure, mechanism of action and use in antifungal therapy.J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem. 2022 Mar;37(1):876-894. doi:10.1080/14756366.2022.2050224Nett JE, Andes DR.Antifungal agents: Spectrum of activity, pharmacology, and clinical indications.Infect Dis Clin N Am. March 2016;30(1):51-83. doi:10.1016/j.idc.2015.10.012.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of ringworm and fungal nail infections.U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.Vaginal yeast infections.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Candidiasis.Northwestern Medical Center.Symptoms of fungal infections.Center for Disease Control.Symptoms of candidiasis.
Denham S, Wambaugh M, Brown J.How environmental fungi cause a range of clinical outcomes in susceptible hosts.JMB. 2019 Jul;431(16):2982-3009. doi:10.1016/j.jmb.2019.05.003
Jana S, Gayen S, Kumari R, et al.Mechanism of action of antifungal agents. Mechanism of action of antifungal agents. In:How Synthetic Drugs Work. 2023;1(1):431-445. doi:10.1016/B978-0-323-99855-0.00019-1
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Ringworm and fungal nail infections basics.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Types of fungal diseases.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Fungal diseases.
Murray PR, et al.Antifungal agents.Medical Microbiology.2021.
Mijaljica D, Spada F, Harrison I.Emerging trends in the use of topical antifungal-corticosteroid combinations.J Fungi (Basel). 2022 Aug;8(8):812. doi:10.3390/jof8080812
Fisher M, Alastruey-Izquierdo A, Berman J, et al.Tackling the emerging threat of antifungal resistance to human health.Nat Rev Microbiol. 2022 Mar;20(1):557-571. doi:10.1038/s41579-022-00720-1
Shrestha S, Fosso M, Garneau-Tsodikova, S.A combination approach to treating fungal infections.Sci Rep. Nov 2015;5(17070). doi:10.1038/srep17070.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Antimicrobial-resistant fungal diseases.
Van Daele R, Spriet I, Wauters J, at al.Antifungal drugs: What brings the future?.Medical Mycology.June 2019;57(3):S328-S343. doi: 10.1093/mmy/myz012.
SzymańskiM, Chmielewska S,CzyżewskaU, Malinowska M, Tylicki A.Echinocandins - structure, mechanism of action and use in antifungal therapy.J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem. 2022 Mar;37(1):876-894. doi:10.1080/14756366.2022.2050224
Nett JE, Andes DR.Antifungal agents: Spectrum of activity, pharmacology, and clinical indications.Infect Dis Clin N Am. March 2016;30(1):51-83. doi:10.1016/j.idc.2015.10.012.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of ringworm and fungal nail infections.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.Vaginal yeast infections.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Candidiasis.
Northwestern Medical Center.Symptoms of fungal infections.
Center for Disease Control.Symptoms of candidiasis.
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