Antifungal creams, which were once meant to be regulated drugs, are now ubiquitous across the country, available over the counter in pharmacies large and small, from cities to remote towns. 

Many are sold in these unapproved, irrational combinations, their steroid component offering quick relief from itching while quietly worsening the disease. Patients, reassured by temporary comfort, are caught in a cycle of misuse and recurrence.

In 2023, India’s antifungal market crossed USD 700 million and is projected to reach USD 1 billion soon, driven largely by superficial antifungal ointments. This explosive growth reflects not better care, but widespread overuse and weak regulation. 

The pictures here show antifungal creams from Kerala, Odisha and Chennai. Of these, only Chennai creams needed prescription for buying. (Photo credits for image from Chennai: Sankalpa)

When the author Vasundharaa asked a Gujarat pharmacist which drug do they stock the most, she was shown a very expensive combination, costing around Rs 300 per tube - saying this is what most doctors prefer.