Pharmacy Guide
Patient leaflets and SmPCs, drug interaction checker, official dosages and NHS pharmacy opening hours — all in one place.
Pharmacy Guide
Patient leaflets and SmPCs, drug interaction checker, official dosages and NHS pharmacy opening hours — all in one place.
Nystaform HC Ointment
⚠ This medicine appears to have been discontinued
The electronic medicines compendium (emc) no longer publishes a Summary of Product Characteristics for this product, which usually means it is no longer marketed in the UK. The patient leaflet below is kept for reference, but the product may not be available.
If you were prescribed this medicine, other products containing Chlorhexidine acetate, Hydrocortisone, Nystatin may still be available. Do not stop your treatment — ask your pharmacist or GP what to use instead.
What it is and what it is used for
FOR Nystaform HC Ointment is a light yellow ointment for application to the skin. It is used to treat skin infections caused by either fungi and/or bacteria, such as ringworm, athlete's foot and infected nappy rash. Corticosteroid creams, ointments and other topical preparations come in four different potencies or strengths. These are known as mild, moderately potent, potent or very potent. Healthcare professionals will usually refer to topical corticosteroid potency rather than strength. A potent or strong corticosteroid has a much stronger effect than a mild corticosteroid when using the same amount. The percentage of active ingredient that is sometimes included on product packaging does not indicate potency. Hydrocortisone is classed as a mild corticosteroid. Your healthcare professional will prescribe or advise a steroid of the appropriate potency for your condition.
What you need to know before you take it
E NYSTAFORM HC OINTMENT Do not use Nystaform HC Ointment
- If you are allergic to nystatin, Chlorhexidine acetate, hydrocortisone or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).
- If you have tuberculosis of the skin. Warnings and precautions Do not smoke or go near naked flames – risk of severe burns. Fabric (clothing, bedding, dressings etc) that has been in contact with this product burns more easily and is a serious fire hazard. Washing clothing and bedding may reduce product buiId-up but not totally remove it. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using Nystaform HC Ointment. Nystaform HC Ointment may in rare cases cause severe allergic reactions, leading to a drop in blood pressure and even to unconsciousness. Early symptoms of a severe allergic reaction may be skin rash or asthma. If you notice these symptoms. stop using Nystaform HC Ointment and contact your doctor as soon as possible (see under section 4). Take special care with Nystaform HC Ointment
- Nystaform HC Ointment is for external use only and should not be used near your eyes, mouth or be swallowed.
- If swallowed accidentally, seek medical advice immediately.
- If Nystaform HC Ointment gets in your eyes accidentally, you should rinse your eyes immediately and contact your doctor.
- Use Nystaform HC Ointment on large areas of your skin only if told to do so by your doctor, as the hydrocortisone (steroid) may be absorbed into your bloodstream.
- Take care not to cover the treated area of skin with tight clothes or bandages, as this may also cause the hydrocortisone (steroid) to be absorbed into your bloodstream. If there is a worsening of your condition during use consult your prescriber – you may be experiencing an allergic reaction, have an infection or your condition requires a different treatment. If you experience a recurrence of your condition shortly after stopping treatment, within 2 weeks, do not restart using the cream/ointment without consulting your prescriber unless your prescriber has previously advised you to so. If your condition has resolved and on recurrence the redness extends beyond the initial treatment area and you experience a burning sensation, please seek medical advice before restarting treatment. Children
- Use Nystaform HC Ointment with care in infants. As Nystaform HC Ointment contains hydrocortisone (steroid), long term continuous use in infants should be avoided.
Other medicines and Nystaform HC Ointment Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines. Pregnancy and breast-feeding Do not use Nystaform HC Ointment if you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.
How to take it
NYSTAFORM HC OINTMENT Always use this medicine exactly as your doctor has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure. For application to the skin only. Apply the ointment to the infected area two or three times daily. Continue treatment for a maximum of seven days. If you forget to use Nystaform HC Ointment Apply the ointment as soon as you remember and then continue the rest of your treatment as usual. If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Possible side effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. If you experience any of the following reactions stop using Nystaform HC Ointment and get immediate medical help: Swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat; a red itchy skin rash; wheezing or difficulty breathing; feeling faint and dizzy; a strange metallic taste in the mouth; collapse. You may be having an allergic reaction. If you develop a rash or your skin becomes itchy, red, dry or inflamed where you have used the product, stop using it and talk to your doctor or pharmacist. If a new infection appears, stop using Nystaform HC Ointment and consult your doctor. An alternative treatment may need to be used. Steroid withdrawal reaction: If used over prolonged periods a withdrawal reaction, which might appear to be different from the previous condition, may occur in some patients during treatment or within days to weeks after stopping treatment with some or all of the following features: redness of the skin which can extend beyond the initial area treated, a burning or stinging sensation, intense itching, peeling of the skin, oozing open sores. Reporting of side effects If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card Scheme in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
How to store it
NYSTAFORM HC OINTMENT Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children. Do not store above 25 ̊C. Do not use Nystaform HC Ointment after the expiry date which is stated on the tube and on the carton after EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month. Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.
Contents of the pack and other information
What Nystaform HC Ointment contains
- The active substances are nystatin (100,000 i.u./g), chlorhexidine acetate (1 % w/w) and hydrocortisone (1 % w/w).
- The other ingredient is white soft paraffin. What Nystaform HC Ointment looks like and contents of the pack Nystaform HC Ointment is a light yellow ointment which comes in 30g aluminium tubes. Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer Marketing Authorisation Holder Typharm Ltd, Unit 1, 39 Mahoney Green, Rackheath, Norwich, NR13 6JY. Manufacturer PURNA PHARMACEUTICALS NV/SA, Rijksweg 17, 2870 Puurs, Belgium This leaflet was last revised in January 2024.
1/NHCO/05/2401/888.v7
Frequently asked questions about Nystaform HC Ointment
How do I take Nystaform HC Ointment?
Nystaform HC Ointment comes as ointment. Always follow the dose your doctor or pharmacist has given you, and read the leaflet that comes with the medicine.
What is the active substance in Nystaform HC Ointment?
The active substance in Nystaform HC Ointment is chlorhexidine acetate, hydrocortisone, nystatin.
Where does this information come from?
This leaflet reproduces the patient information leaflet approved for Nystaform HC Ointment, as published on the electronic medicines compendium (emc). The version printed inside your medicine’s packaging is the one that applies to you.
Can I get Nystaform HC Ointment without a prescription?
Whether a medicine is available over the counter or on prescription only depends on its licence. Check the leaflet, or ask your pharmacist — they can tell you straight away.
About this leaflet
The text above reproduces the patient information leaflet approved for this medicine, restructured for easier reading.
- Source: electronic medicines compendium (emc), Datapharm
- Active substance: chlorhexidine acetate, hydrocortisone, nystatin
- Official document: view the original leaflet on emc →
⚕For healthcare professionals — Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC)Full SmPC: dosage, interactions, contraindications, warnings+
4.1. Therapeutic indications
Nystaform HC Ointment is indicated for the treatment of infected dermatoses where fungal (particularly monilial) and/or bacterial infections are present.
4.2. Posology and method of administration
Posology
Adults and Children:
Apply to infected areas 2-3 times daily.
Treatment should be for a maximum period of 7 days.
Method of adminstration
For topical application only.
4.3. Contraindications
Tuberculous lesions of the skin. Known hypersensitivity to the active substances, especially in those with a history of possible chlorhexidine-related allergic reactions (see sections 4.4 and 4.8), or to any of the excipients listed in section 6.1.
4.4. Special warnings and precautions for use
For external use only. Avoid contact with eyes. If sensitivity occurs, or if new infection appears, discontinue use and institute alternative therapy.
Instruct patients not to smoke or go near naked flames – risk of severe burns. Fabric (clothing, bedding, dressings etc) that has been in contact with this product burns more easily and is a serious fire hazard. Washing clothing and bedding may reduce product build-up but not totally remove it.
Long term use of topical steroids can result in the development of rebound flares after stopping treatment (topical steroid withdrawal syndrome). A severe form of rebound flare can develop which takes the form of a dermatitis with intense redness, stinging and burning that can spread beyond the initial treatment area. It is more likely to occur when delicate skin sites such as the face and flexures are treated. Should there be a reoccurrence of the condition within days to weeks after successful treatment a withdrawal reaction should be suspected. Reapplication should be with caution and specialist advise is recommended in these cases or other treatment options should be considered.
The label will state mild steroid.
Paediatric population
In infants, long-term continuous topical steriod therapy should be avoided. Adrenal suppression can occur even without occlusion. As with other topical corticosteroids, systemic absorption may occur when extensive areas are treated, particularly under occlusion.
Nystaform HC Ointment contains chlorhexidine. Chlorhexidine is known to induce hypersensitivity, including generalised allergic reactions and anaphylactic shock. The prevalence of chlorhexidine hypersensitivity is not known, but available literature suggests this is likely to be very rare. Nystaform HC Ointment should not be administered to anyone with a potential history of an allergic reaction to a chlorhexidine-containing compound (see sections 4.3 and 4.8).
4.5. Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction
None stated.
4.6. Fertility, pregnancy and lactation
Topical administration of corticosteroids to pregnant animals can cause abnormalities of foetal development including cleft palate and intra-uterine growth retardation. The relevance of this finding to humans has not been established. However, topical steroids should not be used extensively in the first trimester of pregnancy and nystatin only with caution. The use of Nystaform HC Ointment requires that the anticipated benefits outweigh the possible risks.
4.7. Effects on ability to drive and use machines
None stated.
4.8. Undesirable effects
Skin Disorders and Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders
Frequency not known (cannot be estimated from available data): Allergic skin reactions such as dermatitis, pruritus, erythema, eczema, rash, urticaria, skin irritation, and blisters. Withdrawal reactions - redness of the skin which may extend to areas beyond the initial affected area, burning or stinging sensation, itch, skin peeling, oozing pustules. (see section 4.4)
Immune Disorders
Frequency not known: Hypersensitivity including anaphylactic shock (see sections 4.3 and 4.4).
Reporting of suspected adverse reactions
Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card Scheme in the Google Play or Apple App Store.
4.9. Overdose
Nystatin is poorly absorbed from the gastro-intestinal tract. In the event of accidental oral ingestion, routine measures such as gastric lavage should be performed as soon as possible after ingestion.
🇷🇴 Known in Romania as
Medicines sold in Romania with the same active substance: Cunoscut în România ca
⚠ Not the same combination. This medicine contains Chlorhexidine acetate, Hydrocortisone, Nystatin. The products below do not contain exactly the same set of active substances — they are not direct substitutes.
- HIDROCORTIZON FITERMAN 10 mg/g prescription partial — not the same combinationHYDROCORTISONUM · skin / topical
- HIDROCORTIZON ATB 10 mg/g prescription partial — not the same combinationHYDROCORTISONUM · skin / topical
Some of these do not contain exactly the same active substances — check each one. The strength, the form and whether you need a prescription can differ. Always ask a pharmacist before you switch. Romanian medicines in the UK →
🇵🇱 Known in Poland as
Medicines sold in Poland with the same active substance: W Polsce znany jako
⚠ Not the same combination. This medicine contains Chlorhexidine acetate, Hydrocortisone, Nystatin. The products below do not contain exactly the same set of active substances — they are not direct substitutes.
- Hydrocort CHEMA partial — not the same combinationHydrocortisoni acetas · skin / topical
Some of these do not contain exactly the same active substances — check each one. The strength, the form and whether you need a prescription can differ. Always ask a pharmacist before you switch. Polish medicines in the UK →
💬 Ask about this leaflet
Ask anything about Nystaform HC Ointment. The assistant answers only from this leaflet — if the leaflet does not cover it, it will say so. It does not give medical advice.
Answers come from the patient leaflet published on the electronic medicines compendium (emc). They are not medical advice. Ask a pharmacist or your GP if you are unsure. For urgent help call NHS 111, or 999 in an emergency.