Ciclopirox is an antifungal medication used to treat various fungal infections of the skin, nails, and scalp. It works by killing fungi or stopping their growth. Common uses of ciclopirox include:

• Treating fungal skin infections such as ringworm of the body (tinea corporis), athlete's foot (tinea pedis), jock itch (tinea cruris), and "sun fungus" (tinea versicolor)

• Treating yeast infections of the skin, including candidiasis

• Treating seborrheic dermatitis of the scalp with ciclopirox shampoo

• Treating fungal nail infections (onychomycosis) with ciclopirox topical nail lacquer, often used alongside regular nail trimming

Ciclopirox is available in several forms including cream, gel, lotion, shampoo, and nail lacquer, and is typically prescribed by a doctor

. While effective, ciclopirox nail lacquer has moderate cure rates for nail infections and usually requires long treatment durations (up to 48 weeks)

. It is considered safe with mostly mild side effects like skin irritation or redness at the application site

. In summary, ciclopirox is primarily used to treat fungal and yeast infections of the skin, scalp, and nails through topical application