Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsQuick TreatmentCauses and RisksHow to Know the CauseWhen It’s Not ImprovingComparing TreatmentsUntreated Athlete’s FootPrevention
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Quick Treatment
Causes and Risks
How to Know the Cause
When It’s Not Improving
Comparing Treatments
Untreated Athlete’s Foot
Prevention
Athlete’s foot(tinea pedis) is a common fungal infection of the feet. It is often found between the toes and on the soles of the feet.
Fortunately, many home remedies and antifungals treat it. Some are stronger and work faster than others, with antifungals being the most effective and acting the quickest.
This article explains different treatments for mild athlete’s foot and how to keep it from recurring.
FotoDuets/ Getty Images
Quick Treatment for Mild Athlete’s Foot
If you have fungus on your feet, you are probably looking for fast relief. For mild infections, first-line treatment includes atopical antifungal creamapplied one to two times per day for one to six weeks, depending on the type.
Topicalantifungalsused to treat athlete’s foot include:
People with mild athlete’s foot usually respond to a shorter treatment (one week), while those with a more severe infection may need treatment for a month or more. Topical antifungals are usually well-tolerated, and side effects are often site-related pain or itching.
A Word From VerywellI recommend changing your shoes daily for at least 24 hours to allow them to dry between wears. Drying between toes after bathing, not applying lotion between toes, and keeping feet and shoes clean and dry can help prevent a recurrence.—SARAH RICHARDS, DPM, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
A Word From Verywell
I recommend changing your shoes daily for at least 24 hours to allow them to dry between wears. Drying between toes after bathing, not applying lotion between toes, and keeping feet and shoes clean and dry can help prevent a recurrence.—SARAH RICHARDS, DPM, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
I recommend changing your shoes daily for at least 24 hours to allow them to dry between wears. Drying between toes after bathing, not applying lotion between toes, and keeping feet and shoes clean and dry can help prevent a recurrence.
—SARAH RICHARDS, DPM, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
Understanding Where Your Athlete’s Foot Came From
Some things make you more likely to develop athlete’s foot, including:
Are You Sure It’s Athlete’s Foot?
Sometimes, people with foot symptoms wonder if it’s dry skin or athlete’s foot. It’s a good question since the athlete’s foot can look like dry skin and other skin conditions.
Foot Fungus or Something Else?Conditions with similar symptoms as athlete’s foot that need to be ruled out to make a diagnosis (called a differential diagnosis) include:Atopic dermatitis(eczema)Contact dermatitisJuvenile plantar dermatosis (known as “wet and dry foot syndrome” in children)PsoriasisScabies
Foot Fungus or Something Else?
Conditions with similar symptoms as athlete’s foot that need to be ruled out to make a diagnosis (called a differential diagnosis) include:Atopic dermatitis(eczema)Contact dermatitisJuvenile plantar dermatosis (known as “wet and dry foot syndrome” in children)PsoriasisScabies
Conditions with similar symptoms as athlete’s foot that need to be ruled out to make a diagnosis (called a differential diagnosis) include:
Symptom Appearance
Burak Karademir / Getty Images
If blisters break open, you may notice raw tissue that becomes swollen.
Symptom Sensations
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoReproduced with permission from ©DermNet NZwww.dermnetnz.org2022.
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See Photo
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.
Reproduced with permission from ©DermNet NZwww.dermnetnz.org2022.
If you have athlete’s foot, the sensations may give it away. Athlete’s foot causes itching and burning sensations, especially between the toes.These sensations may spread and become more intense as the infection spreads to other parts of the feet.
Symptom Onset
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoReproduced with permission from © DermNet and © Raimo Suhonenwww.dermnetnz.org2023.
Reproduced with permission from © DermNet and © Raimo Suhonenwww.dermnetnz.org2023.
After your feet are exposed to the fungus that causes athlete’s foot, it can take some time for symptoms to develop. Most people notice symptoms a few days to two weeks after exposure.
Athlete’s Foot Not Improving
If your athlete’s foot is not improving or you haveextreme foot fungus, it’s time to see a healthcare provider. Signs you should seek medical care for athlete’s foot include:
These symptoms may indicate that you have a bacterial infection or that you require a stronger treatment.
Comparing Athlete’s Foot Treatments
How do you get athlete’s foot to go away? There are nondrug, over-the-counter (OTC) treatments, and prescription treatments.
Nondrug
Somehome remedies for athlete’s footinclude:
In mild cases, these may help, but home remedies have little to no evidence supporting their efficacy.
OTC Options
OTC antifungals for athlete’s footinclude:
These preparations may come in creams, sprays, powders, or drops.
Prescription-Grade Antifungals
If you require a stronger medication,prescription antifungalsare available. These oral medications include:
What Happens If Athlete’s Foot Goes Untreated?
Athlete’s foot will not go away on its own, so it’s important to treat it. Left untreated, deep cracks and skin breaks can occur. This can make it more likely that abacterial infectionwill set in.It also could spread to other parts of your body, including your groin.
How to Keep Athlete’s Foot From Returning
When athlete’s foot doesn’t fully resolve or if your feet are continually exposed to the fungus that causes it, you may experience recurrent athlete’s foot. Here are some ways to prevent athlete’s foot from returning:
Summary
Fungus causes athlete’s foot. Many treatments exist, but topical antifungal medicine is the quickest and most effective. If your at-home efforts don’t work within a couple of weeks, seek help from a healthcare provider.
Symptoms of athlete’s foot include dry, peeling, or inflamed skin. It typically occurs between the toes. To prevent athlete’s foot, don’t walk around barefoot in locker rooms or pools, keep your feet dry, wash your feet daily, and wear breathable shoes.
10 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.National Institutes of Health.Athlete’s foot: Learn More – What helps to get rid of athlete’s foot?Leung AK, Barankin B, Lam JM, Leong KF, Hon KL.Tinea pedis: An updated review.Drugs Context. 2023;12:2023-5-1. doi:10.7573/dic.2023-5-1Toukabri N, Dhieb C, El Euch D, et al.Prevalence, etiology, and risk factors of tinea pedis and tinea unguium in Tunisia.Can J Infect Dis Med Microbiol. 2017;2017:6835725. doi:10.1155/2017/6835725Holland,KE, Soung, PJ.48 acquired rashes in the older child; nelson pediatric symptom-based diagnosis. Elsevier.American Podiatric Medical Association.Athlete’s foot.Cedars Sinai.Tinea infection.Penn Medicine.What is athlete’s foot?.Martin-Lopez JE.Athlete’s foot: oral antifungals.BMJ Clin Evid. 2015;2015:1712.Penn Medicine.Athlete’s foot: Not just for athletes.American Academy of Dermatology Association.How to prevent athlete’s foot.
10 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.National Institutes of Health.Athlete’s foot: Learn More – What helps to get rid of athlete’s foot?Leung AK, Barankin B, Lam JM, Leong KF, Hon KL.Tinea pedis: An updated review.Drugs Context. 2023;12:2023-5-1. doi:10.7573/dic.2023-5-1Toukabri N, Dhieb C, El Euch D, et al.Prevalence, etiology, and risk factors of tinea pedis and tinea unguium in Tunisia.Can J Infect Dis Med Microbiol. 2017;2017:6835725. doi:10.1155/2017/6835725Holland,KE, Soung, PJ.48 acquired rashes in the older child; nelson pediatric symptom-based diagnosis. Elsevier.American Podiatric Medical Association.Athlete’s foot.Cedars Sinai.Tinea infection.Penn Medicine.What is athlete’s foot?.Martin-Lopez JE.Athlete’s foot: oral antifungals.BMJ Clin Evid. 2015;2015:1712.Penn Medicine.Athlete’s foot: Not just for athletes.American Academy of Dermatology Association.How to prevent athlete’s foot.
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.
National Institutes of Health.Athlete’s foot: Learn More – What helps to get rid of athlete’s foot?Leung AK, Barankin B, Lam JM, Leong KF, Hon KL.Tinea pedis: An updated review.Drugs Context. 2023;12:2023-5-1. doi:10.7573/dic.2023-5-1Toukabri N, Dhieb C, El Euch D, et al.Prevalence, etiology, and risk factors of tinea pedis and tinea unguium in Tunisia.Can J Infect Dis Med Microbiol. 2017;2017:6835725. doi:10.1155/2017/6835725Holland,KE, Soung, PJ.48 acquired rashes in the older child; nelson pediatric symptom-based diagnosis. Elsevier.American Podiatric Medical Association.Athlete’s foot.Cedars Sinai.Tinea infection.Penn Medicine.What is athlete’s foot?.Martin-Lopez JE.Athlete’s foot: oral antifungals.BMJ Clin Evid. 2015;2015:1712.Penn Medicine.Athlete’s foot: Not just for athletes.American Academy of Dermatology Association.How to prevent athlete’s foot.
National Institutes of Health.Athlete’s foot: Learn More – What helps to get rid of athlete’s foot?
Leung AK, Barankin B, Lam JM, Leong KF, Hon KL.Tinea pedis: An updated review.Drugs Context. 2023;12:2023-5-1. doi:10.7573/dic.2023-5-1
Toukabri N, Dhieb C, El Euch D, et al.Prevalence, etiology, and risk factors of tinea pedis and tinea unguium in Tunisia.Can J Infect Dis Med Microbiol. 2017;2017:6835725. doi:10.1155/2017/6835725
Holland,KE, Soung, PJ.48 acquired rashes in the older child; nelson pediatric symptom-based diagnosis. Elsevier.
American Podiatric Medical Association.Athlete’s foot.
Cedars Sinai.Tinea infection.
Penn Medicine.What is athlete’s foot?.
Martin-Lopez JE.Athlete’s foot: oral antifungals.BMJ Clin Evid. 2015;2015:1712.
Penn Medicine.Athlete’s foot: Not just for athletes.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.How to prevent athlete’s foot.
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