Athlete’s Foot

Symptoms of athlete’s foot vary from person to person. Some people have severe discomfort, while others have few or no symptoms. 

Common symptoms include:

• Peeling, cracking and scaling of the feet
• Redness, blisters or softening and breakdown (maceration) of the skin
• Itching, burning or both

Your symptoms may depend on the type of athlete’s foot you have.

• Toe web infection usually occurs between the fourth and fifth toes. The skin gets scaly, peels and cracks. If you get a bacterial infection, the skin may break down even more.
• Moccasin-type infection may start with a little soreness on your foot. The skin on your sole or heel may then become thick and crack. In severe cases, the toenails get infected.
• Vesicular (blister) infection usually starts with a sudden outbreak of fluid-filled blisters. The blisters are typically on the sole of the foot but can appear anywhere on your foot. You may also get a bacterial infection.

A doctor can usually tell if you have athlete’s foot by looking at your feet. They will also ask about your symptoms and any past fungal infections you’ve had. If your symptoms are unusual or treatment didn’t help before, your doctor may take a skin or nail sample to test for fungi.

Treatment for athlete’s foot depends on its type and severity. Most cases can be treated at home with antifungal medicines. They kill the fungus or slow its growth. You also need to keep your feet clean and dry.

Over-the-counter antifungal lotions, creams or sprays are usually used first. These include clotrimazole and tolnaftate, among others.

Prescription antifungals may be tried if nonprescription medicines don’t help. Some prescription antifungals are put directly on the skin. Others are taken as a pill.

If you have a severe infection that doesn’t improve, your doctor may prescribe antifungal pills. These are used only for severe cases.

You can usually treat athlete’s foot at home by using nonprescription medicines and taking care of your feet. But if you have diabetes and get athlete’s foot, or if you have infections that are severe, long-lasting or keep coming back, see your doctor.

Here are some things you can do to help treat and prevent athlete’s foot:

• Use nonprescription antifungal medicines.
  • These include clotrimazole, miconazole, terbinafine and tolnaftate.
  • These medicines come in creams, lotions, solutions, gels, sprays, ointments, swabs or powders that you put on the skin (topical medicine). Treatment lasts from one to six weeks.
  • To prevent athlete’s foot from coming back, use the full course of all medicine as directed, even after symptoms have gone away.
• Avoid using hydrocortisone cream.
  • Don’t use this type of cream on a fungal infection, unless your doctor prescribes it.
• Soak your foot in Burow’s solution, a liquid made from water and aluminum acetate.
  • If you have a vesicular (blister) infection, soak your foot in Burow’s solution several times a day. Do this for three or more days until the blister fluid is gone. After the fluid is gone, use an antifungal cream as directed. You can also apply compresses using Burow’s solution.
• Keep your feet clean and dry.
  • Dry between your toes after you swim or bathe.
  • Wear shoes or sandals that allow your feet to breathe.
  • Wear socks to absorb sweat. Change your socks daily, or more often if wet.
  • Use an antifungal spray or foot powder that helps absorb moisture.
  • Let your shoes air out for at least 24 hours between each time you wear them. 
  • Wear shower sandals in public pools and showers. 
• Avoid spreading athlete’s foot to other parts of your body.
  • If you have athlete’s foot, dry your groin area before you dry your feet after bathing.
  • Put on your socks before your underwear. This can prevent fungi from spreading from your feet to your groin. Fungi in the groin can cause jock itch.