How to Get Rid of Athlete's Foot

Athlete's foot (tinea pedis) is a common, contagious fungal foot infection that is easy to get and often hard to get rid of. It gets its name from its tendency to affect athletes who can pick up the fungus by walking barefoot in locker rooms. But ultimately anyone can get it, young or old.

Although athlete's foot is relatively easy to resolve with a short course of topical antifungals, it can frequently recur unless steps are taken to avoid reinfection.

This article looks at the symptoms and causes of athlete's foot, including the best way to treat and prevent this common but aggravating foot infection.

What Are the Symptoms of Athlete's Foot?

The incubation of tinea pedis (the time between exposure and symptoms) is anywhere from four days to two weeks depending on the type of fungus you pick up.

Common symptoms include:

• Persistent itchiness
• Burning or stinging
• Inflamed reddish or purplish skin
  
• Pale, oversaturated skin between the toes
• Scaly, cracked, or peeling skin between the toes
• Dry, scaly skin on the bottom of the foot extending up the side ("mocassin foot")
• Tiny blisters
  

People with tinea pedis are susceptible to fungal toenail infections (onychomycosis) as both are caused by the same fungi. This can cause the discoloration, rippling, and cracking of toenails and, in some cases, nail detachment and loss.

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What Causes Athlete's Foot?

Tinea pedis is caused by a group of fungi that infect the skin, hair, and nails, called dermatophytes. Several different fungal species can cause this, including:

• Trichophyton
• Epidermophyton
• Microsporum

Athlete's foot infections start when you come into contact with infected skin or pick up the fungus in moist environments like locker room floors, public showers, or public swimming pool floors.

Other factors can increase your risk of athlete's foot, including having a compromised immune system (such as caused by HIV or diabetes) or having hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating) of the foot.

Is It Athlete's Foot or Something Else?

Many people self-diagnose and treat athlete's foot at home. However, if these remedies fail, it is best to seek medical treatment from a skin specialist called a dermatologist.

A dermatologist can perform a simple test on a scraping of skin, called a KOH prep, that can tell whether your condition is fungal or something else. This is important because antifungal drugs do not work on other non-fungal skin conditions.

In some cases, your foot infection may turn out to be:

• Allergic contact dermatitis
• Bacterial skin rash
• Irritant contact dermatitis
• Eczema (atopic dermatitis)
• Erythrasma
• Psoriasis
• Dyshidrotic eczema

How to Get Rid of Athlete's Foot Fast

In most cases, you can effectively treat tinea pedis with over-the-counter (OTC) topical antifungals. Look for brands of antifungal creams that have either butenafine or terbinafine as their active ingredient. These medications have strong action against organisms that cause tinea pedis.

Topical antifungals are typically applied to affected skin once or twice daily. Because the outer layers of skin are damaged by athlete's foot, you should continue treatment for two to six weeks after your symptoms disappear to prevent reinfection, particularly if your symptoms are severe.

During treatment, practice good hygiene and keep your foot dry. Change your socks regularly, especially when they get sweaty, and never reuse socks that may still have fungal spores in them. You can support topical treatment by using an antifungal foot spray on your foot or in your shoes and socks.

If OTC treatments can't clear the infection on their own, your dermatologist may add prescription oral antifungals to the treatment plan, including drugs like:

• Oral terbinafine
• Diflucan (fluconazolee)
• Sporanox (itraconazole)

These oral antifungals can cause mild to moderate gastrointestinal side effects, including stomach upset and diarrhea.

How to Prevent Athlete's Foot

To reduce your risk of athlete's foot, take the following preventive measures:

• Wash and dry your feet each day, especially between your toes.
• Go barefoot at home as much as possible to avoid moisture buildup.
• Wear socks made of acrylic or polypropylene. These materials wick moisture better than cotton.
• Change your socks whenever they get sweaty.
• Wear sneakers with good ventilation, such as those with breathable mesh tops.
• Allow your shoes to dry when you are not wearing them.
• Don't keep gym shoes in a gym bag where they won't dry out.
• Alternate shoes each day to ensure they have time to dry between wearings.
• Wear flip-flops or sandals when walking public pools or locker rooms.

Summary

Athlete's foot is a fungal infection that can affect anyone and is especially common in those who walk barefoot in locker rooms or public swimming pools. Symptoms include itching, redness, blistering, or cracked skin. Over-the-counter topical antifungals can usually clear the infections, but prescription oral antifungals may also be needed in severe cases.