Athlete’s foot is a common fungal skin infection that you may not even know you have. In its mildest form, it presents as delicate peeling skin around or in between the toes and/or feet often mistaken for general dry skin. In its severest form however (you would know about it!), it can present as red, itchy patches with oozing blisters and a burning or stinging sensation.
Regardless of the form it is prudent to treat for a mild form can certainly progress to severe and it is commonly the same fungal infection that can spread to the toenails which is much more difficult to eradicate (see article on fungal toenails).
What causes Athlete’s foot?
Athlete’s foot is basically the result of exposure of feet to a fungus. This fungus then propagates by feeding on skin cells specifically eating up keratin associated with the structural components of skin, hair, and nails. Now the first thing to note is that we are constantly exposed to billions of tiny organisms (microbes) every day, these microbes can proliferate on (and in) our bodies and result in either beneficial or detrimental outcomes. The fungi microbe known as Dermatophyte forms the fungus associated with athlete’s feet and enjoys dark, warm, moist environments often common with shoes and socks. The constant exposure of one’s feet to this environment can thus eventually lead to infection.
How to treat Athlete’s Foot
- Exposure limitation:
The obvious initial treatment is to limit our exposure to these organisms. Given its association with shoes it is good practice to therefore avoid wearing shoes without socks and to change your socks regularly (at least once a day). Please see tips on treating the whole foot in my nail fungus article for specific shoe and sock care.
- Keep it clean:
It is also important to keep the feet clean and dry: I recommend that you wash your feet twice a day with an antifungal soap (Tea Tree Oil Soap Bar for Face & Body, 4oz – Antifungal Antiseptic Natural Remedy Skin Cleanser), making sure that you clean and dry well in between the toes where fungus can commonly hide.
- Antifungal Medication:
When the feet are clean, the next step is to apply an antifungal cream/ointment. There are a number of usually effective over-the-counter creams out there, however, some may be more effective for some individuals than others and it can take a little trial and error to establish which ones work for you the best. With any ointment used, the best results are generally seen when a thin layer is applied to the whole foot twice a day (after foot wash), it should be applied between the toes but make sure you allow the feet to aerate and dry before putting on socks and shoes.
Here are my recommendations of which ones I would try first;
Active ingredient: Clotrimazole 1%
Lotramin has been a staple in the antifungal industry for many years and has proven to be effective. Lotrimin AF is a non-staining cream containing Clotrimazole which inhibits the growth and reproduction of fungal cells.
Active ingredient: Butenafine Hydrochloride 1%
Lotrimin Ultra contains Butenafine Hydrochloride which acts by inhibiting the activity of a fungal enzyme. This is different compared to Lotrimin AF in that Ultra will actively remove the fungus as opposed to preventing its growth. As such the product can arguably work quicker and more effectively in resolving athletes’ feet.
Tinactin (Tinactin Antifungal Cream, Athlete’s Foot Treatment, Tolnaftate 1%, Proven Clinically Effective on Most Athlete’s Foot and Ringworm, 1 Ounce, 30 Grams, Tube)
Active Ingredient: Tolnaftate 1%.
Tinactin is another traditional cream that has proven effective in treating athlete’s feet and other fungal skin infections. The smooth, odorless cream contains Tolnaftate, a synthetic antifungal that acts by inhibiting the growth of fungus.
You may also want to consider using an antifungal deodorant foot spray instead of the cream. Firstly this is slightly easier to apply and also has the benefit of keeping the feet dry by reducing perspiration thus limiting the potential of fungal growth. Both Lotramin and Tinactin offer this deodorant variant.
When all else fails
As mentioned these approaches will for most people be very effective in eliminating or at least controlling Athletes’ feet. On some occasions, however, the fungus remains persistent. In these instances, it is recommended that you see your podiatrist or dermatologist who may prescribe a prescription ointment or even oral medication to treat the condition.