How to get rid of athlete’s foot for good

If you’ve ever forgotten your shower shoes at the gym, you might worry you’ll get athlete’s foot — a common fungal infection people often link with public showers.

But, despite its name, this uncomfortable infection isn’t exclusive to gymgoers. It’s very common and can affect anyone.

There are plenty of over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription medications that can get rid of athlete’s foot, and with the right prevention methods, you can stop it from coming back.

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How do I get rid of athlete’s foot?

Before you seek treatment, you may first want to make sure you have athlete’s foot. That’s especially true if you have skin discoloration or scaling, which could indicate several other conditions, like psoriasis or eczema. Either way, a healthcare professional can help confirm your suspicions.

Athlete’s foot is unlikely to go away on its own, so seeking treatment is very important to ease your symptoms and help prevent it from passing to other people.

OTC creams

OTC antifungal creams can usually clear up an infection. Common examples include clotrimazole (Lotrimin AF), terbinafine cream (Lamisil), and miconazole (Micatin).

These medications come in topical form. This means they are creams that you apply to the affected area. Treatment generally lasts 4 weeks, although you might notice your symptoms go away sooner.

For example, with clotrimazole, you apply it twice per day: once in the morning and then at night.

Prescription options

If you’ve been using a topical cream for a month without improvement, a doctor may recommend trying a prescription medication to help clear the infection. These may include a stronger topical cream or even an oral medication. Examples include:

• oral fluconazole (Diflucan)
• oral terbinafine (Lamisil)
• oral itraconazole (Sporanox)
• oral griseofulvin (Grifulvin V)
• topical ketoconazole (Extina)

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What can I do to prevent athlete’s foot?

Treating the condition with antifungals is the way to kill an athlete’s foot infection, but the best way to make sure you get rid of it permanently is by using prevention methods once the infection has cleared.

The fungus that causes athlete’s foot, known as dermatophytes, is not visible. So, the best way to prevent it is to limit your risk of exposure.

If you notice your athlete’s foot keeps returning, it may be because you continue getting exposure to the fungus.

The following strategies can help reduce your chances of developing athlete’s foot.

Limiting barefoot walking, especially in public areas

According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), you should consider wearing shower shoes, sandals, or flip-flops when you’re around public pools, showers, locker areas, or hotel rooms.

If you have an active infection, you may want to do this in your own shower or when visiting family and friends to help prevent the fungus from transmitting and prevent a reoccurrence.

Keeping your feet dry

The fungus that causes athlete’s foot thrives in moist, warm places, so keeping your feet dry is a good way to prevent it.

Aim to change your socks at least once a day. If you can, alternate shoes to help them dry before putting them back on. If it’s hot outside, choose breathable footwear if possible. Sandals or flip-flops may be suitable options — it’s best to avoid shoes made from plastic or rubber that can make your feet sweat.

Using your own shoes and towels

If you borrow a towel or a pair of shoes from someone with athlete’s foot, you have a high chance of developing it yourself. Making sure you use your own shoes, socks, and towels can help prevent athlete’s foot.

What’s more, if you’ve already had athlete’s foot, thoroughly washing these items can also help keep it away.

Disinfecting your shower

If someone in your house has athlete’s foot, you can spray the bottom of your shower with a disinfectant to kill any lingering bacteria or fungus. If the fungus is living in your shower, this could be why your infection keeps returning as you keep getting exposure to the fungus.

What is athlete’s foot?

Athlete’s foot is the common name for the condition medically known as “tinea pedis.” It’s very common, affecting around 10% of adults at some point.

It is a fungal infection on the skin of your feet. It can affect just one foot or both. Common symptoms include:

• itching
• burning
• cracked or scaly skin

You may also notice inflamed skin, such as a rash or blisters.

Symptoms are especially noticeable on the bottoms of the feet, between the toes, and on the toenails. When people have toenail fungus, it’s often the same type of fungus that causes athlete’s foot.

How long does athlete’s foot last?

Athlete’s foot typically won’t go away on its own if you don’t treat it. This means it can last a long time, or it may seem to go away and then come back if you don’t get rid of the fungus.

With the proper treatment, usually topical antifungals, athlete’s foot should only last 2 to 4 weeks.

Online care for athlete’s foot

Because athlete’s foot needs treatment to go away for good, it’s important to speak with a healthcare professional about getting the right medications for your condition.

Online care services, including Optum Perks Online Care, may make getting treatment easier. With these services, you can submit an online form answering a few questions about your symptoms, and a US-licensed healthcare professional will respond soon after to prescribe a treatment plan.

Summary

Athlete’s foot is a common fungal infection you can get by using the same shower as someone with the condition. Its symptoms can be uncomfortable, and it won’t go away by itself, so it’s important to seek treatment as soon as possible.

Treatment usually includes a topical cream. Many of these are available OTC. But if these don’t seem to be working, you can speak with a doctor about finding a stronger prescription medication.

With the proper combination of treatment and prevention, you should be able to get rid of athlete’s foot for good.

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