Foot Fungus Treatment Guide: What It Is, Why It Happens, and How to Cure It
Your Feet Deserve the Same Care You Give the Rest of Your Body
Foot care is often overlooked until it's time for a pedicure or spa day. However, a once-a-month session to pamper your nails, soles, and heels isn't enough to prevent foot problems like fungus. Foot fungus, commonly known as athlete's foot, causes an itchy, flaky rash between the toes. It's more common than you think, but few people understand why it occurs. Learning the causes, recognizing the early signs of infection, and determining the best foot fungus treatment can help prevent complications and keep your feet healthy and happy.
IN THIS ARTICLE
- What Is Foot Fungus?
- Is It Contagious?
- How to Treat Foot Fungus
- When to See a Dermatologist
- Prescription Treatments
- How to Prevent Foot Fungus
- Take Care of Your Feet
- Foot Fungus Treatment FAQs
Foot fungus — also known as tinea pedis, athlete's foot, or foot ringworm — is a common fungal infection that affects the skin on your feet, causing itchiness, redness, and flakiness. It often starts between the toes on one or both feet and may spread to your toenails, hands, and other skin areas.
Most people contract the infection by walking barefoot in public areas, such as showers and locker rooms. Others wear tight-fitting shoes that trap moisture, creating a breeding ground for fungi.
Common symptoms of athlete's foot include:
- Redness and burning toes
- Inflammation
- Painful blisters
- Dryness and itchiness in the affected area
- Skin peeling on the feet
Despite its name, athlete's foot affects more than just athletes. Anyone can develop any of these four types of athlete's foot, regardless of their activity level or lifestyle.
- Moccasin: Cracked and itchy skin covers the sole all the way to the heel.
- Vesicular: Small, red blisters can appear anywhere on the foot and could cause bacterial infection
- Toe web: Foot fungus affects the skin between toes, causing rashes that may peel or give off a foul smell.
- Ulcerative: Open sores or ulcers appear on the skin, which can get painful.
Athlete's foot is one of the most contagious foot infections. It easily spreads through skin-to-skin contact with an infected person and contaminated surfaces, like locker rooms or swimming pools. Indirect contact by sharing towels or other personal items with an infected individual can also pass on the infection.
Beyond the feet, it can spread to the hands (hand ringworm), groin (jock itch), and nails (onychomycosis).
Frequent sweating, wearing tight shoes, and exposure to moist areas can contribute to foot fungus. People with weakened immune systems or circulatory issues are also more susceptible to the infection. Although not life-threatening, athlete's foot can cause pain and discomfort that disrupt daily activities.
Early treatment can prevent the transmission of infection and keep your feet healthy.
Treating a foot fungus infection doesn't have to be complicated. Several common household items can effectively help eliminate foot fungus.
At-Home Remedies
You can treat foot fungus using at-home solutions and prescription medications. Convenient methods include:
- Over-the-counter antifungal medications: Applying an antifungal foot cream like clotrimazole can treat mild infections. Topical OTC solutions often come in spray or powder forms.
- Hydrogen peroxide: A disinfectant applied twice daily to the affected area can ease the rashes.
- Isopropyl alcohol: Soak the infected skin in a basin with 70% rubbing alcohol and 30% water for 15 minutes.
- Tea tree or neem oil: Both ingredients boast antifungal benefits. Massage neem oil into the affected area or dilute tea tree oil with any carrier oil and apply it to the dry skin twice daily.
- Garlic: This surprisingly effective foot fungus cure can treat the infection. Crush five garlic cloves and rub them on the inflamed skin twice daily to soothe irritation.
Results may often take weeks to appear, so be patient and consistent with the treatment. In addition to these remedies, maintaining proper hygiene is crucial for eliminating the infection. Wash your feet regularly and dry them thoroughly. If you need to wear shoes and socks, choose breathable options.
If symptoms worsen or do not improve after several weeks of at-home treatments, consult a dermatologist for a diagnosis and personalized treatment plan. Watch out for these signs that may indicate you need to seek medical assistance for athlete's foot:
- Severe redness accompanied by swelling
- Intense pain
- An infection that has spread to other parts of the body
- Severe cracking
- Pus or increased tenderness, which are signs of bacterial infection
How do skin doctors diagnose foot fungus? They gently scrape the inflamed skin and examine it in the lab to identify the source of the problem. Then, they'll either prescribe a stronger topical antifungal cream or oral antifungal medications if the infection covers a broad area.
Athlete's foot can recur if not treated properly, so follow your dermatologist's instructions to prevent fungal infection from coming back.
Your healthcare provider may prescribe stronger antifungal creams for more severe cases of foot fungus. These include:
- Luzu (luliconazole)
- Mentax (butenafine)
- Naftin (naftifine)
- Ecoza (econazole)
- Tinactin (tolnaftate)
- Ertaczo (sertaconazole)
- Lamisil (terbinafine)
- Lotrimin (clotrimazole)
- Exelderm (sulconazole)
- Micatin (miconazole)
If these prescription antifungal creams don't work, your skin specialist may prescribe oral antifungal medications — itraconazole or terbinafine.
A 100 mg itraconazole is often taken daily for four weeks, while a 250 mg terbinafine tablet is typically taken daily for two weeks.
Oral antifungal tablets are effective but may cause more side effects than creams. Common side effects include dizziness, headaches, stomach upset, and rashes. It’s important to know that terbinafine may cause temporary loss of taste and smell, but this typically subsides as the body adjusts to the medication.
Foot fungus causes discomfort that may disrupt your daily activities. If you’re prone to sweaty feet or foot infections, these tips can help prevent fungal infections.
- Wash your feet daily with soap and water, and thoroughly dry the areas between your toes.
- Wear slippers or sandals in communal pools, gym, or showers to protect your feet from the fungus.
- Wear breathable shoes and socks to prevent moisture buildup.
- Avoid sharing your personal things, like towels and socks, with others to avoid passing on the infection.
- Use antifungal powders or sprays if your feet are prone to excessive sweating.
- Alternate your shoes to allow a pair to air out between uses.
At the first signs of athlete's foot, such as scaling or redness, begin at-home treatment immediately to prevent the fungus from spreading.
Foot fungus may not be life-threatening, but it can cause pain, discomfort, and embarrassment. The right foot fungus treatment approach can help manage the infection effectively.
Maintaining proper hygiene, along with using over-the-counter antifungal creams, is the best treatment for foot fungus. If these solutions fall short, consult a dermatologist for a check-up and personalized treatment. Remember, your feet carry you through life — they deserve the same care and attention as the rest of your body.
Schedule an appointment at one of our Northern Colorado clinics to get relief from foot fungus with dermatologist-approved care.