If you’ve noticed extremely itchy feet, cracked skin on or near your toes, dry flaky feet or dry scaly feet – even in children – you might be dealing with athlete’s foot. This is a contagious fungal infection that can spread quickly if left untreated. While it can be tempting to try over the counter creams or home remedies, the quickest path to lasting relief comes from seeing a podiatrist who can give you the right athlete’s foot treatment from the start. Our team is ready and happy to help if you’re dealing with athlete’s first, but we also have a few tips to help you navigate the process.
Recognizing the signs of athlete’s foot
Athlete’s foot is caused by a fungus that thrives in warm, damp environments, making sweaty socks, locker rooms, and public showers common culprits. It frequently shows up as itching or burning between the toes, peeling or cracked skin, or red, scaly patches that don’t improve with regular lotion. Because these symptoms can also mimic conditions like eczema or psoriasis, it’s important to get a professional diagnosis before starting any treatment.
Why is it important to call us ASAP? / When can athlete’s foot last too long?
Seeing one of our doctors right away not only ensures you’re addressing the correct problem, but it also helps prevent the infection from spreading to toenails, hands, or other areas of skin. Our team will recommend the most effective athlete’s foot treatment for your situation.
Many people expect athlete’s foot to clear up in a week or two, but it can stick around for months if not treated properly. The fungus lives on the surface of the skin and in tiny cracks between the toes, making it easy for small amounts to survive and regrow after symptoms seem to improve.
It can also take longer to heal if the fungus spreads to toenails, which grow slowly and are harder for medications to penetrate. Repeated exposure, like wearing the same unwashed shoes or walking barefoot in a shared shower, can cause constant reinfection. Underlying health conditions, such as diabetes or poor circulation, can also slow healing.
Getting an early and accurate diagnosis, along with a prescription-strength athlete’s foot treatment, gives you the best chance at clearing the infection completely and preventing it from becoming a recurring problem.
How to make sure your athlete’s foot clears quickly and doesn’t last too long
Depending on the severity and location of your infection, our team may recommend a prescription-strength topical antifungal in the form of a cream, ointment, or gel. These treatments are applied directly to the affected skin to target the fungus at its source. To get the fastest and most complete results, it’s important to apply the medication exactly as directed, cover not just the visibly affected skin but also a small border of surrounding healthy skin, and continue treatment for the full prescribed time. Yes, even if your symptoms improve before you’re finished. Stopping early is one of the main reasons athlete’s foot can drag on for weeks or months.
If the infection is more stubborn, widespread, or has spread to your toenails, one of our doctors may recommend oral antifungal medication. This type of treatment works from the inside out, circulating through your system to reach fungus that topical creams can’t. Oral antifungals are most effective when taken at the same time each day for the full course prescribed. Skipping doses or stopping early can reduce their effectiveness and allow the infection to return.
In some situations, we may also prescribe medications to relieve itching, burning, or redness while your antifungal treatment is working. These don’t kill the fungus, but they can make you far more comfortable and help prevent scratching, which can create tiny breaks in the skin that invite more infection.
With any prescribed athlete’s foot treatment, following your instructions closely, keeping feet clean and dry, and avoiding situations that expose you to more fungus are the keys to a speedy and lasting recovery.
Preventing future athlete’s foot infections
Once your athlete’s foot treatment is complete, prevention is just as important as the cure. Keeping feet clean and dry, changing socks daily (or more often if they become sweaty), choosing breathable footwear, and wearing shower shoes in public spaces can go a long way toward avoiding future infections.
