5 Essential Treatments for Athlete’s Foot

Are you bothered by athlete’s foot? Athlete’s foot (tinea pedis) is caused by a fungal infection of the skin of the foot. Most of them are caused by one of two types of fungi: Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Trichophyton rubrum. If you want to be free from athlete’s foot, here are 5 essential treatments that you can use!

5 Types of Treatments for Athlete’s Foot

How you treat athlete’s foot (tinea pedis) depends on its type and severity. Most cases of athlete’s foot can be treated at home using an antifungal medicine to eradicate the fungus or slow its growth.

1. Non-prescription antifungals

This type of antifungals is usually used first. These comprise of clotrimazole (Lotrimin), miconazole (Micatin), terbinafine (Lamisil), and tolnaftate (Tinactin). Nonprescription antifungals are the ones applied to the skin (topical medicines).

2. Prescription antifungals

They are used if non-prescription medicines are not successful or if you have complicated infections. Some of these medicines are topical antifungals, which are applied directly to the skin. Examples are butenafine (Mentax), clotrimazole, and naftifine (Naftin). Prescription antifungals can also be orally. Examples of oral antifungals are fluconazole (Diflucan), itraconazole(Sporanox), and terbinafine (Lamisil).

3. Toe-web infections

Toe-web (interdigital) infections often appear between the toes, especially between the fourth and fifth toes. This is the most common type of athlete’s foot.

Treat mild to moderate toe-web infections by keeping your feet clean and dry and by using nonprescription antifungal creams or lotions.
If an infection develops, your doctor may prescribe a mixture of topical antifungal creams plus either oral or topical antibiotic medicines.

4. Moccasin-type infections

Moccasin-type athlete’s foot can cause flaking and thick skin on the sole and heel of the foot. Often the toenails become infected. A moccasin-type infection is tough to treat, because the skin on the sole of the foot is very thick.

A prescribed topical antifungal medicine that penetrates the sole, such as ketoconazole, may be used.
Prescription oral antifungal medicines are occasionally needed to treat moccasin-type athlete’s foot.

5. Vesicular infections

Vesicular infections, or blisters, typically appear on the foot instep but can also grow between the toes, on the sole of the foot, on the top of the foot, or on the heel. This type of fungal infection may be convoyed by a bacterial infection. This is the least common type of infection.

Your doctor may eliminate the tops of the blisters and will tell you to soak your foot until the blister area is dried out.
You can dry off your wounds at home by drenching your foot in nonprescription Burrow’s solution numerous times a day for 3 or more days until the blister area is dried out. After the area is dried out, use a topical antifungal cream regularly. You can also use Burrow’s solution as a compress.
If you also have bacterial infections, you will most probably need an oral antibiotic.