Athlete's Foot Treatment, Medications, Creams, and sprays

Medically Reviewed by Dr Sravya, MBBS, MS

Introduction

Athlete’s foot is a relatively frequent condition. It is believed that between 3 and 15% of the population is afflicted. It is more common among men and the elderly. An athlete’s foot (tinea pedis) is a fungus that causes a fungal skin infection between the toes. Itching, scaling, cracking, and redness are common signs and symptoms. The skin may blister in rare circumstances. Athlete’s foot is similar to other fungal illnesses, including ringworm and jock itch. It is treatable with antifungal drugs, although the illness frequently recurs

Here are some frequently asked questions: How can we prevent athlete’s foot? How can we treat athlete’s feet at home? What causes an athlete’s foot? what athlete’s foot exactly? What are the different types of athlete’s ?

In This Article

How Can We Prevent Athlete Foot?

Athletes’s feet can be prevented and treated with a variety of preventative foot hygiene methods.

Some of these include:

Keeping the feet dry, clipping toenails short,
Using a separate nail clipper for infected toenails
Wearing socks made of well-ventilated cotton or synthetic moisture-wicking materials (to soak moisture away from the skin to help keep it dry);
Avoiding tight-fitting footwear; changing socks frequently;
Walking through communal areas such as gym showers and locker rooms while wearing sandals.
"Nails should be clipped short and kept clean". Nails may both harbor and disseminate infection."
Athletes' foot recurrence can be avoided by applying antifungal powder to the feet.
To survive and flourish, the fungi (molds) that cause an athlete's foot require warmth and moisture. Exposure to warm, wet surroundings (e.g., occlusive footwear—shoes or boots that enclose the feet) and shared humid environments such as community showers, swimming pools, and treatment tubs increase the risk of infection.
Chlorine bleach is a typical household cleaner and disinfectant that destroys mold. The illness is prevented from spreading through further contact by cleaning surfaces with a chlorine bleach solution. Cleaning bathtubs, showers, bathroom floors, sinks, and countertops with bleach aids in the prevention of disease transmission, including reinfection.
One method for preventing fungus from taking root and spreading is to keep socks and shoes clean (using bleach in the wash).
Another strategy to avoid transmission is to avoid exchanging boots and shoes. Sharing footwear with an infected individual might spread athlete's foot. Fungi, though less prevalent, can be carried on towels, especially moist ones, so don't share them.

What Is An Athlete’s Foot Exactly?

Athlete's foot, also known medically as tinea pedis, is a fungus-caused skin illness of the feet.
Trichophyton, the fungus that causes athlete's foot, is widely found on floors and in clothes.
Itching, scaling, cracking, and redness are common signs and symptoms. The skin may blister in rare circumstances.
The fungus that causes athlete's foot can infect any region of the foot, although it most commonly develops between the toes. The bottom of the foot is the second-most common region. The same fungus can damage the nails and hands. It is part of the tinea group of disorders.
The illness is usually caught through contact with infected skin or fungus in the environment.
Common habitats for the fungus include swimming pools and locker rooms. They may also be transmitted by other animals.
Typically, a diagnosis is obtained primarily based on signs and symptoms; however, it can be validated by culture or by seeing hyphae under a microscope.
Athletes' foot is caused by walking barefoot in public baths, allowing toenails to grow too long, wearing shoes that are too tight, and not changing socks every day.
It can be treated with topical antifungal drugs such as clotrimazole or with oral antifungal medications such as terbinafine for chronic infections.
Topical creams are normally prescribed for four weeks. Wearing sandals and keeping affected feet dry also helps with therapy.
Athlete's foot was first reported medically in 1908. Athletes' foot affects roughly 15% of the world's population.
Males are more likely to be affected than females. It is particularly common in older children or young adults.
Historically, it was thought to be an uncommon ailment that grew increasingly common in the twentieth century due to increased usage of shoes, health clubs, war, and travel.

What Causes an Athlete's Foot?

1. Trichophyton rubrum causes the majority of athlete’s foot cases in the general population.

2. Trichophyton mentagrophytes are the most frequent molds that cause athlete’s foot and cause the majority of athlete’s foot cases among athletes.

3. Epidermophyton floccosum can also cause it.

What Are the Symptoms Of An Athlete's Foot?

One or both feet may be affected by the athlete’s foot. The following are common indications and symptoms:

The skin between the toes is scaly, peeling, or cracking
Itchiness, especially after removing shoes and socks
Skin that is inflamed and may seem reddish, purple, or greyish depending on your skin colour
stinging or burning
Blisters
The skin on the bottom of the foot that is dry and scaly extends up the side

What Are the Different types Of Athletes' Feet?

Your symptoms are determined by the sort of athlete’s foot you have.

Toe web infection: The most common kind of athlete's foot infection is a toe web infection. It usually affects the skin between your fourth (ring) and fifth (pinkie) toes. Your skin's color may alter, and it may crack, peel, or flake.
Infection of the moccasin type: The soles of your feet, heels, and the edges of your feet are all affected by a moccasin-type illness. For a few days, your feet may be painful. The skin on the soles of your feet then thickens and cracks. Your toes may become infected in rare situations. They can thicken, break up into little pieces, and fall out.
A vesicular-type infection commonly affects the soles of your feet, although it can arise elsewhere on your foot. A vesicular infection is distinguished by bumps or fluid-filled blisters (vesicles).
An ulcerative infection is the most uncommon kind of athlete's foot. Between the toes, open sores (ulcers) are common. Open sores on the bottoms of your feet are also possible.

How Can We Diagnose and Treat Athlete's Foot?

1. Diagnosis:

The doctor checks the damaged skin areas and inquires about the symptoms. They may obtain a skin sample to rule out other similar skin problems.
A little bit of skin is scraped off and treated with a chemical substance to detect fungus spores under a microscope. The findings are frequently released the next day.
In rare circumstances, a fungal culture will be generated in a laboratory to determine the particular strain of fungus. This takes around three weeks.

2. Treatment:

1. Clotrimazole
2. Miconazole
3. Tolnaftate, or
4. Terbinafine is included in these products.

Some antifungal drugs prescribed for athletes' feet are tablets.
Fluconazole, itraconazole, and terbinafine are the active ingredients in these medications.
Keep your feet clean, dry, and cool. If at all possible, avoid wearing socks or shoes. Avoid rubbing your feet. Scratching your feet might transmit the fungus to other regions of your body.

How can we treat athlete's foot at home?

Home remedies

Many natural or home therapies can be effective in eradicating the fungus responsible for athlete’s foot.

1. Tea tree oil (Melaleuca alternifolia):

Tea tree oil is extracted from the leaves of the tea tree, which is abundant in Australia. It possesses antibacterial and antifungal effects.
Tea tree oil also healed the illness in 64% of individuals who took it, but just 31% of those who received a placebo were cured.
People who want to use tea tree oil should mix a few drops with carrier oil, such as coconut or olive oil, and spread it on their feet. Tea tree oil lotions and salves may also be sold in health food stores.
Undiluted tea tree oil should not be applied to the skin.

2. Garlic:

Garlic has a long history of therapeutic usage, and various studies have shown that it is beneficial against some fungi and bacteria.
People can attempt this cure at home by soaking their feet in fresh garlic cloves. Three to four garlic cloves, crushed, should be placed in a basin of heated water. Soak feet in warm water for 30 minutes twice a day for up to a week. However, the potent chemicals in garlic can leave a strong garlic odor on the skin.

3. Hydrogen peroxide and iodine:

Peroxide and iodine are frequently used to disinfect wounds and destroy microorganisms on the skin.
In a bucket or big basin, combine iodine solution and hydrogen peroxide. Most drugstores sell iodine solutions in the wound treatment area. Dip the feet directly into the solution or apply it to the afflicted regions using a cotton pad.
Iodine should not be used on the skin without being diluted since it might cause skin damage if used alone.
If the skin is injured or inflamed, peroxide may hurt, and it can bleach hair and clothes. Stains can also be caused by iodine.
Using this combination in the bathtub or shower may help to avoid stains, bleaching, and spillage.

4. Hair dryer and talcum powder:

After showering, people can eliminate moisture from their feet by thoroughly drying them with a hair dryer, making sure that no moisture remains but being careful not to burn the skin. This procedure should not be used by anyone who has lost sensation or feeling in their feet.
After the feet have dried, sprinkle them with talcum powder to help absorb sweat. Talc is found in several foot powders and helps keep the feet dry.
In addition to these techniques, wearing socks that absorb moisture away from the skin can help keep the feet dry.

5. Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate)

Summary

An athlete’s feet are common fungal infections seen in athletes, which are caused by the growth of fungi in the moist area in between the toes. These include symptoms such as itching and color changes in the skin. These types are treated by oral first-line therapy, and for further information, patients need to consult a dermatologist.