Athlete's foot

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Athlete's foot

What helps to get rid of athlete's foot?

Photo of two women at a swimming pool

Athlete’s foot is very common and usually doesn’t cause any serious problems. But it can make your skin itch and crack. The skin can also flake off and hurt. Sometimes the fungus spreads to toenails, and in rare cases it can also spread to other parts of your skin. The can usually be treated effectively with over-the-counter medications from the pharmacy.

The fungus that causes athlete’s foot grows particularly well in the areas between our toes, where it’s often warm and damp. In addition, the foot’s upper layer of skin (epidermis) contains a very high amount of keratin – a protein that the fungus feeds on. Topical treatment – for example with a cream or gel – is usually successful. Tablets are needed only very rarely.

To prevent , it’s a good idea to wear flip-flops at the swimming pool or in the sauna. Paying close attention to hygiene also helps to stop others from being infected. If you already have athlete’s foot, you should change your socks and towels often, and wash them at 60 degrees Celsius (140 Fahrenheit) or higher.

What medications are available for athlete’s foot?

Creams, gels and sprays for fungal infections are available from pharmacies without a prescription. All of these products contain a drug that stops the growth of the fungus or kills it.

Many of the more common products contain ingredients from the pyridone, allylamine or azole groups.

  • Ciclopirox is a pyridone.
  • The allylamines include terbinafine and naftifine.
  • The azoles include bifonazole, clotrimazole, miconazole and oxiconazole.

How are the treatments used?

Exactly how the treatment is used, and how long they have to be used for, depends on the product. Some products only need to be applied once a day, others have to be put on the affected skin twice a day. Most of these products have to be used for three to six weeks. Products that contain terbinafine are an exception. They often only have to be used once a day for one week.

Important:

Continue your treatment as described in the package insert, even if your skin already looks healthy. This is because fungal spores may still be present.

How effective are these athlete's foot treatments?

In most cases, athlete’s foot will clear up from topical treatment of the affected skin areas. Studies lasting six weeks show how effective products containing allylamines are:

  • Athlete’s foot cleared up in 17 out of 100 people who didn’t treat it
  • It went away in 73 out of 100 people who used the medication.

Terbinafine is just as effective as other medications with allyamines, even though it’s used for just one week. Alzole medications offer similarly effective treatment.

The drugs that are used in topical medication for athlete’s foot are well tolerated. They can cause slight reddening of the skin or a mild burning sensation, but other side effects are rare.

When are tablets considered?

Athlete’s foot is nearly always treated topically. Only if topical treatment hasn’t been successful are tablets considered, and they need to be prescribed by a doctor. It may also be a good idea if the has spread to one or more toenails, or if the is very severe.

The tablets taken to treat athlete’s foot generally contain the active ingredients itraconazole or terbinafine. Itraconazole is usually taken once daily for four weeks (dose: 100 mg). Terbinafine is typically taken once daily for two weeks (dose: 250 mg). The treatment lasts longer if you also have a fungal nail infection. This is true for both medications.

What disadvantages do the tablets have?

Tablets for treating fungal infections cause more side effects than creams, gels or sprays. The possible side effects of itraconazole include headaches, dizziness, stomach and bowel problems, and rashes. Terbinafine can cause stomach and bowel problems and a temporary loss of taste and smell. But these kinds of side effects didn’t last long in the studies.

There’s a very small risk of serious liver damage. For this reason, people with a liver disease are only given these medications if it’s absolutely necessary.

Important:

Both medicines can interact with other medicines, so you should tell your doctor if you are taking other medication.

Can home remedies such as foot baths help?

Home remedies such as foot baths that contain herbal products or applying cider vinegar or tea tree oil are sometimes recommended for treating athlete’s foot. The studies don’t show that tea tree oil is effective, though. None of the other home remedies have been tested in good-quality studies.

Crawford F, Young P, Godfrey C et al. Oral treatments for toenail onychomycosis: a systematic review. Arch Dermatol 2002; 138(6): 811-816.

Pschyrembel online. Tinea pedis. 2025.

Rotta I, Otuki MF, Sanches AC et al. Efficacy of topical antifungal drugs in different dermatomycoses: a systematic review with meta-analysis. Rev Assoc Med Bras 2012; 58(3): 308-318.

IQWiG health information is written with the aim of helping people understand the advantages and disadvantages of the main treatment options and health care services.

Because IQWiG is a German institute, some of the information provided here is specific to the German health care system. The suitability of any of the described options in an individual case can be determined by talking to a doctor. informedhealth.org can provide support for talks with doctors and other medical professionals, but cannot replace them. We do not offer individual consultations.

Our information is based on the results of good-quality studies. It is written by a team of health care professionals, scientists and editors, and reviewed by external experts. You can find a detailed description of how our health information is produced and updated in our methods.

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What helps to get rid of athlete's foot?

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Updated on July 17, 2025

Next planned update: 2028

Publisher:

Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG, Germany)

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