When over-the-counter remedies aren’t enough

Medication forathlete’s footranges from over-the-counter (OTC)antifungalproducts to prescription medications.

There are also a number of home remedies said to help athlete’s foot.

This article explains when you might need a topical or oral prescription athlete’s foot treatment.

Woman applying foot cream

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It also reviews the various options and possible side effects.

Symptoms

People generally notice athlete’s foot on the skin between their toes.

Standard over-the-counter antifungal remedies are often enough to scrub the fungus.

Topical antifungals are generally considered safe when used as prescribed.

Because prescription antifungals are stronger, it is even more important to adhere to your healthcare provider’s instructions.

They are less commonly used on their own for fungal skin infections.

Many of these tend to be mild, but, with oral antifungals especially, some can be severe.

When used for athlete’s foot, the benefits of treatment will rarely outweigh the risks.

It’s best to speak to a healthcare provider before trying this remedy.

It also worked better than a placebo.

However, the study also found that only the group who used tolnaftate cured their athlete’s foot.

Other precautions include:

Summary

Athlete’s foot is a common fungal infection of the foot.

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