Itchy, peeling skin between your toes that just won't quit? That's often athlete's foot, a fungal skin infection that's very common and very treatable. The catch is that it has a habit of coming back. Getting your athlete's foot treatment right first time, and sticking to a few simple habits afterwards, makes the difference between clearing it and it coming back.
Here's what causes athlete's foot, how to spot it, which pharmacy treatments work, and the everyday changes that help stop it returning.
Most cases clear up with a pharmacy cream, spray or powder. The most important part is carrying on with treatment even after your skin starts to look better.
What is athlete's foot?
Athlete's foot is a common fungal infection that affects the skin on your feet.1 Its medical name is tinea pedis.2
It's caused by a group of fungi called dermatophytes. These are the same fungi behind ringworm on the body and jock itch in the groin, which is why you'll often see them grouped together as fungal skin infections.3
Despite the name, you don't need to be sporty to get it. Fungi often live on the skin in small numbers and usually do no harm. But give them warm, damp, airless conditions, like the gaps between your toes inside a sweaty shoe, and they can multiply and cause an infection.2
Anyone can get athlete's foot. Warmth and moisture are what let the fungus take hold. Feet that spend all day in sweaty shoes are a classic trigger.
What does athlete's foot look like?
The most common sign is itchy white patches between your toes.1 Other symptoms to look out for include:
- Sore, flaky patches - the skin can look red, although redness may be harder to see on brown or black skin.1
- Cracked skin - in some cases it can bleed.1
- Fluid-filled blisters - these sometimes appear, and athlete's foot can also affect the soles or sides of your feet.1
It doesn't always stay put. If it's not treated, the infection can spread to your toenails and cause a fungal nail infection.1 Cracked skin can also let other germs in.2
Caught early, athlete's foot is usually simple to deal with. Leaving it gives the fungus time to reach your toenails, which then need their own treatment.
What causes athlete's foot?
You catch athlete's foot from other people who have the infection.1 Most often, that happens by:
- Walking barefoot in places where someone with athlete's foot has been, especially changing rooms and showers
- Touching the affected skin of someone who has it
You're more likely to pick it up if your feet are often wet or sweaty, or if the skin on your feet is already damaged.1
Is athlete's foot contagious?
Yes. It spreads between people through skin contact and shared spaces, and NHS advice is to avoid sharing towels, socks and shoes while you have it.1
Do not scratch the affected skin, and do not walk barefoot in shared changing rooms or showers while you have athlete's foot.
It can spread around your own body too. Scratching the affected skin can carry the fungus to other areas, such as your hands.1
You don't need to stay off work or school, but you do need to take a few precautions.1
Athlete's foot treatment: what actually works?
Athlete's foot is unlikely to get better on its own, but you can treat it with antifungal medicines from a pharmacy.1 They come as creams, sprays and powders, and usually take a few weeks to work.1
Not every product suits everyone. Some are only for adults, so always check the pack or ask a pharmacist.1 Here are the main ingredients you'll come across.
Whichever product you pick, using it regularly and for the full course gives it the best chance of working.
Clotrimazole
Clotrimazole is a widely used antifungal for athlete's foot. It works by stopping fungi from making ergosterol, which they need to build their cell membranes.4
You'll find it as Clotrimazole 1% Cream or the branded Canesten Cream. Both contain the same active ingredient. You apply a thin layer two to three times a day, after washing and drying your feet, especially between your toes.4
Miconazole
Miconazole is another well-established antifungal. Daktarin Cream contains miconazole 2% and is applied twice a day. It's licensed for fungal nail infections as well as skin infections.5
If you take warfarin or another blood thinner of the same type, speak to a pharmacist or doctor before using miconazole. Small amounts can be absorbed through the skin and may affect how your blood thinner works.5
Cream, spray or powder?
Where your athlete's foot is matters. On dry, flaky skin, such as around your heel, a cream helps put moisture back. Moist, soggy skin between your toes may need a different product, and a pharmacist can help you choose.2
Finding the right one can take a bit of trial and error.1 Side effects mostly affect the skin where you apply the cream. With miconazole, a burning feeling or inflamed skin is uncommon, and using more than you need can cause irritation. Severe allergic reactions have also been reported.5 If your skin becomes irritated, stop using the cream and speak to a pharmacist. If your face, lips or throat start to swell, get medical help straightaway.
If you're pregnant or breastfeeding, check with a pharmacist before using any antifungal cream.5
How long does athlete's foot treatment take?
Antifungal treatments usually take a few weeks to work.1 It's tempting to stop as soon as your skin looks better. But not clearing the infection completely is one of the main reasons athlete's foot comes back.6
Do not stop treatment the moment the itching eases. Finish the full course on the pack, even if your feet look clear.
How long to keep going depends on the product:
- Clotrimazole cream - at least one month, to help prevent reinfection.4
- Miconazole cream - usually 2 to 6 weeks, carrying on for at least one week after all signs and symptoms have gone.5
Always follow the instructions on your pack, as courses vary between products. If clotrimazole hasn't helped at all after seven days, speak to a pharmacist or doctor.4
Why does athlete's foot keep coming back?
Athlete's foot can keep coming back, which is one of the most frustrating things about getting it.1 There are usually three culprits:6
- The last infection wasn't fully cleared - stopping treatment early can leave some fungus behind.
- Dormant spores - the fungus can leave spores in your skin that flare up again when conditions suit them.
- Your shoes - you can pick it up again from shoes that someone with athlete's foot has worn.
A repeat infection doesn't mean treatment has failed. It usually comes down to stopping too soon or picking it up again from somewhere.
It's also worth checking your toenails. If they've started to thicken or change colour, the infection may have spread to the nail. Nail infections need their own treatment, such as an amorolfine nail lacquer, so speak to a pharmacist.
How to stop athlete's foot coming back
A few everyday habits make a big difference. Keep them going after you finish treatment.1
- Dry your feet after washing, especially between your toes, and dab rather than rub
- Use a separate towel for your feet and wash it regularly
- Wear clean socks every day (cotton ones are best)
- Avoid wearing the same pair of shoes for more than 2 to 3 days in a row, so each pair has time to dry out
- Avoid shoes that make your feet hot and sweaty
- Wear flip-flops or sliders in places like changing rooms and communal showers
If you only change one habit, make it drying between your toes. Fungi struggle to take hold on skin that stays dry.
Swapping between two or more pairs of shoes helps them dry out properly between wears.2 Some pharmacy treatments can also be used on an ongoing basis to help stop athlete's foot coming back, so ask a pharmacist if it keeps returning.1
When should you see a GP?
Most of the time, a pharmacist can help you find the right athlete's foot treatment. But see a GP if you have athlete's foot and:1
- Pharmacy treatments have not worked
- You're in a lot of pain
- Your foot or leg is hot, painful and red (the redness may be harder to see on brown or black skin), as this could be a more serious infection
- The infection has spread to other parts of your body, such as your hands
- You have diabetes, as foot problems can be more serious
- You have a weakened immune system, for example after an organ transplant or during chemotherapy
A red, hot, painful foot should not be treated with pharmacy creams alone. Another infection may have got in through broken skin, so speak to a GP.
A GP may send a small skin scraping to a lab to confirm it's athlete's foot. They might also prescribe a steroid cream to use alongside an antifungal, or antifungal tablets, which you may need to take for several weeks.1
Frequently asked questions
Can you go swimming with athlete's foot?
Yes, you don't need to avoid swimming, work or school because of athlete's foot. Just take a few precautions so you don't pass it on or pick it up again. Wear flip-flops or pool shoes in changing rooms and showers, use your own towel, and dry your feet thoroughly afterwards, especially between your toes.
Will athlete's foot go away on its own?
It's unlikely. Athlete's foot rarely clears up without treatment, and leaving it can let the infection spread across your foot or into your toenails. A pharmacy antifungal cream, spray or powder usually does the job. Use it for the full course on the pack, even once your skin looks better, to give it the best chance of not coming back.
Can you get athlete's foot on your hands?
Yes, it can spread. Scratching or touching the affected skin on your feet can carry the fungus to other parts of your body, including your hands. Try not to scratch, and wash your hands after applying treatment. If the infection has spread to your hands or anywhere else, speak to a GP, as you may need a different treatment.
Is Sudocrem good for athlete's foot?
Sudocrem isn't an antifungal, so it isn't designed to clear the fungus that causes athlete's foot. To treat the infection itself, you need an antifungal product such as a clotrimazole or miconazole cream. These are applied regularly for a set course, which depends on the product. A pharmacist can help you choose the right one for your symptoms.
Can you use athlete's foot cream for thrush?
Some antifungal creams contain the same active ingredient, clotrimazole, but each pack is licensed for specific uses. Only use a cream for thrush if the pack says it's suitable for that. Keep separate tubes for your feet and your genitals to avoid spreading infection between them. If you're unsure, or it's your first time with thrush symptoms, speak to a pharmacist or GP.
How can you get rid of athlete's foot fast?
You can't cure athlete's foot in one day. Antifungal treatments usually take a few weeks to clear the infection fully. You'll get the quickest results by starting treatment early, applying it exactly as the pack says and keeping your feet clean and dry. Your skin may look better before the infection has gone, so keep going for the full course.
References
- NHS. Athlete's foot. NHS website; 2024. nhs.uk
- The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust. Athlete's foot and fungal nails: patient information leaflet. The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust; 2024. dgft.nhs.uk
- NHS Scotland. Fungal skin infections. East Region Formulary; 2026. formulary.nhs.scot
- Bayer plc. Canesten Athlete's Foot 1% w/w Cream: Summary of Product Characteristics. Electronic Medicines Compendium; 2022. medicines.org.uk/emc
- McNeil Products Ltd. Daktarin 2% Cream: Summary of Product Characteristics. Electronic Medicines Compendium; 2026. medicines.org.uk/emc
- Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. Athlete's foot and fungal nail infections. Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust; 2026. royaldevon.nhs.uk
This article is intended for informational purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice. Always read the patient information leaflet supplied with your medication and speak to a healthcare professional if you have specific concerns.