Over-the-Counter Remedies for Athlete's Foot

Athlete's foot is a fungal infection of the skin of the foot, usually between the toes. Heat and dampness are key factors. Characterized by cracking and peeling of the skin, athlete's foot generally responds well to over-the-counter medications.

Lamisil-AT is as effective as any prescription athlete's foot cream, and is usually effective with one week of treatment. Other athlete's foot creams that are effective include Desenex (undecylenic acid), Lotrimin (clotrimazole), Monistat-Derm (miconazole), and Tinactin (tolnaftate), all of which require four weeks of treatment.

While a tube of Lamisil AT costs considerably more than the other anti-fungal agents, one tube is generally enough. The other antibiotics may require additional tubes and be more expensive in the long term.

Tea tree oil is also marketed as a treatment for athlete's foot. One study found it to be as effective as tolnaftate in reducing symptoms of the condition, but no more effective than a placebo in curing it. Washing and drying feet twice a day may also help treat and prevent athlete's foot.

If the athlete's foot infection appears on the entire sole of the foot or on top of the foot, it requires systemic antifungal therapy. In other words, a lotion or spray will not work. A doctor must prescribe an oral antifungal medication instead.

Each year, Medical College of Wisconsin physicians care for more than 180,000 patients, representing nearly 500,000 patient visits. Medical College physicians practice at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital, the Milwaukee VA Medical Center, and many other hospitals and clinics in Milwaukee and southeastern Wisconsin.