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Let's see what is available over the counter to take care of this athletes foot.

Pharmacist

We are assuming a mild case. Athletes foot is a fungi infection. It is actually ringworm of the foot.

To take care of this, you will need an anti-fungal cream, ointment or powder.

One thing to keep in mind while using OTC medications to treat athletes foot is that you have to continue treatment for no less than one extra week after the rash disappears from the skin surface.

This will make sure it is treated and prevent it from coming back.

There are different types of creams, gels or powders for athletes foot over-the-counter in the foot care section.

Which should you choose?

Let's answer a few questions and come to a reasonable decision on what will work best for you.



Looking at the foot

 


Which of the symptoms listed below are you experiencing right now?
Pharmacist

Looking at the foot

Choose your symptoms from the list below and see what is recommended.

 

 

Selection require an antifungal cream like terbinafine.
Pharmacist

 

Selection require an antifungal cream like clotrimazole.
Pharmacist

 

Selection require an anti inflammatory cream such as hydrocortisone 1%.
Pharmacist

 

Selection require using an antifungal foot powder or powder spray.
Pharmacist

 

Selection require using an astringent like aluminum acetate
Pharmacist

 

Symptoms require antifungal cream containing terbinafine or clotrimazole
Pharmacist

 

Symptoms require antifungal cream with terbinafine and using hydrocortisone 1% for inflammation
Pharmacist

 

Symptoms require antifungal cream containing terbinafine and or antifungal foot powder
Pharmacist

 

Symptoms require antifungal cream containing terbinafine and a drying agent like aluminum acetate
Pharmacist

 

Symptoms require antifungal cream containing clotrimazole and anti-inflammatory cream containing hydrocortisone 1%
Pharmacist

 

Symptoms require antifungal cream containing clotrimazole and a foot powder
Pharmacist

 

Symptoms require antifungal cream containing clotrimazole and drying agent with aluminum acetate
Pharmacist

 

Symptoms require an anti-inflammatory cream containing hydrocortisone 1% and an antifungal foot powder
Pharmacist

 

Symptoms require an anti-inflammatory cream containing hydrocortisone 1% and a drying agent with aluminum acetate
Pharmacist

 

Symptoms require an antifungal foot powder and drying agent with aluminum acetate
Pharmacist

 

Symptoms require an antifungal cream with terbinafine or clotrimazole and hydrocortisone 1% for inflammation
Pharmacist

 

Symptoms require an antifungal cream with terbinafine or clotrimazole and a foot powder
Pharmacist

 

Symptoms require an antifungal cream with terbinafine or clotrimazole and a drying agent with aluminum acetate
Pharmacist

 

Symptoms require an antifungal cream with terbinafine, hydrocortisone 1% for inflammation and a foot powder
Pharmacist

 

Symptoms require an antifungal cream with terbinafine, hydrocortisone 1% for inflammation and a drying agent with aluminum acetate
Pharmacist

 

Symptoms require an antifungal cream with terbinafine, foot powder and a drying agent with aluminum acetate
Pharmacist

 

Symptoms require antifungal cream with clotrimazole, hydrocortisone 1% for inflammation and a foot powder
Pharmacist

 

Symptoms require antifungal cream with clotrimazole, hydrocortisone 1% for inflammation and a drying agent with aluminum acetate
Pharmacist

 

Symptoms require antifungal cream with clotrimazole, a foot powder and a drying agent with aluminum acetate
Pharmacist

 

Symptoms require hydrocortisone 1% for inflammation, a foot powder and a drying agent with aluminum acetate
Pharmacist

 

Symptoms require an antifungal cream with terbinafine or clotrimazole, hydrocortisone 1% for inflammation and a foot powder
Pharmacist

 

Symptoms require an antifungal cream with terbinafine or clotrimazole, hydrocortisone 1% for inflammation and a drying agent with aluminum acetate
Pharmacist

 

Symptoms require an antifungal cream with terbinafine or clotrimazole, a foot powder and a drying agent with aluminum acetate
Pharmacist

 

Symptoms require an antifungal cream with terbinafine, hydrocortisone 1% for inflammation, a foot powder and a drying agent with aluminum acetate
Pharmacist

 

Symptoms require antifungal cream with clotrimazole, hydrocortisone 1% for inflammation, a foot powder and a drying agent with aluminum acetate
Pharmacist

 

Symptoms require an antifungal cream with terbinafine or clotrimazole, hydrocortisone 1% for inflammation, a foot powder and a drying agent with aluminum acetate
Pharmacist

 

Something to prevent?

 

Preventive measures


 

All of these?
You must have this athletes foot really bad.
Pharmacist

Please see a doctor for this.

 

Seek Urgent Care Clinic
You will have to see a doctor on this one.
Pharmacist

 

See a doctor for this. Do not try self-care.

Nearest Clinic

 

None of these?
We must have left something out.

Oops! We must have left some things out. Please choose what is closer to what you are experiencing and let's suggest something.

Terbinafine

Expect faster results with this and it is slightly more effective than the others. It works to kill the fungi and not just inhibit the growth like some others.

The problem is cost. It is about $2 more expensive that the rest. But if cost is not a problem, this should be a first choice.

Also, keep using for at least 7 days even if symptoms are no longer there. You don't want it to come back.

Choose the spray if possible

 

 

Clotrimazole

Prefer this if the infection is also on the side of the foot. For some reason, it works better than the rest if the infection is also on the side of the foot.

It take longer to work compared to terbinafine. Keep using it after the symptoms are gone so it won't come back.

Prefer the powder if the foot is soggy and the spray if cost is not a problem. 

Add hydrocortisone 1% to this if the affected area is very itchy and inflamed. But only use the hydrocortisone for 7 days.

 

 

Hydrocortisone 1%

Add this to the treatment regimen if the affected area is very itchy and inflamed. But use for no more than 7 days. After 7 days, you can keep using the anti-fungal cream or powder without the hydrocortisone.

 

 

Foot Powder

Use the powder if the affected area is wet or moist.

If the foot is soggy, add domeboro® packets in water. Splash it on the affected area, let it dry and then add the powder.

Good examples are Gold Bond foot powder, tinactin foot powder or lotrimin foot powder.

 

 

Aluminum acetate

Also know as Burrow's solution, it is a preparation of aluminum acetate when mixed with water. It dries up the skin.

Soak your foot in this solution of aluminum acetate for about 15 minutes at a time. Do this especially if you have sweaty feet.

Remember, you have to add anti-fungal like terbinafine or clotrimazole to this. Use it after the soak.

 

 

Combination Products

Clotrimazole + Hydrocortisone 1%

Clotrimazole + Triple Antibiotic Cream

 

 

Worth doing

1. Reduce moisture in affected area.

2. Clean affected area before applying medicine.

3. Always keep affected area dry. Fungi thrive in moist conditions.

4. Buy brand name cream, powder or spray if cost is not a factor for you. Store brands vary in effectiveness.

 

 

Last updated by pharmacist on 03/09/2018

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Know this about the safe and effective use of this recommendation.
Article photo

Our disclaimer

  • Recommendation is the opinion of a registered US Pharmacist currently practicing as a community pharmacist.
  • Recommendation is not an attempt to discuss all possible self care or treatment approach to this health challenge.
  • The responsibility of the recommending pharmacist is limited to this question:
    "If a patient presents with these symptoms, what will you recommend and why?"
    It is not an attempt to publish an article on the treatment of any condition. Just what would you tell a patient who present with so and so in the usual course of your practice.
  • The pharmacist image presented in this article may or may not be the actual image of the authoring pharmacist.
    Because we insist on using articles written by currently practicing community pharmacists, these pharmacists may choose to remain anonymous especially if they are employed by an employer to avoid being pressured to recommend a particular product to drive sales.
  • Please read the policies and terms of use for self-care OTC, selfcarepharmacist.com and it's affiliates by clicking on the button below.

 

 

 

 

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