Athlete's Foot

Athlete’s Foot Buying Guide

Athlete’s foot, medically known as tinea pedis, develops when fungi infect the outer layers of the skin on the feet. The spaces between the toes are frequently affected, although symptoms can also appear elsewhere across the sole and edges of the foot. Typical symptoms include itchy or flaky skin, soreness, cracking and sometimes fluid-filled blisters.

Fungi responsible for athlete’s foot favour enclosed, moist environments. Feet that remain sweaty inside shoes and exposure to shared changing or shower facilities can therefore increase the likelihood of infection. Athlete’s foot is contagious and can spread through contact with infected skin or contaminated surfaces.

Unlike many general foot-skin problems, athlete’s foot usually requires an antifungal treatment. Keeping the feet clean and dry can support recovery and help reduce recurrence, but hygiene products alone do not eliminate the infection.

What Products Can Help With Athlete’s Foot?

The products in our Athlete’s Foot collection serve different purposes. Some are intended to treat the fungal infection itself, while others help manage moisture, footwear hygiene or general foot care.

Antifungal Athlete’s Foot Treatments

An antifungal medicine is the main treatment for athlete’s foot.

These treatments are available in different forms, including creams, gels, sprays and powders. The active ingredient works against the fungus responsible for the infection. Many antifungal medicines can be purchased directly from a pharmacy or shop.

Our collection includes Dr Scholl’s Athlete’s Foot Gel, which is specifically intended for athlete’s foot and fungal skin infection.

When using an antifungal product:

• Follow the instructions supplied with the treatment
• Apply it for the recommended length of time
• Do not stop simply because the skin begins to look better
• Check whether the particular product is suitable for you

Different antifungal medicines have different treatment schedules, so follow the directions for the product you choose rather than assuming they are all used in the same way.

Antifungal Shoe Spray

Treating the skin is important, but footwear can also remain warm and damp after use.

An antifungal shoe spray can be used inside footwear to support shoe hygiene and reduce fungal contamination.

This may be particularly useful if:

• You regularly wear enclosed shoes or trainers
• Your feet become hot and sweaty
• Athlete’s foot repeatedly returns
• Several pairs of frequently worn shoes need attention

Allow sprayed footwear to dry fully before putting it back on and always follow the individual product instructions.

A shoe spray should complement rather than replace antifungal treatment applied to the affected skin.

Anti-Perspirant Foot Spray

Sweaty feet create the damp environment in which athlete’s foot is more likely to thrive.

An anti-perspirant foot spray can help manage excessive moisture and keep the feet feeling fresher. This type of product is most useful for moisture management and prevention, rather than treating an established fungal infection.

If you currently have athlete’s foot, use an appropriate antifungal treatment as directed as well.

Foot Cleaning Products

Regular foot washing is useful when managing athlete’s foot, provided the feet are dried carefully afterwards. Our collection includes cleaning products such as foot-cleaning mats and brushes.

The most important step after washing is to dry thoroughly between the toes. Leaving moisture in these spaces can create favourable conditions for the infection to persist. NHS guidance recommends dabbing the feet dry rather than rubbing irritated skin.

Avoid aggressive scrubbing over cracked, sore or inflamed skin.

Foot Creams & Skin Care

Athlete’s foot can sometimes leave parts of the foot dry, flaky or uncomfortable. Moisturising products may help care for dry skin around the feet, and the current collection includes several foot creams.

However, a standard moisturising cream is not automatically an antifungal treatment.

Where active athlete’s foot is present, prioritise an appropriate antifungal medicine. Avoid leaving excessive moisturiser between the toes, where keeping the area dry is particularly important.

What Does Athlete’s Foot Look & Feel Like?

The appearance varies depending on which part of the foot is affected.

• Between the Toes – One of the most recognisable patterns is itchy, whitish or flaky skin between the toes. The skin may become soft, cracked or sore, particularly where moisture repeatedly collects.
• Soles & Sides of the Feet – Athlete’s foot does not only occur between the toes. It can also produce dry, flaky, sore or irritated patches across the sole or along the sides of the foot.
• Blisters or Cracked Skin – Some infections produce small fluid-filled blisters. More irritated areas can also crack or bleed. Because other skin problems can look similar, persistent or unusual symptoms should be assessed if an ordinary athlete’s foot treatment does not help.

Athlete’s Foot or Just Dry Skin?

Dry, flaky skin does not always mean athlete’s foot.

Simple dryness is more likely to affect broader areas of the foot without the characteristic itching and irritation often associated with fungal infection. Athlete’s foot commonly affects the spaces between the toes and may cause itching, soreness, peeling or cracking.

However, appearance alone is not always enough to tell the difference.

If the problem does not improve with an appropriate pharmacy treatment, a GP may arrange testing of a skin sample to confirm whether fungus is responsible.

How to Treat Athlete’s Foot

For most uncomplicated cases, athlete’s foot can be managed with an antifungal medicine alongside measures that keep the feet dry and reduce reinfection.

Useful steps include:

• Use an appropriate antifungal treatment as instructed
• Wash the feet regularly
• Dry carefully between every toe
• Put on clean socks each day
• Avoid shoes that leave the feet excessively hot and sweaty
• Rotate footwear rather than wearing the same pair continuously
• Avoid scratching affected skin
• Do not share footwear, socks or towels
• Wear flip-flops in communal showers and changing rooms

These measures are consistent with NHS advice for treating athlete’s foot and helping prevent it from returning.

How to Help Prevent Athlete’s Foot Coming Back

Recurrence is common, so foot care should not necessarily stop as soon as the visible symptoms disappear.

Keep Feet Dry

Pay particular attention to the spaces between your toes after showering, bathing or exercise.

If your feet sweat heavily, changing socks and allowing footwear to dry between uses can help reduce persistent dampness.

Rotate Your Shoes

Wearing the same enclosed shoes every day gives them less opportunity to dry fully.

Where possible, alternate between different pairs of shoes so each pair has time to air and dry properly before it is worn again.

Protect Your Feet in Communal Areas

Changing rooms, swimming-pool showers and similar damp communal areas are common places for fungal infections to spread.

Wear flip-flops rather than walking barefoot.

Avoid Sharing Personal Items

Do not share:

• Towels
• Socks
• Shoes
• Nail-care equipment

Fungal infections can spread from one person to another through contaminated items.

Treat It Promptly

Leaving the infection untreated can allow the fungus to involve the toenails as well as the surrounding skin. Nail infections generally require a different and often longer course of treatment, so dealing with athlete’s foot early is worthwhile.

Frequently Asked Questions About Athlete’s Foot

What causes athlete’s foot?

Athlete’s foot is caused by a fungal infection of the skin.

The fungus is more likely to thrive where the feet remain warm and damp, and infection can spread through direct contact or contaminated surfaces in places such as communal showers and changing rooms.

Is athlete’s foot contagious?

Yes. It can spread through contact with infected skin or surfaces that have been contaminated by somebody with the infection. Sharing towels, socks or shoes can also increase the risk of transmission.

Does athlete’s foot go away on its own?

It is unlikely to clear reliably without treatment.

The NHS recommends antifungal medicines such as creams, sprays or powders, which are available from pharmacies.

What is the best treatment for athlete’s foot?

An antifungal medicine is the main treatment.

Different active ingredients and formats are available, so there is no single product that is best for every person. A pharmacist can help you choose an appropriate cream, gel, spray or powder and advise how long to use it.

How long does athlete’s foot take to clear?

It depends on the antifungal treatment and severity of the infection.

Some treatments may begin improving symptoms relatively quickly, but clearing the infection can take several weeks. Always complete treatment for the period stated on the product instructions, even if your feet appear better sooner.

Should I keep athlete’s foot dry?

Yes. Keeping the feet clean and dry, particularly between the toes, is an important part of managing athlete’s foot and reducing the chance of recurrence.

Can athlete’s foot spread to the toenails?

Yes. An untreated fungal skin infection can spread to the toenails and cause a fungal nail infection.

Can shoe spray treat athlete’s foot?

An antifungal shoe spray is intended for footwear hygiene, not as a substitute for treating infected skin.

Use an appropriate skin antifungal for the athlete’s foot itself, while a suitable shoe spray can be used alongside it to address footwear.

When should I seek professional advice?

Speak to a pharmacist or GP if pharmacy treatment has not worked, the symptoms are very painful, or the infection is spreading.

Medical advice is particularly important if the foot or leg becomes hot, painful and increasingly red, or if you have diabetes or a weakened immune system, as foot infections may require closer assessment.

Learn More About Foot Skin Care

For more information about related skin and foot-care problems, explore our:

• Skin Collection
• Blisters Collection
• Corns & Calluses Collection