An athlete’s foot, also known as tinea pedis, is a fungal infection that affects the skin of the feet. It is a common condition, particularly among athletes or people who frequently use public showers, locker rooms, or swimming pools.
The fungus that causes athlete’s foot thrives in warm, moist environments, making it easy to contract in public areas with wet floors. It is highly contagious and can be easily spread from person to person through contact with contaminated surfaces or skin.
Symptoms of an athlete’s foot typically include itching, burning, and stinging sensations between the toes and on the soles of the feet. The affected skin may also appear red, cracked, or scaly, and in some cases, blisters may develop. In severe cases, the infection can spread to other areas of the foot or even the toenails.
Treatment for athlete’s foot typically involves topical antifungal creams or ointments, which are applied directly to the affected skin. In this article, we shall be looking at the top 10 over-the-counter and prescription athletes’ foot cream
Best 10 Over The Counter And Prescription Athletes Foot Cream
Over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription creams can be used to treat athlete’s foot. Here are 10 of the best athletes’ foot creams available:
1. Lamisil AT – Lamisil AT is an over-the-counter antifungal cream that contains terbinafine hydrochloride as its active ingredient. It is effective in treating athlete’s foot and other fungal infections of the skin, such as ringworm and jock itch. Lamisil AT works by disrupting the cell membranes of the fungus, ultimately leading to its death. It is recommended to use it for 7 days to achieve the best results.
2. Lotrimin Ultra – Lotrimin Ultra is an over-the-counter antifungal cream that contains butenafine hydrochloride as its active ingredient. It is effective in treating athlete’s foot, ringworm, and jock itch. Lotrimin Ultra works by inhibiting the production of ergosterol, an essential component of fungal cell membranes. This leads to the weakening of the cell membrane and ultimately the death of the fungus. It is recommended to use it for 2 weeks to achieve the best results.
3. Tinactin – Tinactin is an over-the-counter antifungal cream that contains tolnaftate as its active ingredient. It is effective in treating athlete’s foot, ringworm, and jock itch. Tinactin works by disrupting the cell membranes of the fungus, leading to its death. It is recommended to use it for 4 weeks to achieve the best results.
4. Naftin – Naftin is a prescription antifungal cream that contains naftifine hydrochloride as its active ingredient. It is effective in treating athlete’s foot and other fungal infections of the skin, such as ringworm and jock itch. Naftin works by inhibiting the production of ergosterol, which is an essential component of fungal cell membranes. This leads to the weakening of the cell membrane and ultimately the death of the fungus. It is recommended to use it for 2-4 weeks to achieve the best results.
5. Oxistat – Oxistat is a prescription antifungal cream that contains oxiconazole nitrate as its active ingredient. It is effective in treating athlete’s foot and other fungal infections of the skin, such as ringworm and jock itch. Oxistat works by inhibiting the production of ergosterol, which is an essential component of fungal cell membranes. This leads to the weakening of the cell membrane and ultimately the death of the fungus. It is recommended to use it for 2-4 weeks to achieve the best results.
6. Mentax – Mentax is a prescription antifungal cream that contains butenafine hydrochloride as its active ingredient. It is effective in treating athlete’s foot and other fungal infections of the skin, such as ringworm and jock itch. Mentax works by inhibiting the production of ergosterol, which is an essential component of fungal cell membranes. This leads to the weakening of the cell membrane and ultimately the death of the fungus. It is recommended to use it for 2-4 weeks to achieve the best results.
7. Loprox – Loprox is a prescription antifungal cream that contains ciclopirox as its active ingredient. It is effective in treating athlete’s foot and other fungal infections of the skin, such as ringworm and jock itch. Loprox works by disrupting the cell membranes of the fungus, leading to its death. It is recommended to use it for 2-4 weeks to achieve the best results.
8. Spectazole – Spectazole is a prescription antifungal cream that contains econazole nitrate as its active ingredient. It is effective in treating athlete’s foot and other fungal infections of the skin, such as ringworm and jock itch. Spectazole works by inhibiting the production of ergosterol, which is an essential component of fungal cell membranes. This leads to the weakening of the cell membrane and ultimately the death of the fungus. It is recommended to use it for 2-4 weeks to achieve the best results.
9. Ketoconazole – Ketoconazole is a prescription antifungal cream that contains ketoconazole as its active ingredient. It is effective in treating athlete’s foot and other fungal infections of the skin, such as ringworm and jock itch. Ketoconazole works by inhibiting the production of ergosterol, which is an essential component of fungal cell membranes. This leads to the weakening of the cell membrane and ultimately the death of the fungus. It is recommended to use it for 2-4 weeks to achieve the best results.
10. Clotrimazole – Clotrimazole is an over-the-counter antifungal cream that is effective in treating athlete’s foot and other fungal infections of the skin, such as ringworm and jock itch. It works by inhibiting the production of ergosterol, which is an essential component of fungal cell membranes. This leads to the weakening of the cell membrane and ultimately the death of the fungus. It is recommended to use it for 2-4 weeks to achieve the best results.
In conclusion, athlete’s foot is a common fungal infection of the feet that can be treated with over-the-counter or prescription antifungal creams. The choice of cream depends on the severity of the infection, the type of fungus causing the infection, and other factors such as allergies or interactions with other medications. It is important to follow the instructions on the cream and continue using it for the recommended duration to achieve the best results. Additionally, practicing good foot hygiene, such as keeping the feet clean and dry, wearing clean socks and shoes, and avoiding walking barefoot in public areas, can help prevent athlete’s foot from developing in the first place.
