How do you get rid of athlete's foot?
Last updated September 3, 2026.
Pharmacy antifungals - terbinafine or clotrimazole cream, spray, or powder - clear most athlete's foot in a few weeks, but you must keep using them about a week after the skin looks normal, or it comes back. It rarely resolves untreated. The hygiene half matters as much: wash and dry feet daily (especially between toes), change socks daily, alternate shoes, share no towels, and wear flip-flops in communal showers. Untreated, it can spread into toenails, where it gets much harder to kill. See a doctor if two weeks of pharmacy treatment has not cleared it, if skin cracks, oozes, or swells, or if you have diabetes. Pymander is a free AI doctor, 24/7 by text, and can help you confirm the diagnosis.
What to do
- Apply antifungal daily, past the finish line: one week beyond clear skin, not until clear skin.
- Dry between the toes after every wash: damp toe gaps are where the fungus lives.
- Rotate shoes and socks: the fungus survives in damp footwear.
- Escalate at two weeks without improvement: or immediately for oozing, swelling, or diabetes.
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