The Kinds of Athlete's Foot Infections and The Treatment

The type and severity of a certain case of Athlete's foot will conclude what the treatment should be like. Most cases can simply be treated at home using a kind of antifungal medicine to kill all of the fungus or to slow it's growth.

In most cases, nonprescription anti-fungals are used first. Commonly used antifungals are terbinafine, micoazole, clotrimazole, and tolnaftate. Any of these antifungals can be applied to the skin to prevent it's growth and kill the fungus.

Prescription antifungals should be tried in the case of the nonprescription ones working unsuccessfully. Nonprescription antifungals may not work in the case of a very serious infection. Examples of prescription antifungals include; naftifine, butenafine, and clotrimazole. Prescriptions can also be taken as a pill, called oral antifungals. Examples include; terbinfaine, itraconazole, and fluconazole. Oral antifungal medicine may be applied if a severe case of Athelete's foot is not fixed through regular treatment. The oral treatment is only used for severe cases simply because it's much more expensive than regular treatment. They also require some periodic testing due to possibly dangerous side effects. While symptoms for Athlete's foot may disappear following treatment, it's important to complete the full course of medicine for guaranteed healing. Reinfection is common, so keep your feet healthy.

There are two main kinds of Athlete's foot infections; Toe Web infections and Vesicular infections. Toe Web is the most common form and occurs between toes, creating a kind of web. This is most commonly treated with cream.

Vesicular infection involves blisters forming on the patient's feet and treatment for this can be as simple as drying it out. After drying it out a topical antifungal cream can be used to ensure that they do not come back. Severe infection involves pills as well.

Another more severe kind of Athlete's foot is Moccasin-type foot infection. This creates scaly, thickened skin on the heel and sole of the foot. The toenails can also be infected. This is much more difficult to treat because to skin is very thick.