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Dr. Chrysoula I. Liakou MD, PhD
- Treated online: Yes. Athlete’s foot is recognised by how it looks, and a doctor can assess it on camera.
- Symptoms: itchy white patches between the toes, and sore, flaky or cracked skin that can spread to the soles and sides of the feet.
- Treatment: antifungal creams, sprays or powders from a pharmacy usually take a few weeks to work; courses usually last 2 to 4 weeks.
- Spread: it is caught in changing rooms and showers, and without treatment it can spread to the toenails.
- Emergency: call 112 if a red, hot, swollen foot or leg comes with confusion, a fast heartbeat or breathing, or feeling faint.
Do not book a video appointment if your foot or leg is red, hot and swollen and you also feel very unwell: a very high temperature or shivering, a fast heartbeat or breathing, dizziness, confusion, or cold, clammy skin. These can mean a serious infection that needs emergency care: call 112.
Can an online doctor treat athlete’s foot?
Yes. Athlete’s foot is recognised by how it looks and where it is, and both work by video. The doctor looks at your feet on camera, asks what you have tried, and checks for a bacterial infection and for conditions that look similar, such as eczema or psoriasis. If pharmacy treatments have not worked, the doctor can prescribe a stronger treatment.
How an online consultation helps with athlete’s foot
- Your feet seen on camera: Between the toes, the soles and the nails: the doctor looks at where the infection is and how far it has spread.
- Lookalikes ruled out: Eczema, psoriasis and contact dermatitis can look like athlete’s foot, and antifungal creams do not treat them.
- Infection checked: Hot, red, swollen or painful skin can mean a bacterial infection that needs antibiotics.
- A plan that stops it coming back: Which treatment to use and for how long, how to deal with shoes and socks, and how to protect your nails.
What the doctor checks in an online athlete’s foot consultation
The consultation follows a fixed order, and the warning signs come first. The doctor asks about:
- Warning signs: red, hot, swollen or painful skin on the foot or leg, and a fever or feeling unwell.
- The rash: where it is, whether it itches, cracks, peels or blisters, and how long you have had it.
- Your nails: thickened, discoloured or brittle toenails, which suggest the infection has spread.
- What you have tried: which creams, sprays or powders, for how long, and whether they helped.
- Your health: diabetes, a weakened immune system, poor circulation, and the medicines you take.
Before the call, wash and dry your feet, and find good light so the doctor can see between your toes.
What is athlete’s foot?
Athlete’s foot, or tinea pedis, is a fungal infection of the skin of the feet. It is the most common fungal skin infection, and it is particularly common in hot, humid places.
What causes athlete’s foot?
Athlete’s foot is caused by dermatophytes, fungi that live on skin, mainly Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton interdigitale and Epidermophyton floccosum. It spreads by direct contact: walking barefoot where someone with the infection has walked, especially in changing rooms and showers, touching infected skin, or sharing towels, socks or shoes. Wet or sweaty feet and damaged skin make it more likely to take hold, and heavy, closed footwear keeps the feet warm and damp.
It is most common in men and in teenagers and young adults, but anyone can get it. It is more likely with heavy sweating, diabetes, a weakened immune system, steroid tablets or other medicines that lower immunity, poor circulation in the feet, or lymphoedema. You do not have to be an athlete to get it.
Types of athlete’s foot
Swipe sideways to compare →
| Type | What it looks like | Where it appears |
|---|---|---|
| Between the toes | Itchy, white, peeling or cracked skin; the most common type | Between the toes, most often the fourth and fifth |
| Moccasin type | Dry, thickened, scaly skin | The soles and sides of the feet |
| Blistering type | Small to medium blisters | Usually the inner side of the foot |
| Ulcerating type | Oozing, raw areas; uncommon | Between the toes |
Athlete’s foot symptoms
The main symptom is itchy white patches between the toes, most often between the fourth and fifth toes. The five most common signs are:
- itchy, white, soggy or peeling skin between the toes
- sore, flaky patches, which may be red; the redness can be less noticeable on brown or black skin
- skin that cracks or bleeds
- dry, scaly skin on the soles and sides of the feet
- fluid-filled blisters, sometimes
The rash is often worse on one foot than the other, which helps tell it apart from eczema and psoriasis.
Without treatment, the infection can spread to the toenails, which become thick, discoloured or brittle. It can also spread to the hands and the groin.
Athlete’s foot or something else?
Eczema, contact allergy to shoes, psoriasis and pompholyx can all be mistaken for athlete’s foot, and antifungal treatment only helps a fungal infection:
Swipe sideways to compare →
| Condition | What points to it | Read more |
|---|---|---|
| Athlete’s foot | Itchy, peeling skin between the toes, often worse on one foot | This page |
| Eczema or contact dermatitis | Itchy, red, scaly skin on both feet, sometimes after new shoes, socks or creams; rubber, shoe glue, leather tanning chemicals and dyes are common triggers | Eczema |
| Moisture between the toes | Soggy, white skin between tightly packed toes from constant moisture, with no fungus | This page |
| Pompholyx | Small, very itchy blisters on the soles and the sides of the feet, or on the hands | Pompholyx |
| Psoriasis | Thick, scaly patches on both soles, often with psoriasis elsewhere | Psoriasis |
| Cellulitis | Red, hot, swollen, painful skin that spreads, sometimes with a fever | Cellulitis |
Eczema, contact allergy and psoriasis usually affect both feet evenly. When the cause is unclear, a skin scraping examined under a microscope and grown in a laboratory confirms or rules out a fungus.
How to treat athlete’s foot
Athlete’s foot is usually treated with an antifungal cream, spray or powder from a pharmacy. It is unlikely to clear up on its own. Follow the packet: courses usually last 2 to 4 weeks, and some products can be continued to stop the infection coming back. Some are only for adults, so check the packet or ask a pharmacist, and you may need to try more than one.
Swipe sideways to compare →
| Treatment | How long it is usually used | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Terbinafine cream, gel or spray (pharmacy) | 1 to 2 weeks | See a doctor if it is no better within 2 weeks |
| Terbinafine single-application solution (pharmacy) | Used once | Suits mild infections |
| Clotrimazole cream or spray (pharmacy) | 2 to 4 weeks | See a doctor if the cream has not helped after 7 days |
| Antifungal cream with a mild steroid (prescription) | A short course | For red, inflamed, very itchy skin |
| Antifungal tablets, such as terbinafine (prescription) | 2 to 6 weeks for athlete’s foot | For infections that creams have not cleared; not suitable for everyone |
Nothing kills athlete’s foot instantly: apart from single-application treatments for mild infections, even the shortest course lasts at least a week, so finish the course you start.
Do
- Dry your feet after washing, especially between the toes, by dabbing rather than rubbing.
- Use a separate towel for your feet, and wash it regularly.
- Wear clean cotton socks every day.
- Wear flip-flops in changing rooms, pool areas and shared showers.
- Swap between pairs of shoes, and let each pair dry fully between wears.
- Clean shower and bathroom floors with a cleaner that contains bleach, and put antifungal powder in your shoes.
Don’t
- scratch the affected skin, which can spread the infection
- share towels, socks or shoes
- wear the same shoes for more than 2 to 3 days in a row
- wear shoes that make your feet hot and sweaty
You do not need to stay off work, and the same habits help stop the infection coming back once it has cleared.
Why does athlete’s foot keep coming back?
Athlete’s foot often returns. The usual reasons are:
- stopping treatment too early, as soon as the itching settles
- a fungal nail infection that has not been treated and reinfects the skin
- someone else at home with athlete’s foot
- shoes and socks that stay damp
- a different diagnosis, such as eczema or psoriasis, that antifungal treatment does not help
Treat your shoes as well as your feet: let them dry thoroughly, and use an antifungal powder in them. A foot powder once or twice a day also helps if your feet sweat a lot.
Athlete’s foot on holiday and at the gym
Hot weather, closed shoes on long sightseeing days, and shared showers at hotels, campsites, pools and gyms all make athlete’s foot more likely. To protect your feet:
- Pack flip-flops for every shared shower and pool area.
- Wear breathable shoes or sandals in hot weather, and change your socks during the day if your feet get sweaty.
- Dry between your toes after swimming or showering.
- If you are prone to athlete’s foot, pack your antifungal cream or powder and keep using it on the trip.
Other holiday health problems are covered on the travel illnesses page.
Which athlete’s foot treatment might the doctor recommend?
Treatment depends on how widespread the infection is and what you have already tried. This is the framework the doctors use, in line with NHS and dermatology guidance.
Swipe sideways to compare →
| What you have | Likely first step | Suitable for online care? | When in-person care is needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Itchy, peeling skin between the toes | An antifungal cream, spray or powder from a pharmacy | Yes | Not usually needed |
| Red, inflamed, very itchy skin | An antifungal with a steroid cream for a short time | Yes | Not usually needed |
| No better after pharmacy treatment, or widespread | A review of the diagnosis, and antifungal tablets if needed | Yes | If a skin scraping needs to be sent to a laboratory |
| Thick, discoloured toenails as well | Treatment for the nails, which takes months | Yes | If tablets need blood tests first |
| A hot, red, swollen, painful foot or leg | Assessment for cellulitis, and antibiotics if confirmed | Yes, to assess | If you feel very unwell or the redness spreads fast |
Tried a cream and it is still there? A doctor can tell you why in one consultation.
See available times →Treatment options for athlete’s foot
What you can do yourself
- Use an antifungal cream, spray or powder from a pharmacy, as the packet describes.
- Keep your feet clean and dry, especially between the toes.
- Change your socks every day, swap between shoes, and use antifungal powder in them.
- Wear flip-flops in shared showers until the infection has cleared, and afterwards to stop it returning.
Prescription treatment
A prescription is never issued without a consultation. If pharmacy treatments have not worked, the doctor can prescribe a different antifungal cream, a steroid cream alongside it for inflamed skin, or antifungal tablets, which may be needed for several weeks. Tablets are not suitable for everyone, including some people with liver or kidney disease, and may need a blood test, so the doctor checks your health and other medicines first. If the doctor prescribes, use the prescription at a pharmacy near you.
What does not help
Stopping treatment as soon as the itch settles often lets the infection return. Scratching spreads it, and wearing the same damp shoes every day keeps it going.
Special situations
Diabetes
Foot problems can be more serious with diabetes, and cracked skin between the toes can let bacteria in. See a doctor about athlete’s foot rather than treating it alone, and check your feet every day.
A weakened immune system
After an organ transplant, during chemotherapy or with other treatments that lower immunity, see a doctor rather than relying on pharmacy treatment.
Fungal nail infection
If your toenails have become thick, discoloured or brittle, the infection has probably spread to them. Nail treatment takes much longer: antifungal nail paints are used for 6 to 12 months, and tablets for up to 6 months. Treating athlete’s foot early helps stop it reaching the nails.
Cellulitis
Cracked skin from athlete’s foot can let bacteria in and cause cellulitis: painful, hot, swollen skin that needs antibiotics soon. If you have had cellulitis before, treat athlete’s foot promptly.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Tell the pharmacist or the doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, so they can suggest a treatment that suits you.
Children
Mobi Doctor consultations are for adults aged 18 and over. A child who is unwell needs a paediatrician or a local doctor in person, and emergency signs in a child mean 112.
When athlete’s foot is treated online, and when you need in-person care
Treated online: athlete’s foot between the toes or on the soles, infections that have not cleared with pharmacy treatment, inflamed or blistering athlete’s foot, and fungal nail infection.
In-person care: a foot or leg that is hot, swollen and painful with a fever or feeling very unwell, deep cracks or ulcers in diabetes, and skin scrapings or blood tests when they are needed.
When to get in-person care
Call 112 or go to an emergency department now for:
- red, hot, swollen skin with a very high temperature, or feeling hot, cold and shivery
- a fast heartbeat or fast breathing
- purple patches on the skin, or cold, clammy or pale skin
- feeling dizzy or faint, or confusion
Get medical advice the same day for:
- a foot or leg that is painful, hot and swollen
- blisters that fill with pus, or redness spreading from the toes
- a high temperature with a foot infection
How Mobi Doctor works
- Book a time that suits you: daily 7am–11pm CEST. You can see a doctor over video, usually within 15 minutes. No subscription, and the exact price is shown before you pay.
- Speak to a licensed doctor about your feet: show the skin between your toes and on your soles on camera, and say which treatments you have tried.
- Leave with a plan: what to do, what to take and for how long, and which signs mean you should be seen in person. If the doctor prescribes, use the prescription at a pharmacy near you.
No sign-up needed
Not sure it’s athlete’s foot? Tick every symptom you have to see each condition page that mentions it. It finds the right page, not a diagnosis: a doctor gives you that on a video call.
Tap the body — an area or a point — to browse symptoms anywhere
Similar symptoms, different condition? Fungal skin infection can start the same way. Compare them, or look up any other symptom in the full symptom checker.
Frequently asked questions about athlete’s foot
What does athlete’s foot look like?
Athlete’s foot usually causes itchy white patches between the toes, with sore, flaky skin that may be red, crack or bleed. It can spread to the soles and sides of the feet and sometimes causes blisters. Redness can be less noticeable on brown or black skin.
What causes athlete’s foot?
Athlete’s foot is a fungal infection of the skin, usually with Trichophyton fungi. You catch it by walking barefoot where someone with it has walked, especially in changing rooms and showers, by touching infected skin, or by sharing towels, socks or shoes. Sweaty feet, closed shoes, damaged skin and diabetes make it more likely.
What is the best treatment for athlete’s foot?
An antifungal cream, spray or powder from a pharmacy treats most athlete’s foot. Use it as the packet says, usually for 2 to 4 weeks, and keep your feet clean and dry. If it does not work, a doctor can prescribe a different cream or antifungal tablets.
What can I do at home for athlete’s foot?
Wash the feet daily and dry carefully between the toes, apply the antifungal cream or spray to the whole sole and between all the toes for the full course, change socks every day, alternate shoes so each pair dries for a day, use an antifungal powder in trainers, wear flip-flops in shared showers, do not share towels, and treat any fungal nail at the same time. Athlete’s foot that is weeping, very painful or spreading up the foot needs a doctor.
How long does athlete’s foot take to go away?
Antifungal treatments for athlete’s foot usually take a few weeks to work, and courses usually last 2 to 4 weeks. If your toenails are infected too, treatment takes months.
Will athlete’s foot go away on its own?
It is unlikely to. Without treatment athlete’s foot tends to linger and can spread to the toenails, the hands or the groin. An antifungal cream, spray or powder from a pharmacy usually clears it within a few weeks, and keeping your feet dry helps stop it coming back.
What kills athlete’s foot fastest?
Nothing kills athlete’s foot instantly. Terbinafine creams, gels and sprays are usually used for 1 to 2 weeks, clotrimazole for 2 to 4 weeks, and a single-application terbinafine solution can work for mild infections. Finish the course, because stopping when the itch eases lets it come back.
Is athlete’s foot contagious?
Yes. Athlete’s foot spreads by walking barefoot where someone with the infection has walked, especially in changing rooms and showers, or by sharing towels, socks or shoes. Wear flip-flops in shared showers and use your own towel.
Why does my athlete’s foot keep coming back?
Common reasons are stopping treatment too early, an untreated fungal nail infection, someone else at home with athlete’s foot, damp shoes, or a different diagnosis such as eczema. A doctor can work out which is behind it.
Can athlete’s foot spread to other parts of the body?
Yes. Athlete’s foot can spread to the toenails, causing a fungal nail infection, and to the hands or the groin. Scratching and sharing towels help it spread, so treat it early.
When should I see a doctor about athlete’s foot?
See a doctor if pharmacy treatment has not worked, you are in a lot of pain, it has spread to your nails or hands, your foot or leg is hot, red and painful, or you have diabetes or a weakened immune system.
How do I avoid athlete’s foot at the gym or pool?
Wear flip-flops in changing rooms and showers, dry your feet carefully afterwards, especially between the toes, wear clean cotton socks, and let your shoes dry fully between wears. A foot powder helps if your feet sweat a lot.
Can an online doctor treat athlete’s foot?
Yes. A doctor can look at athlete’s foot on camera, check for infection and for conditions that look similar, and recommend the right treatment. If pharmacy treatments have not worked, the doctor can prescribe a different cream or antifungal tablets after the consultation.
- Athlete’s foot, NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 29 April 2024.
- Tinea pedis, DermNet, New Zealand, 2018, updated 2025.
- How and when to take or use terbinafine, NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 24 March 2023.
- Common questions about clotrimazole cream, spray and solution, NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 8 July 2026.
- Fungal nail infection, NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 27 March 2024.
- Cellulitis, NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 18 April 2024.
This page is for information only and is not a substitute for a medical consultation. Guideline links are provided for transparency; treatment decisions are made with your doctor.
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