Athlete's Foot That Won't Go Away: When Persistent Fungal Skin Infections Signal a Need for Prescription Care

Athlete’s foot is a persistent fungal infection found in millions of people in the U.S., up to one quarter of the population. If you have tried numerous different creams for athlete’s foot and found that the infection returns time and time again, then you are not alone. Tinea pedis, or athlete’s foot, is a very common skin infection that affects the feet of many people in the United States.

When It's More Than a Stubborn Case

Typical cases of occasional outbreaks of athlete’s foot can be treated with over-the-counter antifungal creams to clear up infections within weeks. Chronic athlete's foot treatment often requires more than a drugstore cream, especially once symptoms move beyond the toes.

Watch for Athlete's Foot Spreading

We can help treat the spread of athlete’s foot to the soles of the feet, the sides of the feet, or toenails. This form of athlete’s foot is not typically treated with over-the-counter products for athlete’s foot that is confined to the toes and typically results in a cycle of symptoms going away and then returning.

Even with over-the-counter creams, persistent athlete’s foot that won’t go away can now be treated with a prescribed plan of action by an oral antifungal for 2 weeks in combination with a topical for 2 weeks or a topical alone for 4 weeks. This will allow for the infection to be fully treated from the inside out as opposed to just surface-level treatment.

Athlete’s foot that won’t go away, no matter the cream, is never normal and needs to be treated by a doctor.