The First Steps With Fungal Skin Infections

Infections such as athlete's foot, ringworm and fungal nail caused by dermatophytes.

Key takeaways

• Athlete's foot treatment: topical antifungal, continued 1-2 weeks after clearing
• Fungal nail: often needs oral treatment for months
• Most useful single change: Continue treatment for one to two weeks after the skin looks clear.
• Commonest mistake: Stopping treatment as soon as symptoms settle.
• See a doctor if any of the signs under "When to speak to a doctor" below apply to you.

Why bother

They are common, treatable and persistent, and most failures come from stopping treatment as soon as symptoms settle.

Start here

Start with two. Add the rest once those have stopped taking effort.

• Continue treatment for one to two weeks after the skin looks clear
• Dry thoroughly between the toes after washing

Then add these

Next, once the first two have stopped feeling like effort.

• Treat footwear as well as feet, and rotate shoes
• Wear flip-flops in communal showers

The numbers, in one place

Common early mistakes

• Stopping treatment as soon as symptoms settle
• Sharing towels, socks or footwear
• Steroid creams alone on a fungal rash, which spreads it

Where to go next

• Making Sense of Fungal Skin Infections
• The Fungal Skin Infections Checklist: What to Do and What to Skip
• Fungal Skin Infections — the reference entry
• Skin and Ageing: What the Evidence Actually Says
• Itching: What the Evidence Actually Says

When to speak to a doctor

See a GP for spreading redness, warmth, swelling or pain in the foot or leg, which can indicate cellulitis and needs antibiotics — particularly if you have diabetes or poor circulation. Any foot problem in diabetes should be assessed the same day.

Where this comes from

• NICE — Fungal skin infection clinical knowledge summaries
• NHS — Athlete's foot

How this page was put together

Every figure, recommendation and warning above is taken from the guidance named in Where this comes from. Nothing on this page is inferred, summarised or generalised beyond what those bodies publish: where they give a number, it is their number, and where they are silent, so are we. Pages are rebuilt whenever the underlying record changes. Sign-off by a named clinician, where it has happened, is shown at the top of the page along with the date.

Medical disclaimer

This article is general information, not medical advice. It cannot account for your own history, medication or circumstances. Always speak to a GP, pharmacist or another qualified health professional before making changes that affect your treatment, and never delay seeking medical advice because of something you have read here. In an emergency, call 999.