Athlete’s foot and nail treatment: what to know

Treat the skin and any affected nails as directed, because fungus can move between these sites and contribute to reinfection.

Athlete’s foot is a fungal infection of the skin, commonly affecting the spaces between the toes or the soles. It can cause itching, scaling, cracking, peeling, or burning. A fungal nail infection may make a toenail thick, brittle, crumbly, discoloured, or lifted from the nail bed.

A cream or spray that works on the skin may not penetrate the nail well enough to clear an established nail infection. Nail changes can also have non-fungal causes, including repeated shoe pressure, psoriasis, and injury, so confirmation may be useful before starting prescription treatment.

For athlete’s foot, apply the recommended topical antifungal to clean, dry skin and follow its directions for the full course, even if the itching settles earlier. Wash your hands after application, dry carefully between the toes, change damp socks, and let footwear dry before wearing it again. Avoid sharing shoes, socks, towels, or nail tools.

For suspected nail fungus, a clinician may recommend a nail preparation or an oral antifungal, depending on the pattern and extent of nail involvement and your health. Oral treatment may require a review of other medicines, liver health, pregnancy status, and possible interactions. Trim nails carefully, disinfect reusable nail tools, and do not cut or scrape deeply into sore skin.

Arrange an assessment if the diagnosis is unclear, several nails are changing, treatment is not helping, or the problem keeps returning. Seek prompt care for spreading redness, warmth, swelling, pus, severe pain, fever, or red streaks, as these can signal a bacterial skin infection such as cellulitis.

Get clinical advice early if you have diabetes, reduced circulation, reduced sensation in the feet, or a weakened immune system. Cracks and wounds may be harder to notice or heal in these circumstances. Do not rely on self-treatment for an open wound, blackening skin, or rapidly worsening swelling.

Ask whether your nail changes need testing for fungus, whether both the skin and nails should be treated, and how to apply each medicine correctly. If an oral antifungal is being considered, ask about medicine interactions, monitoring, warning symptoms, and what improvement should look like as a healthy nail grows forward.