Can you use athletes foot spray for yeast infection

What is Athlete’s Foot?

You don’t have to be an athlete to catch it! Athlete’s foot, also called tinea pedis, is a highly contagious fungal infection that affects the skin on your feet but can spread to your toenails and even hands.

Table of Contents Show

What is Athlete’s Foot?
Symptoms of athlete's foot
Causes of athlete's foot
Treatment for athlete's foot
Antifungal medicines
Non-urgent advice: See a GP if:
Further tests
Self-management of athlete's foot
Can you use antifungal spray for yeast infection?
Is a yeast infection the same as athlete's foot?
Can you use Lotrimin spray for yeast?
Can you use tinactin for a yeast infection?

It’s easily caught through direct contact with an infected person, sharing bedlinens, touching towels or clothing infected with the fungus or walking barefoot in common areas, like gyms, swimming pools, communal showers and changing rooms. You are more likely to get it if the skin on your feet is damaged or if you have wet or sweaty feet. The fungus thrives in warm, moist conditions, so you should avoid wearing damp socks and shoes. That’s why it’s most commonly found in athletes!

Athlete’s foot often occurs between your toes, but it can also affect the soles and sides of your feet. Athlete’s foot usually starts on one or both of your feet, but you can unwittingly spread it to your hands or other areas of your body simply by scratching or picking at the infected parts of your feet.

Athlete's foot is a common fungal infection that affects the feet. You can usually treat it with creams, sprays or powders from a pharmacy, but it can keep coming back.

Symptoms of athlete's foot

You may have athlete's foot if you have:

Itchy white patches between your toes

Red, sore and flaky patches on your feet

Skin that may crack and bleed

Athlete's foot can also affect your soles or sides of your feet. If it's not treated, it can spread to your toenails and cause a fungal nail infection.

It can sometimes causes fluid-filled blisters.

Causes of athlete's foot

You can catch athlete's foot from other people with the infection.

You can get it by:

walking barefoot in places where someone else has athlete's foot – especially changing rooms and showers
touching the affected skin of someone with athlete's foot

You're more likely to get it if you have wet or sweaty feet, or if the skin on your feet is damaged.

Treatment for athlete's foot

Athlete's foot is unlikely to get better on its own. But you don't usually need to see a GP.

You can buy antifungal medicines for it from a pharmacy. They usually take a few weeks to work.

You can keep using some pharmacy treatments to stop athlete's foot coming back.

It's also important to keep your feet clean and dry.

You don't need to stay off work or school as long as you follow this advice.

Antifungal medicines

Antifungal athlete's foot treatments are available as:

creams
sprays
powders

They're not all suitable for everyone. For example, some are only for adults. Always check the packet or ask a pharmacist.

You might need to try a few treatments to find one that works best for you.

Non-urgent advice: See a GP if:

treatments from a pharmacy don't work
you're in a lot of discomfort
your foot is red, hot and painful – this could be a more serious infection
you have diabetes – foot problems can be more serious if you have diabetes
you have a weakened immune system. For example, you've had an organ transplant or are having chemotherapy

Further tests

Your GP may take a small sample of your affected skin cells.

The sample will be sent to a laboratory to be tested in order to identify the exact type of fungi that is causing your infection. This will help them to prescribe the most appropriate treatment.

They may also refer you to a skin specialist called a dermatologist for more tests and treatment if needed. Your GP may also prescribe a steroid cream and anti-fungal tablets.

Self-management of athlete's foot

To treat athlete's foot and prevent it returning:

Do

dry your feet after washing them, particularly between your toes - dab them dry rather than rubbing them
use a separate towel for your feet and wash it regularly
take your shoes off when at home
wear clean socks every day - cotton socks are best

Don't

do not scratch affected skin – this can spread it to other parts of your body
do not walk around barefoot – wear flip-flops in places like changing rooms and showers
do not share towels, socks or shoes with other people
do not wear shoes that make your feet hot and sweaty

Keep following this advice after finishing treatment. This will help stop athlete's foot coming back.

Visit the Podiatry Ireland website for more information

Content supplied by the NHS and adapted for Ireland by the HSE

This project has received funding from the Government of Ireland’s Sláintecare Integration Fund 2019 under Grant Agreement Number 123.

Page last reviewed: 17 April 2020
Next review due: 17 April 2023

Can you use antifungal spray for yeast infection?

3M™ Touchless Care™ Antifungal Spray is a spray-on, no-rub-in treatment with miconazole nitrate, zinc oxide, and dimethicone. 3M™ Touchless Care™ Antifungal Spray treats jock itch, ringworm, and athlete's foot. For the treatment of most superficial skin irritations caused by yeast (Candida albicans).

Is a yeast infection the same as athlete's foot?

Yeast infections can occur in several places on the body. The most common areas are: The mouth, where the infection is called thrush (2) On the feet, as athlete's foot.

Can you use Lotrimin spray for yeast?

Lotrimin AF (for the skin) is used to treat skin infections such as athlete's foot, jock itch, ringworm, tinea versicolor (a fungus that discolors the skin), and yeast infections of the skin.