Athlete's Foot in Summer: Treatment and Prevention [2026]

You come back from the pool, slip off your flip-flops, and a few days later you notice that the skin between the fourth and fifth toe is starting to flake. First a slight redness. Then itching - mild, but persistent. After a week the skin cracks, stings and turns white, as if it has gone soft. In the evening, after you take off your shoes, you notice an unpleasant smell that wasn't there before.

Sound familiar? This is the classic start of athlete's foot - one of the most common skin infections we "catch" precisely in summer. And although the topic isn't the most pleasant, the good news is this: athlete's foot is a problem that can be effectively treated with over-the-counter products. On one condition - that you do it consistently.

In this article we'll explain why summer is "fungus season", how to recognise the symptoms, what to use to treat skin and foot fungus and - most importantly - how to keep it from coming back. No scare tactics, just practical, down-to-earth advice.

Why does summer favour athlete's foot?

The fungi that cause skin fungus (most often the so-called dermatophytes) love three things: warmth, moisture and darkness. And summer delivers all of them at once - in abundance.

Public places are a paradise for fungus

We most often catch it where we walk barefoot over a shared, damp surface:

Swimming pools and the areas around them - the wet tiles around the pool are literally a motorway for fungi.
Public showers - at the gym, the campsite, in a hotel or a changing room.
Saunas and steam rooms - warmth and steam are ideal conditions for spores to survive.
Changing rooms and cubicles - the floor where a dozen other people stood before you.
Hotel rooms - carpets and carpeting are rarely disinfected between guests.

Sweat and footwear - fungus works while you rest

In summer your feet sweat much more intensely. If you wear closed, sports footwear - for running, cycling or walking, for example - a warm and moist environment forms inside the shoe. Add socks made of synthetic materials that don't wick away moisture, and you have a ready-made "incubator" for fungus.

The problem also affects skin beyond the feet. Fungus can appear in skin folds - in the groin, under the breasts, in the armpits - anywhere that sweat collects in summer and skin rubs against skin.

How to recognise athlete's foot? The symptoms

Fungus rarely attacks suddenly. It usually develops slowly, and its symptoms are easy to ignore at first. It's worth knowing what to look out for.

Typical symptoms of athlete's foot

Itching - often the first signal, most bothersome between and under the toes.
Flaking and cracking of the skin - especially in the spaces between the toes (most often between the fourth and fifth).
Redness and stinging - the skin looks irritated, sometimes slightly swollen.
Maceration of the skin - the skin turns white, soft and "soggy".
Tiny blisters - small, itchy, sometimes filled with fluid, most often on the sole.
Dry, flaking patches - on the soles and sides of the feet, resembling dried-out skin.
An unpleasant smell - the result of fungi growing along with the bacteria that accompany them.

Fungus on smooth skin - what does it look like?

When fungus attacks skin beyond the feet, the lesion usually has a characteristic appearance: a round or oval, reddened patch with a clearly defined, slightly raised edge. The centre is often lighter, and the rim flakes and itches. The lesion tends to grow larger.

What is easily mistaken for athlete's foot?

Not every flaking or itching of the skin on your feet is automatically fungus. The symptoms can resemble several other problems, and an accurate diagnosis determines whether treatment will work:

Eczema and contact irritation - a reaction of the skin to the shoe material, dyes in socks or detergent. It usually itches and flakes, but it's not an infection - an antifungal product won't help here.
Dry, parched skin on the heels - in summer, after walking barefoot and in flip-flops, the skin on the heels can crack and harden without any fungus involved.
Chafing and blisters - the result of new shoes or a long walk, not an infection.
Excessive foot sweating - not a fungus in itself, though it does favour its development.

If you're not sure what's wrong, the simplest thing is to ask a pharmacist or - with persistent lesions - a doctor. Using an antifungal cream "just in case" for weeks when the problem is ordinary irritation is a waste of time and money.

Treating athlete's foot - over-the-counter products

In most cases, skin and foot fungus can be treated effectively on your own, with antifungal products available at the pharmacy without a prescription. They come in several forms - and each has its use.

Antifungal creams and ointments

This is the foundation of treatment. The cream is applied directly to the affected skin and to the area around it (usually with a 1-2 cm margin of healthy skin). The cream form works well where the skin is dry and flaking.

Antifungal sprays

Convenient when the lesion is extensive or when you don't want to touch irritated skin with your fingers. A spray is also easy to apply inside shoes - which can help limit recurrences.

Antifungal powders

Powders have a supporting effect - they dry the skin and the inside of footwear well. They're best treated as a supplement to cream treatment or as part of prevention, not as the sole treatment for a developed fungal infection.

Active ingredients - what will you find on the leaflet?

In over-the-counter antifungal products you'll most often come across a handful of active ingredients. They work in a similar way - they inhibit the fungus's growth or destroy it - but they differ, among other things, in the recommended duration of use:

Terbinafine - very effective against athlete's foot; it's often used for a shorter time than other ingredients (according to the leaflet, sometimes even around a week).
Clotrimazole - a classic, widely used ingredient; it usually requires a longer course.
Miconazole - has an antifungal action and additionally works against some bacteria.
Econazole, isoconazole, naftifine - further ingredients with antifungal action, available in various products.

Which one to choose? It's best to ask a pharmacist - they will match the product to the location and severity of the lesions and advise how long to use it. Always read the leaflet of the specific product, because the recommendations can differ.

The most important rule: don't stop the course too early

This is the point where the most people "stumble" - which is why we're giving it its own chapter.

After a few days of using the cream, the symptoms usually subside noticeably: the itching disappears, the skin stops flaking, the redness fades. It seems the problem is solved. And that's exactly when many people stop using the medicine.

That's a mistake. The symptoms subsiding does not mean the fungus has been completely destroyed. Its remnants may still be present in the skin, invisible to the naked eye. If you stop treatment too early, athlete's foot very often comes back - and quickly.

How long should you use the product?

Use the medicine for the whole period stated on the leaflet - even if the skin already looks healthy.
Many products recommend continuing for a while after the symptoms subside - this is a deliberate "finishing blow" to the fungus.
Be consistent - skipping applications prolongs treatment and favours recurrences.
Read up on the recommendations for the specific ingredient - a terbinafine course is often short, a clotrimazole one usually longer.

Treat it like finishing a course of antibiotics - stopping "halfway" is asking for the problem to return.

The most common mistakes in treating athlete's foot

Athlete's foot tends to be persistent not because it can't be cured, but because we make a few recurring mistakes while doing it. It's worth knowing them - and avoiding them.

Stopping the course after the symptoms subside - we discussed this above; it's the absolute number one cause of recurrences.
Applying the cream only to the visible lesion - the fungus reaches further than you can see. Also cover the margin of healthy skin around the lesion.
Using the product irregularly - "every now and then, when I remember" isn't enough. Consistency is what counts.
Treating only one foot - if the fungus is on both feet, treat both, even if the symptoms on the other one are milder.
Going back to the same, undisinfected shoes - the fungus survives in footwear and waits to attack the now-healthy skin again.
Scratching the lesions - it brings momentary relief, but damages the skin and makes it easier to spread the fungus to other places, e.g. the groin.

Awareness of these traps is often the difference between fungus cured once and fungus that comes back every few months.

Prevention - how not to catch fungus (and not get reinfected)

Curing the fungus is one thing. The other, equally important, is keeping it from coming back. Prevention is simple and doesn't require much effort - a few steady habits are enough.

In public places

Wear flip-flops at the pool, in the shower and in the sauna - this is the simplest and most effective barrier.
Don't walk barefoot through changing rooms, cubicles and around the pool.
In a hotel, use your own flip-flops instead of walking barefoot on the carpeting.

Daily foot hygiene

Dry your feet thoroughly after every wash - especially the spaces between the toes. Moisture is fuel for fungus.
Wash your feet daily, especially after exercise and on hot days.
Don't share towels or use communal ones - fungus spreads easily through textiles.
Use a separate towel for your feet if you're treating fungus - and wash it often, at a high temperature.

Footwear and socks

Choose breathable footwear - natural leather and sandals are definitely better in summer than tight, synthetic shoes.
Go for socks made of moisture-wicking fibres (cotton, sports materials) instead of cheap synthetics.
Change your socks daily, and in the heat and after exercise - more often.
Air out and dry your shoes - don't put on shoes in the morning that got soaked with sweat yesterday. Keep two pairs to alternate.
Don't borrow other people's footwear or walk in shoes belonging to someone who had fungus.

After being cured - an extra step

The fungus can survive in shoes you wore during the infection. After finishing the course, it's worth disinfecting the footwear - for example with an antifungal spray - and washing socks and towels at a high temperature. This is a simple way not to reinfect yourself "from your own self".

When to see a doctor?

Most cases of skin and foot fungus respond to home treatment. There are, however, situations where it's worth consulting a doctor - ideally a dermatologist:

No improvement despite regular use of the product for the time recommended on the leaflet.
The symptoms are getting worse or the lesion is growing quickly.
Nail involvement - if a nail changes colour, thickens, crumbles or lifts off, cream treatment usually isn't enough. Nail fungus is a separate, more difficult topic and often requires treatment under a doctor's supervision.
Weeping, painful or heavily inflamed lesions - they may point to an additional bacterial infection.
Diabetes, weakened immunity or circulation problems - in these cases it's better to have any foot infection checked rather than treat it on your own.
Frequent recurrences - if the fungus comes back time and again, it's worth looking for the cause with the help of a specialist.

Frequently asked questions

Will athlete's foot go away on its own?

Usually not. Untreated fungus tends to persist and spread - to other toes, the sole, and over time even to the nails. The sooner you start treatment with an antifungal product, the easier and faster you'll get rid of it.

Can I infect other members of my household?

Yes, fungus is contagious. It spreads through shared towels, bathroom mats, the floor and footwear. During treatment, use a separate towel, wear flip-flops in the home bathroom and don't lend anyone your footwear or socks.

How long does treating athlete's foot take?

It depends on the product and the severity of the lesions. Terbinafine courses tend to be short, other ingredients usually require several weeks of use. The key is to finish treatment according to the leaflet - even after the symptoms subside - because this protects against recurrence.

Are home remedies enough instead of medicine?

Looking after foot hygiene and dryness is very important, but on its own it usually won't cure a developed fungal infection. The foundation of treatment is an antifungal product from the pharmacy. Treat good habits as support for the course and prevention of recurrences.

How does athlete's foot differ from nail fungus?

Athlete's foot affects the skin - it shows up as itching, flaking and cracking, and usually responds well to over-the-counter creams and sprays. Nail fungus attacks the nail plate (changing its colour, thickness and structure), takes much longer to treat and often requires a consultation with a doctor and different products.

Summary

✅ Summer favours athlete's foot - swimming pools, public showers, sweating and tight footwear create ideal conditions for fungus.

✅ Itching, flaking and cracking of the skin between the toes are typical first symptoms - don't ignore them.

✅ Over-the-counter antifungal creams, sprays and powders effectively treat skin and foot fungus - the active ingredients include terbinafine, clotrimazole and miconazole.

✅ Don't stop the course after the symptoms subside - finish treatment according to the leaflet, or the fungus will come back.

✅ Prevention is simple - flip-flops in public places, thorough drying of the feet, breathable footwear and socks, your own towel.

✅ See a doctor when there's no improvement, the lesions are getting worse or the fungus has affected the nails - that's already a separate problem.

✅ After being cured, disinfect your shoes and wash textiles at a high temperature so you don't get reinfected.

Disclaimer

This information is educational in nature and does not replace a consultation with a doctor or pharmacist. If the symptoms do not subside despite treatment, get worse, affect the nails or you have chronic conditions (e.g. diabetes, weakened immunity, circulation disorders) - consult a doctor. Before using any product, read the leaflet and follow its recommendations regarding dosage and duration of treatment.

And remember: the fight against athlete's foot is above all about consistency - a good product plus healthy habits give a lasting effect. And when you're putting together your summer medicine cabinet - antifungal cream, shoe spray, powder, a remedy for chafing - you don't have to buy everything at the first pharmacy you come across. On CheaperForDrug you drop your whole basket into the price comparison tool and check with one click how much you'll pay for it across more than 100 pharmacies. Because real savings are born when you compare the whole basket at once, not a single product. Healthy feet and a lighter receipt - that's what we wish you this summer.