Athlete's foot
Athlete's foot, medically known as tinea pedis, is an incredibly common fungal infection that turns our feet into itchy, peeling battlegrounds. While its name suggests a connection to sports, this tenacious invader can affect anyone, thriving in the warm, moist environments we often create for our feet. Understanding this pervasive condition reveals how simple hygiene can prevent a surprisingly uncomfortable and persistent ailment. Athlete's foot is a highly contagious fungal infection, often picked up in shared spaces, and can affect anyone, not just athletes. The infection presents in various forms, from scaly soles to painful blisters, and can spread easily to other parts of the body if left untreated. Simple daily hygiene, like keeping feet dry and changing socks, is key to both preventing and treating this widespread condition.
AI Summary
Athlete's foot, medically known as tinea pedis, is an incredibly common fungal infection that turns our feet into itchy, peeling battlegrounds. While its name suggests a connection to sports, this tenacious invader can affect anyone, thriving in the warm, moist environments we often create for our feet. Understanding this pervasive condition reveals how simple hygiene can prevent a surprisingly uncomfortable and persistent ailment.
- Athlete's foot is a highly contagious fungal infection, often picked up in shared spaces, and can affect anyone, not just athletes.
- The infection presents in various forms, from scaly soles to painful blisters, and can spread easily to other parts of the body if left untreated.
- Simple daily hygiene, like keeping feet dry and changing socks, is key to both preventing and treating this widespread condition.
The Itchy Truth
Athlete's foot—or tinea pedis, as doctors call it—is a very common skin infection that turns your feet into a prime breeding ground for fungus. You'll often recognize it by persistent itching, noticeable scaling, skin cracking, and an undeniable redness. Though it can appear anywhere on the foot, it's most frequently found nestled between the toes, or sometimes across the sole.
The culprits behind this uncomfortable condition are various species of fungi, mainly from the Trichophyton, Epidermophyton, and Microsporum families. These tiny invaders typically set up shop after direct contact with infected skin or by lurking in shared environments. Think swimming pools, locker rooms, or even through contact with other animals... it's surprisingly easy to pick up.
Despite its name, you certainly don't need to be an athlete to get athlete's foot. Simple habits like going barefoot in public showers, neglecting proper toenail care, wearing shoes that pinch, or not changing socks daily can all create the perfect fungal haven. While it was first medically described in 1908, it's believed to have become far more common in the 20th century, largely due to our increasing use of shoes, health clubs, and travel.
The Many Faces of Infection
Athlete's foot isn't a one-size-fits-all condition; it presents in four main types, each with its own distinct characteristics. These include the chronic interdigital, plantar (also known as 'moccasin foot'), acute ulcerative, and vesiculobullous forms. Understanding these differences is key to effective diagnosis and treatment.
Between the Toes: Interdigital
The most common form is interdigital, meaning it thrives between your toes—especially between the fourth and fifth digits. Symptoms can range from barely noticeable itching to intense redness, flaking, or a soft, whitish appearance if the skin stays moist. A more aggressive, acute ulcerative variant can bring pain, skin breakdown (maceration), erosions, cracks, crusting, and even a tell-tale odor from secondary bacterial infections.
Moccasin Foot: Plantar Type
Next, we have plantar athlete's foot, often dubbed 'moccasin foot,' which typically covers the sole of your foot. Caused by a fungus called T. rubrum, this type can be deceptively mild, often showing up as slightly red patches covered in fine, powdery, thickened scales. It might not itch as intensely as other forms, making it easy to overlook initially.
Blistering Outbreaks: Vesiculobullous
The least common type is vesiculobullous, usually caused by T. mentagrophytes, and it makes quite a dramatic entrance. Characterized by a sudden outbreak of extremely itchy blisters and vesicles—small, fluid-filled lesions—it commonly appears on the sole of the foot. This form is particularly prone to secondary bacterial infections, adding another layer of discomfort.
Beyond the Surface: Complications
If left unchecked, athlete's foot can lead to more serious issues. The skin may crack deeply, opening the door for bacterial infections and even inflammation of the lymphatic vessels. This seemingly minor irritation can quickly escalate into a more systemic problem.
The Spreading Threat
Perhaps one of the most stubborn complications is the fungus's ability to spread. It can migrate from your skin to your toenails, feasting on the keratin there and causing a condition called onychomycosis—a fungal nail infection that can be quite difficult to eradicate.
That incessant itch often triggers a reflex to scratch, and that's where the real trouble begins. Scratching further damages the skin, creating open wounds (known as excoriations) that become even more susceptible to bacterial invaders. It's a vicious cycle where relief from scratching often leads to worse infection.
Worse still, scratching can spread the fungus to your fingers and underneath your fingernails. From there, it's a short journey to other parts of your body—your groin, your torso, or even back to your feet after they've been treated. Each new location often earns the infection a new name, like 'jock itch' or 'ringworm,' making it harder to realize it's the same tenacious fungus at play.
Even your environment isn't safe! Fungal spores and infected skin flakes shed from scratching can contaminate socks, shoes, towels, and communal surfaces, creating a continuous loop of potential re-infection for you and spread to others. Imagine treating your feet, only to put on contaminated socks and shoes the next day—it's like starting the battle all over again.
In some cases, individuals develop an allergic reaction to the fungus itself, known as an 'id reaction.' This manifests as blisters or vesicles appearing in seemingly unrelated areas like the hands, chest, or arms. Fortunately, treating the underlying athlete's foot usually causes these secondary allergic reactions to clear up.
The Fungus Among Us: Causes & Risks
Athlete's foot is a form of dermatophytosis, caused by dermatophytes—a group of fungi, mostly molds, that have a particular appetite for keratin, the protein found in dead skin layers. These specific fungi are anthropophilic, meaning they prefer human hosts, making us their ideal dining and living quarters.
The most common species causing athlete's foot are Trichophyton rubrum and T. mentagrophytes, though Epidermophyton floccosum can also be responsible. Interestingly, T. rubrum typically causes cases in the general population, while T. mentagrophytes is more frequently found in athletes.
How It Travels
The UK's National Health Service calls athlete's foot "very contagious," spreading through both direct contact with an infected person and indirectly via contaminated items or surfaces. Fungus rubs off bare feet and fingers, but it also hitchhikes on the countless dead skin cells we shed daily. Socks, shoes, bathmats, even pets—nothing is safe from these microscopic travelers.
Pets, believe it or not, can become unwitting carriers. If your furry friend frequently gnaws at itself, it might not be fleas; it could be the relentless itch of tinea, which they can then pass on to your hands when you pet them. From there, it's an easy hop back to your feet.
You can even contract athlete's foot by spreading an existing fungal infection from another part of your body. If you have 'ringworm' (tinea corporis) on your arm or 'jock itch' (tinea cruris) in your groin, scratching these areas can transfer the fungus to your fingers, and then to your feet. Warmth, sweat, and tight clothing create the perfect moist environment for these fungi to thrive.
Who's Most Susceptible?
Beyond exposure, certain factors significantly increase your risk. If you've had athlete's foot before, you're more likely to get it again. Adults, especially men, tend to be more susceptible than children. Conditions like diabetes, weakened immune systems (including HIV/AIDS), and hyperhidrosis—abnormally increased sweating—also raise your chances of infection and make it harder to treat.
Detecting the Foe
Diagnosing athlete's foot usually starts with a visual inspection of your feet and a conversation with your doctor about your symptoms. They'll ask about itching and any potential risk factors, often able to identify the condition just by looking.
If the diagnosis isn't clear-cut, a simple test can confirm it: a potassium hydroxide (KOH) preparation of a skin scraping. Under a microscope, the characteristic branching structures of fungal hyphae will confirm athlete's foot and rule out other conditions like eczema or psoriasis. However, don't expect a 'black light' to help; the common fungi that cause athlete's foot don't glow under ultraviolet light.
Defense Against the Fungus
Preventing athlete's foot, and stopping it from coming back, largely comes down to good foot hygiene. Keep your feet dry, especially between the toes, and clip your toenails short. If you have an infected nail, use a separate clipper to avoid spreading the fungus.
Opt for socks made of cotton or synthetic moisture-wicking materials to draw sweat away from your skin. Avoid tight-fitting footwear that traps moisture, and make sure to change your socks frequently. In communal areas like gym showers and locker rooms, always wear sandals—this simple step can dramatically reduce your risk of exposure.
The fungi thrive in warmth and moisture, so eliminating these conditions is paramount. Using antifungal powder on your feet can help prevent recurrence. For your environment, consider cleaning bathtubs, showers, and floors with a chlorine bleach solution, as bleach is effective at killing mold. Washing socks and shoes with bleach or in hot water (60°C or 140°F) is also crucial.
Finally, avoid sharing footwear, socks, and even towels. Even damp towels can harbor and spread the fungus, creating easy transmission points. A little personal space with your foot gear goes a long way in preventing this persistent problem.
Winning the Battle: Treatment
While athlete's foot can sometimes resolve on its own in about 30-40% of cases, topical antifungal medications offer a significantly higher cure rate. So, don't just wait it out—active treatment is usually the best approach to get rid of it for good.
Conventional treatment involves thoroughly washing your feet once or twice daily, followed by the application of an antifungal cream, spray, or powder. It's vital to continue topical treatment for about 2 to 6 weeks after symptoms disappear, as the outer skin layers need time to completely replace themselves, ensuring all fungal remnants are gone. And, of course, maintaining good hygiene throughout is non-negotiable.
Remember that re-infection loop? Treating your feet isn't enough if your socks and shoes are still infested. Ensure you wash socks in hot water or with bleach, and consider disinfecting your shoes regularly to prevent the fungus from simply jumping back onto your freshly treated feet. Also, remember to treat all infected areas, including toenails or other parts of the body where the fungus may have spread, to prevent it from cycling back.
Topical and Oral Solutions
Many topical antifungal drugs are available, including miconazole, clotrimazole, terbinafine, and butenafine. Studies show that a daily application of butenafine for one week or terbinafine for two weeks is often more effective than miconazole or clotrimazole. For the tougher 'moccasin foot' type, which has thickened skin, keratolytic agents like urea or salicylic acid can help the antifungal creams penetrate deeper.
For severe or persistent cases, your doctor might prescribe oral antifungal medications like terbinafine, fluconazole, or itraconazole. These systemic treatments work from the inside out and have been shown to be more effective than older drugs like griseofulvin for athlete's foot. The most common side effect reported is usually a mild gastrointestinal upset.
Article
Athlete's foot
Athlete's foot, known medically as tinea pedis, is a common skin infection of the feet caused by a fungus. Signs and symptoms often include itching, scaling, cracking and redness. In rare cases the skin may blister. Athlete's foot fungus may infect any part of the foot, but most often grows between the toes. The next most common area is the bottom of the foot. The same fungus may also affect the nails or the hands. It is a member of the group of diseases known as tinea.
Athlete's foot is caused by a number of different funguses, including species of Trichophyton, Epidermophyton, and Microsporum. The condition is typically acquired by coming into contact with infected skin, or fungus in the environment. Common places where the fungi can survive are around swimming pools and in locker rooms. They may also be spread from other animals. Usually diagnosis is made based on signs and symptoms; however, it can be confirmed either by culture or seeing hyphae using a microscope.
Athlete's foot is not limited to just athletes: it can be caused by going barefoot in public showers, letting toenails grow too long, wearing shoes that are too tight, or not changing socks daily. It can be treated with topical antifungal medications such as clotrimazole or, for persistent infections, using oral antifungal medications such as terbinafine. Topical creams are typically recommended to be used for four weeks. Keeping infected feet dry and wearing sandals also assists with treatment.
Athlete's foot was first medically described in 1908. Globally, athlete's foot affects about 15% of the population. Males are more often affected than females. It occurs most frequently in older children or younger adults. Historically it is believed to have been a rare condition that became more frequent in the 20th century due to the greater use of shoes, health clubs, war, and travel.
Signs and symptoms
Athlete's foot
Athlete's foot
Athlete's foot is divided into four categories or presentations: chronic interdigital, plantar (chronic scaly; aka "moccasin foot"), acute ulcerative, and vesiculobullous. "Interdigital" means between the toes. "Plantar" here refers to the sole of the foot. The ulcerative condition includes macerated lesions with scaly borders. Maceration is the softening and breaking down of skin due to extensive exposure to moisture. A vesiculobullous disease is a type of mucocutaneous disease characterized by vesicles and bullae (blisters). Both vesicles and bullae are fluid-filled lesions, and they are distinguished by size (vesicles being less than 5 mm and bullae being larger than 5 mm, depending upon what definition is used).
Athlete's foot occurs most often between the toes (interdigital), with the space between the fourth and fifth digits (the little toe and the fore toe) most commonly affected. Cases of interdigital athlete's foot caused by Trichophyton rubrum may be symptomless, it may itch, or the skin between the toes may appear red or ulcerative (scaly, flaky, or soft and white if skin has been kept wet), with or without itching. An acute ulcerative variant of interdigital athlete's foot caused by T. mentagrophytes is characterized by pain, maceration of the skin, erosions and fissuring of the skin, crusting, and an odor due to secondary bacterial infection.
Plantar athlete's foot (moccasin foot) is also caused by T. rubrum which typically causes asymptomatic, slightly erythematous plaques (areas of redness of the skin) to form on the plantar surface (sole) of the foot that are often covered by fine, powdery hyperkeratotic scales.
The vesiculobullous type of athlete's foot is less common and is usually caused by T. mentagrophytes and is characterized by a sudden outbreak of itchy blisters and vesicles on an erythematous base, usually appearing on the sole of the foot. This subtype of athlete's foot is often complicated by secondary bacterial infection by Streptococcus pyogenes or Staphylococcus aureus.
Complications
As the disease progresses, the skin may crack, leading to bacterial skin infection and inflammation of the lymphatic vessels. If allowed to grow for too long, athlete's foot fungus may spread to infect the toenails, feeding on the keratin in them, a condition called onychomycosis.
Because athlete's foot may itch, it may also elicit the scratch reflex, causing the host to scratch the infected area before they realize it. Scratching can further damage the skin and worsen the condition by allowing the fungus to more easily spread and thrive. The itching sensation associated with athlete's foot can be so severe that it may cause hosts to scratch vigorously enough to inflict excoriations (open wounds), which are susceptible to bacterial infection. Further scratching may remove scabs, inhibiting the healing process. Scratching infected areas may also spread the fungus to the fingers and under the fingernails. If not washed away soon enough, it can infect the fingers and fingernails, growing in the skin and in the nails (not just underneath). After scratching, it can be spread to wherever the person touches, including other parts of the body and to one's environment. Scratching also causes infected skin scales to fall off into one's environment, leading to further possible spread. When athlete's foot fungus or infested skin particles spread to one's environment (such as to clothes, shoes, bathroom, etc.) whether through scratching, falling, or rubbing off, not only can they infect other people, they can also reinfect (or further infect) the host they came from. For example, infected feet infest one's socks and shoes which further expose the feet to the fungus and its spores when worn again.
The ease with which the fungus spreads to other areas of the body (on one's fingers) poses another complication. When the fungus is spread to other parts of the body, it can easily be spread back to the feet after the feet have been treated. And because the condition is called something else in each place it takes hold (e.g., tinea corporis (ringworm) or tinea cruris (jock itch)), persons infected may not be aware it is the same disease.
Some individuals may experience an allergic response to the fungus called an id reaction in which blisters or vesicles can appear in areas such as the hands, chest, and arms. Treatment of the underlying infection typically results in the disappearance of the id reaction.
Causes
Athlete's foot
Athlete's foot is a form of dermatophytosis (fungal infection of the skin), caused by dermatophytes, fungi (most of which are mold) which inhabit dead layers of skin and digest keratin. Dermatophytes are anthropophilic, meaning these parasitic fungi prefer human hosts. Athlete's foot is most commonly caused by the molds known as Trichophyton rubrum and T. mentagrophytes, but may also be caused by Epidermophyton floccosum. Most cases of athlete's foot in the general population are caused by T. rubrum; however, the majority of athlete's foot cases in athletes are caused by T. mentagrophytes.
Transmission
According to the UK's National Health Service, "Athlete's foot is very contagious and can be spread through direct and indirect contact." The disease may spread to others directly when they touch the infection. People can contract the disease indirectly by coming into contact with contaminated items (clothes, towels, etc.) or surfaces (such as bathroom, shower, or locker room floors). The fungi that cause athlete's foot can easily spread to one's environment. Fungi rub off of fingers and bare feet, but also travel on the dead skin cells that continually fall off the body. Athlete's foot fungi and infested skin particles and flakes may spread to socks, shoes, clothes, to other people, pets (via petting), bed sheets, bathtubs, showers, sinks, counters, towels, rugs, floors, and carpets.
When the fungus has spread to pets, it can subsequently spread to the hands and fingers of people who pet them. If a pet frequently gnaws upon itself, it might not be fleas it is reacting to, it may be the insatiable itch of tinea.
One way to contract athlete's foot is to get a fungal infection somewhere else on the body first. The fungi causing athlete's foot may spread from other areas of the body to the feet, usually by touching or scratching the affected area, thereby getting the fungus on the fingers, and then touching or scratching the feet. While the fungus remains the same, the name of the condition changes based on where on the body the infection is located. For example, the infection is known as tinea corporis ("ringworm") when the torso or limbs are affected or tinea cruris (jock itch or dhobi itch) when the groin is affected. Clothes (or shoes), body heat, and sweat can keep the skin warm and moist, just the environment the fungus needs to thrive.
Risk factors
Besides being exposed to any of the modes of transmission presented above, there are additional risk factors that increase one's chance of contracting athlete's foot. Persons who have had athlete's foot before are more likely to become infected than those who have not. Adults are more likely to catch athlete's foot than children. Men have a higher chance of getting athlete's foot than women. People with diabetes or weakened immune systems are more susceptible to the disease. HIV/AIDS hampers the immune system and increases the risk of acquiring athlete's foot. Hyperhidrosis (abnormally increased sweating) increases the risk of infection and makes treatment more difficult.
Diagnosis
Athlete's foot
Microscopic view of cultured athlete's foot fungus
When visiting a doctor, the basic diagnosis procedure applies. This includes checking the patient's medical history and medical record for risk factors, a medical interview during which the doctor asks questions (such as about itching and scratching), and a physical examination. Athlete's foot can usually be diagnosed by visual inspection of the skin and by identifying less obvious symptoms such as itching of the affected area.
If the diagnosis is uncertain, direct microscopy of a potassium hydroxide preparation of a skin scraping (known as a KOH test) can confirm the diagnosis of athlete's foot and help rule out other possible causes, such as candidiasis, pitted keratolysis, erythrasma, contact dermatitis, eczema, or psoriasis. Dermatophytes known to cause athlete's foot will demonstrate multiple septate branching hyphae on microscopy.
A Wood's lamp (black light), although useful in diagnosing fungal infections of the scalp (tinea capitis), is not usually helpful in diagnosing athlete's foot, since the common dermatophytes that cause this disease do not fluoresce under ultraviolet light.
Prevention
Athlete's foot
There are several preventive foot hygiene measures that can prevent athlete's foot and reduce recurrence. Some of these include: keeping the feet dry; clipping toenails short; using a separate nail clipper for infected toenails; using socks made from well-ventilated cotton or synthetic moisture wicking materials (to soak moisture away from the skin to help keep it dry); avoiding tight-fitting footwear; changing socks frequently; and wearing sandals while walking through communal areas such as gym showers and locker rooms.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "Nails should be clipped short and kept clean. Nails can house and spread the infection." Recurrence of athlete's foot can be prevented with the use of antifungal powder on the feet.
The fungi (molds) that cause athlete's foot require warmth and moisture to survive and grow. There is an increased risk of infection with exposure to warm, moist environments (e.g., occlusive footwear—shoes or boots that enclose the feet) and in shared humid environments such as communal showers, shared pools, and treatment tubs. Chlorine bleach is a disinfectant and common household cleaner that kills mold. Cleaning surfaces with a chlorine bleach solution prevents the disease from spreading from subsequent contact. Cleaning bathtubs, showers, bathroom floors, sinks, and counters with bleach helps prevent the spread of the disease, including reinfection.
Keeping socks and shoes clean (using bleach in the wash) is one way to prevent fungi from taking hold and spreading, along with avoidance of sharing footwear and towels during an active fungal infection.
Treatment
Athlete's foot
Athlete's foot resolves without medication in 30 to 40% of cases. Topical antifungal medication consistently produces much higher rates of cure.
Conventional treatment typically involves thoroughly washing the feet daily or twice daily, followed by the application of a topical medication. Because the outer skin layers are damaged and susceptible to reinfection, topical treatment generally continues until all layers of the skin are replaced, about 2 to 6 weeks after symptoms disappear. Keeping feet dry and practicing good hygiene (as described in the above section on prevention) is crucial for killing the fungus and preventing reinfection.
Treating the feet is not always enough. Once socks or shoes are infested with fungi, wearing them again can reinfect (or further infect) the feet. Socks can be effectively cleaned in the wash by adding bleach or by washing in water 60 °C (140 °F).
To be effective, treatment includes all infected areas (such as toenails, hands, torso, etc.). Otherwise, the infection may continue to spread, including back to treated areas. For example, leaving fungal infection of the nail untreated may allow it to spread back to the rest of the foot, to become athlete's foot once again.
Systematic review found that allylamines such as terbinafine are not more efficacious than azoles for the treatment of athlete's foot.
Severe or prolonged fungal skin infections may require treatment with oral antifungal medication.
Topical treatments
There are many topical antifungal drugs useful in the treatment of athlete's foot including: miconazole nitrate, clotrimazole, tolnaftate (a synthetic thiocarbamate), terbinafine hydrochloride, butenafine hydrochloride and undecylenic acid. The fungal infection may be treated with topical antifungal agents, which can take the form of a spray, powder, cream, or gel. Topical application of an antifungal cream such as butenafine once daily for one week or terbinafine once daily for two weeks is effective in most cases of athlete's foot and is more effective than application of miconazole or clotrimazole. Plantar-type athlete's foot is more resistant to topical treatments due to the presence of thickened hyperkeratotic skin on the sole of the foot. Keratolytic and humectant medications such as urea, salicylic acid (Whitfield's ointment), and lactic acid are useful adjunct medications and improve penetration of antifungal agents into the thickened skin. Topical glucocorticoids are sometimes prescribed to alleviate inflammation and itching associated with the infection.
A solution of 1% potassium permanganate dissolved in hot water is an alternative to antifungal drugs. Potassium permanganate is a salt and a strong oxidizing agent.
Oral treatments
For severe or refractory cases of athlete's foot oral terbinafine is more effective than griseofulvin. Fluconazole or itraconazole may also be taken orally for severe athlete's foot infections. The most commonly reported adverse effect from these medications is gastrointestinal upset.
Epidemiology
Athlete's foot
Globally, fungal infections affect about 15% of the population and 20% of adults. Additionally, 70% of the population will experience athlete's foot at some point in life. Athlete's foot is common in individuals who wear unventilated (occlusive) footwear, such as rubber boots or vinyl shoes. Upon exposure to an athlete's foot-causing fungus, the moist conditions generated from poor foot ventilation promotes growth of the fungus on the foot or between the toes. Occupationally, studies have shown increased prevalence of athlete's foot among miners, soldiers, and athletes. Likewise, activities such as marathon running have seen increased prevalence of athlete's foot. Countries and regions where going barefoot is more common experience much lower rates of athlete's foot than do populations which habitually wear shoes; as a result, the disease has been called "a penalty of civilization". Studies have demonstrated that men are infected 2 to 4 times more often than women.
Cases of athlete's foot were first documented around 1916 during World War I, where infection among soldiers was common. By 1928 it was estimated that nearly ten million Americans with cases of athlete's foot; the alarming prevalence of the disease caused for public health concern. In the following year, an epidemiologic study was conducted on incoming freshman to the University of California; it was found that 53% of incoming freshman men had athlete's foot and by year's end that number had risen to 78%.
Prevalence of the disease increased in the 1930s, specifically among individuals of higher socioeconomic status; these individuals had more access to common shared spaced such as pools, colleges, and athletic clubs where transmission of athlete's foot-causing fungus was common. Prevalence in the United States was high enough to call for the use of sterilizing footbaths in the 1932 Olympics in Los Angeles. It was at this time public health officials adopted the idea that athletes foot was a product of modernity and that dealing with this disease was "a penalty of civilization" as many treatments proved ineffective. Antifungal properties of compounds such as undecylenic acid were studied in the 1940s; products containing zinc undecylenate were shown to be the most effective topical treatment for curing the condition.
The use of orally ingested Griseofulvin was shown in the 1960s to be effective in acute cases of athlete's foot. Likewise, recorded incidence of athletes foot decreased among American soldiers in Vietnam who were given Griseofulvins as a preventative drug. In the 1990s, research supported the use of itraconazole and the Allylamine known as terbinafine as drugs effective at eliminating athlete's foot and also dermatophyte infections on other parts of the body. As of 2012, research has shown that terbinafine is 2.26 times as likely to cure athlete's foot than treatment with Griseofulvin; comparative studies between itraconazole and terbinafine have shown little difference in effectiveness.