Non-prescription antifungals for athlete's foot

Examples

Generic Name	Brand Name
butenafine hydrochloride 1%	Dr. Scholl's Athlete's Foot Cream
clotrimazole	Canesten
miconazole nitrate	Micatin Cream
naftifine hydrochloride	Naftin
oxiconazole nitrate	Oxizole
tolnaftate	Tinactin
undecenoic acid (also called undecylenic acid)	Desenex

These antifungal medicines are put directly on the skin (topical). They are available as creams, lotions, solutions, gels, sprays, ointments, swabs, or powders. One medicine may be available in many forms. Your health professional will help you decide which form is best for you.

How It Works

All of these medicines kill fungi. However, you most likely will use butenafine for a shorter amount of time than the others; see the medicine label for specific instructions. In general:

• Butenafine is used for 1 to 2 weeks.
• Other medicines are used for 4 to 6 weeks.

If you stop treatment early, even after symptoms are gone, an athlete's foot infection will likely return. It is very important to use the medicine for the entire time directed.

Why It Is Used

Non-prescription antifungal medicines are usually the first medicines used in treating mild and moderate athlete's foot. If treatment is not successful, or if you have a severe case, prescription antifungals are used.

How Well It Works

Non-prescription antifungal medicines are effective in curing athlete's foot for most people.

One summary of research reports that there is little evidence on how well one non-prescription medicine works compared to another.¹

Side Effects

Topical antifungals rarely cause side effects. Stop using the medicine if it results in severe blistering, itching, redness, dryness, or irritation.

See Drug Reference for a full list of side effects. (Drug Reference is not available in all systems.)

What To Think About

Among topical medicines, creams may be best used on mild-to-moderate non-oozing infections, lotions on oozing infections, powders and sprays to prevent reinfection, and gels and ointments for long-term moccasin-type infections.²

It is not known whether these medicines harm a fetus or pass into breast milk. If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, consult your health professional.

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Author:	Douglas Dana Amy Fackler, MA Debby Golonka, MPH	Last Updated: September 7, 2006
Medical Review:	Patrice Burgess, MD - Family Medicine Tom Bailey, MD - Family Medicine Randall D. Burr, MD - Dermatology
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