The fungal agents which cause athlete's foot thrive on warmth and dampness and tend to be recurrent. Younger children and teenagers often contract this fungus from gym showers and locker room floors. Although athlete's foot is not a serious disease, the open areas of cracked skin can be breeding grounds for secondary infections if left untreated.
Alternative medicine is an appropriate first step for the treatment of athlete's foot.
However, if this fungal condition does not respond within 2 weeks to natural therapies the intervention of a conventional doctor may be necessary. If there are signs of bacterial infection such as fever, increased redness, a red streak on the foot or leg, swelling or discharge, a conventional physician should be consulted as antibiotics may be necessary. Herbal Medicine offers remedies to support the immune system and treat the fungal infection. A combination of echinacea and goldenseal can be taken orally to strengthen the immune system and clear the infection. Tea tree oil is an effective antiseptic for this infection.