The fungal agents that cause athlete 's foot thrive on warmth and dampness and tend to be recurrent. Although athlete 's foot is not a serious disease, the open areas of cracked skin can be breeding grounds for secondary infections.
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. Complementary And Alternative Therapies Consult a competent specialist in each treatment modality for individual assessment or additional information. Aromatherapy recommends that Tea tree oil is a natural topical antiseptic effective in treating athlete 's foot. The skin of the foot should be dried thoroughly after showering and then the oil should be applied.