Suddenly, two days ago, his symptoms are back. We have changed his shoes, and he's been carefully drying his feet after bathing. No one else in the house has this problem. Athlete's foot is a common fungal infection that usually appears during warm weather. It is usually caused by either trichophyton or epidermophyton fungi that grow in the warm, moist areas between the toes and over the sides of the feet.
Most fungal infections respond well to antifungal creams.
If the cream is stopped too soon, the infection may not be eradicated and the fungus will return. For more stubborn infections, a doctor may prescribe several months of therapy with griseofulvin, sometimes used in combination with antifungal creams. Keeping the infected areas clean and dry is important, because it will thwart further fungal growth and promote skin healing. Infected areas should be washed with soap and water, dried and then dusted with talcum powder. Doctors suggest avoiding powders with cornstarch because it can promote fungal growth.