Athlete's foot must be properly diagnosed since other foot maladies can also mimic this condition. If you think you might have been afflicted with the irritant, and if you have never been diagnosed with it before, then it is important to see your doctor for a definitive diagnosis before you just start self medicating with any old over the counter remedy.

At your physician's office, your doctor may be able to diagnose your athlete's foot just by taking a look at your irritated foot, and other times it may take sending off a skin sample to the laboratory to see if there are fungal cells present. These fungal cells are a tell tale sign of athlete's foot. The skin really does tell the story.

If you have a definitive diagnosis of athlete's foot, then it is on to the treatment plan. Often your doctor may decide that the best treatment for you is simply the over the counter anti-fungal creams and sprays. Bottom line is still, just follow the plan and do so consistently.

Most instances of athlete's foot are mild and generally clear within 14 to 21 days. The real challenge becomes to keep it re-occurring after that! Some folks even use the over the counter medicated powders and sprays in between flare ups in an effort to keep it from coming back. Some times it works and some times it doesn't.

But if your doctor thinks that your case of athlete's foot infection is more serious than an over the counter treatment can handle, then you may end up with a prescription strength treatment plan. This may include anti-fungal oral medication.

It can be that OTC creams and sprays do not effectively reach the lower layers of the skin where the fungus really lives and this leads to it rearing its ugly head again. This is the perfect example of when your physician may decide that your need a stronger medication, which may include not only a stronger topical medication but also an oral anti-fungal as well.

Prescription strength athlete's foot treatment seems to give you a better overall response to the treatment. But if you take a short cut and do not use the medicine as prescribed or do not use it for the duration ordered then you risk the return of your athlete's foot with a vengeance.

Yes, you can treat your athlete's foot at home with over the counter medications, especially if you have had a definitive diagnosis of this bothersome condition before. But remember, if this is the first time, then you need to see your health care provider.

But, remember, if you are still waging the athlete's foot war after two full weeks of treatment that you should follow up with your health care provider for stronger prescription based treatment.

With the right treatment and with persistence, you can stop the itch and burn of athlete's foot. So get on with it, your feet deserve to live without the invading fungus. Athlete's foot treatment is one fight you simply must win.

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