Remember that tinea pedis, the fungus that causes athlete's foot can survive in puddles of water, just waiting for some foot to get close so that they can adhere to it. 2. Wear socks. It may seem a really simple solution but wearing socks can help you a lot when it comes to preventing the occurrence of athlete's foot. Topical medications or topical antifungal agents that has miconazole, itraconazole, terbinafine and a keratolytic like salicylic acid are usually given to the patient to kill the fungus. However, topical medications only cure the infection of about 30 percent once the medication is applied. That is why doctors suggest that the patients use the medication for a specific period of time for the fungi to be eliminated. People who suffer from athlete's foot will experience itchiness in the affected areas, often in between the toes. There will be redness and tenderness in those areas as well as the cracking of the skin. Athlete's foot may also cause the skin to break, resulting in blisters. In cases that are not treated early, people with athlete's foot may also develop yellowed and thick toenails because of the spread of fungi. Athletes are the ones who often wear shoes and they also perspire heavily that is why they are common prey of Athlete s Foot. Ordinary people who are commuters or who do a lot of walking can also be victims of this fungus because outdoor conditions like pollution and bad weather can take a toll on the feet. If you are advised by the physician to use medication either topical or oral make sure that you educate yourself about the proper prevention of athlete s foot to keep it from being recurrent. These simple rules of good hygiene can keep you away from the persistent fungi that cause athlete s foot: 1. Bear in mind the importance of washing. Athlete's foot can also infect a person by sleeping in a contaminated bed or by using clothes of an infected person. Athlete's foot is a persistent infection that can continue on for a very long time unless treated. Using fungicides made especially to treat athlete's foot can help keep the infection in check.