By: Tammy Foster..
Based on a definitive diagnosis from your health care provider, your athlete's foot treatment should begin immediately and without taking any short cuts! Consistent and appropriate treatment is the key to a cure.
Here's the deal, if you have never been diagnosed with a case of athlete's foot and if you think you might have it now, then you simply must see your health care provider in order to a definitive diagnosis. This is critically important so that proper treatment can begin.
When you visit your doctor, he may be able to diagnosis athlete's foot just by looking at the area. Some cases are simply so clear cut. Other times your physician may need to take a small sample of skin from your foot and send it off to the lab for examination. This examination with either confirm the presence or absence of the notorious fungal cells of athlete's foot.
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.
There are times when your case of athlete's foot is so persistent that it takes the power of oral anti-fungal medications along with anti-fungal creams and sprays that are all prescription strength in order to beat the fungus into submission. If this is the case, no worries, just use the medicine as prescribed.
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.
Proper athlete's foot treatment can help you to regain control of your feet again. Adequate and appropriate treatment can stop the itching and burning and can put a smile back on your face!
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