That itchy burning sensation between your toes. The flaky cracked skin on the bottom of your feet. The embarrassment of taking off your shoes at a friend’s house. If you’ve dealt with athlete’s foot before, you know how stubborn this fungal infection can be. Even after you clear it up, it often comes back. The good news is that athlete’s foot is preventable when you know what steps to take.
This guide shares five proven strategies podiatrists recommend to keep your feet fungus free. You’ll learn how proper foot hygiene, the right footwear choices, and smart habits in public spaces can protect you from infection. Whether you’re an athlete who spends time in locker rooms, someone with diabetes who needs extra foot care, or you simply want to avoid catching this common condition, these tips will help you maintain healthy feet year round.
1. See a podiatrist at Achilles Foot and Ankle Center
A professional foot assessment forms the foundation of any effective prevention plan. Your podiatrist can identify risk factors you might miss on your own, from subtle skin conditions to biomechanical issues that create environments where fungus thrives.
Why this helps prevent athlete’s foot
Podiatrists catch early warning signs before they turn into full blown infections. They examine your feet for conditions like excessive sweating, skin cracks, or circulation problems that make you vulnerable to fungal growth. Your doctor can also test suspicious spots to confirm whether you have athlete’s foot or another condition that mimics it.
How to do this step correctly
Schedule an annual foot exam even when your feet feel fine. During your visit, your podiatrist will check between your toes, inspect your toenails, and assess how much your feet sweat. Mention any family history of foot problems or if you spend time in locker rooms, pools, or other high risk environments. Your doctor can then create a personalized prevention strategy that targets your specific risk factors.
Regular podiatry visits help you stay one step ahead of infections before they start.
Extra tips for high risk feet
If you have diabetes, peripheral neuropathy, or immune system issues, book appointments every three to six months instead of annually. These conditions make preventing athlete’s foot crucial because infections can escalate quickly in compromised immune systems. Athletes who train daily should also see a podiatrist more frequently, as repeated moisture exposure in training shoes creates ideal conditions for fungal growth. Your podiatrist at Achilles Foot and Ankle Center can prescribe preventive antifungal powders or recommend specific products that match your lifestyle and risk level.
2. Build a daily foot hygiene routine
Clean feet are your first line of defense against fungal infections. A simple daily routine takes less than five minutes but dramatically reduces your risk of developing athlete’s foot. The key is consistency, not complexity.
Why this helps prevent athlete’s foot
Washing away fungal spores before they establish themselves stops infections before they start. When you cleanse your feet daily, you remove dead skin cells, sweat, and bacteria that create the perfect breeding ground for fungus. This daily reset interrupts the fungal life cycle and keeps your skin too clean for dermatophytes to colonize.
How to do this step correctly
Wash your feet with soap and warm water every day, making sure you get between each toe. Spend at least 30 seconds scrubbing, paying special attention to the spaces where your toes meet. After washing, dry your feet completely with a clean towel, again focusing on the areas between your toes where moisture loves to hide. Pat your feet dry rather than rubbing them, which can irritate the skin and create tiny openings where fungus can enter.
Preventing athlete’s foot starts with keeping your feet as dry as possible throughout the day.
Apply an antifungal powder or spray to your feet after drying them, especially if you sweat heavily. Focus the product on areas prone to moisture like between your toes and on the soles of your feet. Some people find that using a clean, separate towel just for their feet prevents cross contamination from other body areas.
Extra tips for high risk feet
If your feet sweat excessively, wash them twice daily, once in the morning and once before bed. People with diabetes or compromised circulation should inspect their feet during each washing for any cuts, cracks, or changes in skin color. Keep your toenails trimmed short and filed smooth to prevent them from creating pockets where moisture and fungus can collect. Consider using a foot brush with soft bristles to gently exfoliate dead skin that might harbor fungal spores.
3. Choose socks and shoes that keep feet dry
Your footwear choices determine how much moisture stays trapped against your skin throughout the day. The wrong socks and shoes create a warm, damp environment where fungus multiplies rapidly, while the right ones wick moisture away and allow air to circulate around your feet.
Why this helps prevent athlete’s foot
Fungal spores need three things to grow: warmth, moisture, and darkness. Your shoes provide all three unless you choose carefully. When you wear breathable materials that manage sweat, you deny fungus the damp conditions it requires. Moisture wicking fabrics pull sweat away from your skin and help it evaporate, keeping your feet dry even during long days or intense activity.
How to do this step correctly
Select socks made from synthetic moisture wicking materials like polyester, nylon, or specialized athletic blends. These fabrics outperform cotton because they dry faster and pull sweat away from your skin instead of absorbing it. Change your socks at least once daily, and switch them midday if your feet sweat heavily or you exercise.
Choose shoes made from breathable materials like leather or mesh rather than synthetic materials like plastic or rubber that trap moisture. Rotate between at least two pairs of shoes, allowing each pair 24 hours to dry completely between wears. This rotation gives moisture time to evaporate from the shoe interior and prevents fungus from establishing itself in damp insoles.
Preventing athlete’s foot becomes much easier when you give your shoes enough time to dry between uses.
Remove your shoes whenever possible to let your feet air out. At home or in the office, switch to open toed sandals or go barefoot in clean, private spaces. This simple habit reduces the hours your feet spend in enclosed, warm environments where fungus thrives.
Extra tips for high risk feet
Athletes and people who sweat heavily should invest in multiple pairs of athletic shoes and rotate them daily. Consider using antifungal shoe sprays or powders inside your shoes after each wear to kill any spores before they multiply. Replace your shoes every six months if you wear them daily, as worn out materials lose their moisture managing properties and old shoes can harbor persistent fungal colonies that survive normal cleaning.
4. Protect your feet in public places
Public showers, locker rooms, and pool areas are where most people catch athlete’s foot. The fungus thrives in these warm, moist environments and can survive on surfaces for days. Walking barefoot in these spaces puts you in direct contact with fungal spores that other people leave behind.
Why this helps prevent athlete’s foot
The fungal spores that cause athlete’s foot spread easily through contaminated surfaces. When you walk barefoot in a public shower or locker room, these spores attach to your feet and establish themselves in the warm, moist environment between your toes. Creating a barrier between your feet and these surfaces blocks transmission before it happens.
Preventing athlete’s foot in public spaces requires a simple barrier between your skin and contaminated surfaces.
How to do this step correctly
Always wear shower shoes, flip flops, or waterproof sandals in any shared wet area. Put them on before you step out of your dry area and keep them on until you’re back in a clean, private space. Your protective footwear should cover your entire foot, including between your toes, where fungus most commonly enters. After using public facilities, wash and dry your feet thoroughly as soon as you get home or to a private area.
Extra tips for high risk feet
Athletes who use gym facilities daily should keep a dedicated pair of shower shoes in their gym bag and replace them every few months when the material breaks down. People with diabetes or circulation problems need to inspect their protective footwear regularly for cracks or wear that might expose skin to contaminated surfaces. Spray your shower shoes with antifungal spray after each use and let them dry completely before storing them in your gym bag.
5. Stop athlete’s foot from spreading at home
If someone in your household has athlete’s foot, the fungus can spread to others through shared surfaces and items. The fungal spores survive on towels, bedding, bathroom floors, and even in your washing machine. Taking specific precautions protects everyone in your home from infection.
Why this helps prevent athlete’s foot
Fungal spores transfer easily from one person to another in shared living spaces. When an infected person walks barefoot on bathroom floors or carpets, they leave behind spores that remain active for days. Using the same towel, sharing shoes, or washing infected clothing with other items spreads the fungus throughout your household.
How to do this step correctly
Keep towels, bedding, and clothing separate from those of the infected person until the infection clears completely. Wash these items in hot water at least 140°F with detergent and add antifungal laundry additives when possible. Run your washing machine on a sanitize cycle if available, which kills more spores than regular wash cycles.
Clean your bathroom floors daily with disinfectant, focusing on areas around the shower and tub where water collects. The infected person should wear clean socks or slippers at all times to prevent direct contact between their feet and shared surfaces. Never share shoes, socks, or nail clippers between household members.
Preventing athlete’s foot at home means treating it as a contagious condition that requires isolation of contaminated items.
Extra tips for high risk feet
People with diabetes or weakened immune systems should avoid any contact with surfaces the infected person touches barefoot. Set up a dedicated bathroom for the infected family member if possible, or establish strict cleaning schedules between uses. Replace bathroom mats and rugs after the infection clears, as fungal spores embed deep in fabric fibers and survive normal washing. Consider having the infected person apply antifungal spray to their feet before bed to reduce nighttime transmission through shared bedding.
Keep your feet healthy
Preventing athlete’s foot requires consistent daily habits rather than occasional effort. The five strategies you’ve learned work together to create multiple barriers against fungal infection. Your daily foot hygiene routine removes spores before they establish themselves, while proper footwear keeps moisture away from your skin. Protective barriers in public spaces and smart household practices complete your defense.
Your feet carry you through life, and they deserve the same attention you give to other aspects of your health. When you notice any persistent itching, burning, or skin changes, don’t wait for the problem to worsen. The podiatrists at Achilles Foot and Ankle Center can diagnose issues early and create a treatment plan that matches your specific needs. Early intervention stops minor problems before they turn into stubborn infections that disrupt your daily activities. Book your appointment today to get professional guidance on keeping your feet fungus free for years to come.
