What is athlete's foot?

Tinea pedis rash: Tinea pedis, or athlete's foot, is caused by a fungus (often by t. Rubrum fungus) that can be on locker room floors or other people's footwear. If the fungus is able to take hold on the skin cells and start growing, one will get the athlete's foot rash. Tinea pedis should be treated to relieve symptoms and also to prevent it from spreading to the toenails.

Fungal Infection: Athlete's foot is a fungal infection of the skin.

As others pointed: out, athlete's foot is caused by a fungus infection of the skin. It's spread by fungal spores which don't wash out or are killed by the heat of a drier, and spores live 30 days. While any topical OTC anti-fungal will clear up an athlete's foot condition in a few days, it's important to use it for at least 30 days while the spores are still around or it usually recurs.

Depends: If it is truly athletes foot & not something that mimics its appearance there are OTC products to treat it. You can find miconazole or other anti-fungal sprays, powders or creams in the drug isles of most pharmacies. twice daily use will usually help within a week or so, but can take longer.