From the Guidelines
For treating fungal infections of the feet, specifically tinea pedis (athlete's foot), I strongly recommend using terbinafine 1% cream applied daily for 1 week, as it has been shown to be effective with a mycological cure rate of approximately 94% 1. When using terbinafine 1% cream, apply a thin layer to the affected areas after washing and thoroughly drying your feet. Some key points to consider when treating tinea pedis include:
- Keeping your feet clean and dry
- Wearing breathable footwear
- Changing socks daily
- Avoiding walking barefoot in public areas to prevent reinfection Terbinafine works by disrupting the fungal cell membrane, thereby inhibiting fungal growth. If your infection doesn't improve after two weeks of treatment, shows signs of bacterial infection (increased pain, warmth, swelling), or if you have diabetes, it is essential to see a healthcare provider as you may need prescription-strength medication or further evaluation. Other alternatives, such as butenafine and clotrimazole, are available but may have different treatment durations and approval restrictions 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
Uses • cures most athlete's foot (tinea pedis) PRINCIPAL DISPLAY PANEL - 30 g Carton Cures Most Athlete's Foot Terbinafine Hydrochloride Cream 1% Antifungal Cream Directions • adults and children 12 years and older o use the tip of the cap to break the seal and open the tube o wash the affected skin with soap and water and dry completely before applying o for athlete's foot wear well-fitting, ventilated shoes. Change shoes and socks at least once daily. ▪ between the toes only: apply twice a day (morning and night) for 1 week or as directed by a doctor. ▪ on the bottom or sides of the foot: apply twice a day (morning and night) for 2 weeks or as directed by a doctor.
Terbinafine cream is an effective antifungal treatment for tinea pedis (athlete's foot), as it cures most athlete's foot cases 2, 2. The recommended application frequency is twice a day for 1 week (between the toes) or 2 weeks (on the bottom or sides of the foot) 2.
From the Research
Effective Antifungal Creams for Tinea Pedis
- Terbinafine 1% cream is a highly effective treatment for tinea pedis, with a cure rate of 78% after a single application 3
- Terbinafine has been shown to be superior to clotrimazole 1% cream in treating tinea pedis, with a mycological cure rate of 93.5% compared to 73.1% for clotrimazole 4
- Topical terbinafine has a fungicidal mode of action, making it highly effective in treating tinea pedis with short-duration therapy 3
Comparison of Antifungal Creams
- Terbinafine 1% cream applied twice daily for 1 week was significantly superior to a 4-week course of clotrimazole 1% cream for treating tinea pedis 4
- A meta-analysis of 19 studies found that terbinafine had a significantly superior mycologic cure rate compared to placebo, with no significant differences in efficacy amongst different formulations of terbinafine, treatment durations, or frequencies of application 5
Treatment Duration and Frequency
- Terbinafine 1% cream can be effective in treating tinea pedis with a treatment duration of just 1 week 3, 4
- A novel topical solution of terbinafine (film-forming solution) has been developed for single-dose therapy of athlete's foot, delivering terbinafine in high amounts and for a prolonged period of time into the skin 6, 5