What’s the Best Athlete’s Foot Spray? (Our Top 4 Reviewed)

Looking for the best athlete’s foot spray to get rid of the uncomfortable symptoms you experience on a daily basis? Most people don’t think it’s necessary to put much thought into this, but the wrong spray can not only prolong the infection but aggravate the symptoms too. That’s not what you really want. Scroll down to learn more about athlete’s foot and best sprays on the market today.

What is Athlete's Foot and Who Gets it?​

Athlete’s foot or tinea pedis is a contagious fungal infection that usually starts between the toes. The infection is most prevalent among athletes, hence the name. Although the condition itself is not life-threatening, it can become a nuisance as it takes some time to heal. The same type of fungus behind ringworm and jock itch also causes athlete’s foot. The fungi thrive in damp socks, shoes, humid and warm environments. For example, people usually get it when their feet are sweaty and confined in tight shoes or damp socks on a daily basis.

*See our: Best Socks for Sweaty Feet​

Men are more likely to develop athlete’s foot than women. The risk of athlete’s foot also increases for people who walk barefoot in public areas like saunas, locker rooms, showers, swimming pools, among others. You can also get athlete’s foot if you share shoes, clothes, bed linens, mats, and rugs with an infected individual.

A scaly red rash is usually the first symptom of the infection. The rash is followed by itchiness, particularly right after you take off your shoes and socks. Some people may develop ulcers and blisters too. Athlete’s foot can affect one foot or both feet, but it can also spread to the hand if an affected person scratches and picks on the infected site often.

Although frustrating and uncomfortable, athlete’s foot is treatable. In most cases, your doctor may recommend some over-the-counter treatments such as athlete's foot creams, powders, and sprays.

How Can Sprays Help?​

Athlete’s foot sprays have become a convenient manner of treating and preventing this common infection. These products are convenient because they enable the no-touch application. Basically, you just spray the infected site and leave it, there is no reason to rub, tap, dab, or do anything with your fingers.

Why is this important?

Touching can only spread bacteria from one place to another. As seen above, some people may develop the infection on their hands if they touch the infected site too much. The no-touch application helps you avoid this problem. Not only do you avoid spreading bacteria, but you also prevent introducing bacteria from your fingertips onto the vulnerable area on your feet.

In addition, sprays are formulated in a manner to act and neutralize bacteria behind the infection. This eliminates athlete’s foot and prevents the infection from developing again. With lower bacteria count, bad odor decreases as well. Why? Bacteria are also responsible for causing odors which are unpleasant to you and other people as well.

Sprays provide relief from itchiness, burning sensation, and general discomfort all of which are uncomfortable symptoms that people with athlete’s foot experience at one point or another. Some sprays also provide cooling effects that alleviate inflammation as well.

Factors to Consider Before You Buy​

In order to experience relief, you need to buy the right product. While most brands promise similar results, you’re already aware that’s not how things work. Some products are ineffective and you end up wasting your money. Let’s take a closer look at the factors to consider when buying an athlete’s foot spray:

Ingredients:​

Of course, the first thing to bear in mind is an active ingredient. Some products contain tolnaftate while others feature terbinafine and miconazole. When it comes to antifungal ingredients, clotrimazole is also a well-known name and people usually compare it to tolnaftate. However, they’re not the same. The primary tolnaftate vs. clotrimazole point of difference is that the latter is primarily used in creams while tolnaftate is available in various forms.

Ease of Use:​

Although sprays are considered simple and straightforward, some bottles are difficult to handle. If you’re looking for practicality, this is something you need to take into consideration.

Length of Treatment:​

Athlete’s foot sprays are created in a manner to treat the infection and prevent re-growth of bacteria, but each product is applied for a specific period. Some sprays are used for a week, others for two to four weeks. At the same time, some products are applied once a day while others twice on a daily basis. Take into consideration your needs, schedule, and lifestyle when deciding. Choose the spray that you find most convenient.

Brand:​

Reputation of a manufacturer is always important. You don’t want to use sprays from a brand known for unsafe and ineffective products.

The 4 Best Athlete's Foot Sprays Reviewed​

Now that you know what athlete's foot is, they symptoms, and what to look for in a good quality spray to treat this condition, let's know dive into some of the best choices available.​

1. Tinactin Antifungal Liquid Spray

Tinactin is a well-known name and chances are you’ve already stumbled upon it while browsing sprays for athlete’s foot. Basically, this is a clinically-proven formula specifically created to address problems such as athlete’s foot and to prevent them from bothering you again. When applied regularly, the spray alleviates symptoms such as itching, burning, cracking, and scaling. At the same time, potent formula successfully relieves inflammation.

What makes Tinactin one of the best antifungal spray products is its ability to treat hard-to-reach areas associated with athlete's foot. Thanks to its ability to instantly soothe and cool feet, you'll experience relief and greater comfort, especially after a long day at work. The convenient spray delivery allows for the no-touch application thus preventing you from introducing more bacteria to the affected site.

For preventive measures, the spray is applied once a day only while treatment of an active infection requires applying Tinactin twice a day.

2. Ting Maximum Strength Athlete’s Foot Spray

Ting foot spray contains a clinically-proven active ingredient called miconazole that cures athlete’s foot and ringworm, but it is also considered effective for management of jock itch. Regular use of the spray provides instant relief from discomfort, burning, and itching associated with athlete’s foot.

Not only does Ting cure athlete’s foot but it also minimizes the risk of re-infection. Unlike Tinactin which is a liquid spray, Ting is a powder spray that connects best of two worlds. It combines mess-free application of a spray and absorbent properties of a powder. The spray is used twice a day.

3. Lamisil Prescription Strength Spray

Lamisil is an antifungal medication that fights infections, and it comes in different forms including athlete’s foot cream, tablets, spray, you name it. The brand claims the product can alleviate symptoms of athlete’s foot much faster than other products of this kind on the market.

This spray is the only one-week twice-a-day spray with a prescription strength that is specifically created to kill all the fungus that caused the infection. This is particularly useful if we bear in mind that most products are applied for two weeks, twice a day for active infections. Containing terbinafine hydrochloride as an active ingredient, Lamisil successfully relieves burning, itching, scaling, cracking, and other symptoms of athlete’s foot while preventing them from developing again.

4. Lotrimin AF Athlete’s Foot Deodorant Spray

Lotrimin uses active ingredient miconazole to cure most athlete foot and provide relief from the common symptoms linked to this infection. The reason why Lotrimin is on the best athlete’s foot spray list is that it comes in three different types of sprays such as deodorant powder, powder, and liquid. Based on your needs and preferences you get to choose the ideal spray.

Applied twice a day, Lotrimin powder spray is particularly useful for men and women with sweaty feet due to high absorbency level. This also eliminates all the bad odors while preventing bacteria from spreading and aggravating the infection.

In Closing

Athlete’s foot is a common, yet a highly manageable problem. Sprays prove to be incredibly convenient for this infection, and there are plenty of options on the market. Consider the type of spray and your own needs before making a purchase. Tinactin proves to be the most valuable choice due to its strong efficacy, versatility, ease of use, and convenience. But don't forget, the best athlete's foot spray will be the one that fits in with your lifestyle and any of these 4 are a great choice.