Tinea pedis produces asexual spores called conidia. As the skin cellls slough off, the carry the conidia with them. The conidia are able to survive for years, waiting for a new foot to infect.
Doctor Sofen, a dermatologist in Los Angeles wrote this:Other Treatment Tea tree oil, found in health food stores, can be applied to the feet to treat athlete's foot. Tea tree oil is an antifungal...