Hello, This is Dr. Papaqako answering your question. Thank you for posting your question to HCM. Metronidazole does not cure athlete s foot. This because it is not an antifungal medication like Tolnaftate is. So I would not recommend using metronidalzole in your case. I would also recommend to treat your athlete s foot, since it may spread in other areas of the body, or to other people if it is let untreated. I sorry to say that sometimes it requires indeed a long time to get healed especially if factors like humidity in the feet, continues to be present. If I was your caring doctor I would recommend: 1) keep the area clean and dry, as much as possible 2) use absorbent socks like cotton that wick water away from your feet and don t use occlusive shoe materials, such as vinyl, cause the feet to remain moist, providing an excellent area for the fungus to breed. 3) A homemade remedy of dilute white vinegar soaks, using one part vinegar and roughly four parts water, once or twice a day as 10-minute foot soaks may aid in treatment. 4) Powders, especially medicated powders (such as with miconazole [Lotrimin] or tolnaftate [Tinactin]) may help too. 5) Many medications are available, including miconazole, econazole nitrate (Spectazole), clotrimazole (Lotrimin), terbinafine (Lamisil) sprays and creams, and ketoconazole shampoo and cream (Nizoral), etc. Treatment for athlete s foot should generally be continued for four weeks or at least one week after all of the skin symptoms have cleared. Hope this helps, Take care.