What is athlete’s foot?

Athlete’s foot — also called tinea pedis — is a contagious fungal infection that affects the skin on the feet. It can also spread to the toenails and the hands. The fungal infection is called athlete’s foot because it’s commonly seen in athletes.

Athlete’s foot isn’t serious, but sometimes it’s hard to cure. If you have diabetes or a weakened immune system and suspect you have athlete’s foot, you should call your doctor right away.

What causes athlete’s foot?

Athlete’s foot occurs when the tinea fungus grows on the feet. You can catch the fungus through direct contact with an infected person, or by touching surfaces contaminated with the fungus. The fungus thrives in warm, moist environments. It’s commonly found in showers, on locker room floors, and around swimming pools.

Who is at risk for athlete’s foot?

Anyone can get athlete’s foot, but certain behaviours increase your risk. Factors that increase your risk of getting athlete’s foot include:

·      visiting public places barefoot, especially locker rooms, showers, and swimming pools

·      sharing socks, shoes, or towels with an infected person

·      wearing tight, closed toe shoes

·      keeping your feet wet for long periods of time.

·      having sweaty feet

·      having a minor skin or nail injury on your foot

What are the symptoms of athlete’s foot?

There are many possible symptoms of athlete’s foot, which include:

·      itching, stinging, and burning between your toes or on soles of your feet

·      blisters on your feet that itch

·      cracking and peeling skin on your feet, most commonly between your toes and on your soles

·      dry skin on your soles or sides of your feet

·      raw skin on your feet

·      discoloured, thick, and crumbly toenails

·      toenails that pull away from the nail bed

How is athlete’s foot treated?

Athlete’s foot can often be treated with over-the-counter (OTC) topical antifungal medications, such as Lamisil. If OTC medications don’t treat your infection, your doctor may prescribe topical or oral prescription-strength antifungal medications. Your doctor may also recommend that you soak your feet in salt water or diluted vinegar to help dry up blisters.

Alternative therapy

Tea tree oil has been used as an alternative therapy for treating athlete’s foot with some success. A study from 2002 reported that a 50 percent solution of tea tree oil effectively treated athlete’s foot in 64 percent Trusted Source of trial participants.

Ask your doctor if a tea tree oil solution can help your athlete’s foot. Tea tree oil can cause contact dermatitis in some people.

Complications

Athlete’s foot can lead to complications in some cases. Mild complications include an allergic reaction to the fungus, which can lead to blistering on the feet or hands. It’s also possible for the fungal infection to return after treatment.

There can be more severe complications if a secondary bacterial infection develops. In this case, your foot might be swollen, painful, and hot. Pus, drainage, and fever are additional signs of a bacterial infection.

It’s also possible for the bacterial infection to spread to the lymph system. A skin infection could lead to infections of your lymphatic system or lymph nodes.

Long-term outlook

Athlete’s foot infections can be mild or severe. Some clear up quickly, and others last a long time. Athlete’s foot infections generally respond well to antifungal treatment. However, sometimes fungal infections are difficult to eliminate. Long-term treatment with antifungal medications may be necessary to keep athlete’s foot infections from returning.

Prevention

There are several things you can do to help prevent athlete’s foot infections:

·      Wash your feet with soap and water every day and dry them thoroughly, especially between the toes.

·      Wash socks, bedding and towels in water that’s 140°F (60°C) or higher. Combining washing socks and application of OTC antifungal recommendations should treat most cases of athlete’s foot. You can disinfect your shoes by using disinfectant wipes (like Clorox wipes) or sprays.

·      Put antifungal powder on your feet every day.

·      Don’t share socks, shoes, or towels with others.

·      Wear sandals in public showers, around public swimming pools, and in other public places.

·      Wear socks made out of breathable fibres, such as cotton or wool, or made out of synthetic fibres that wick moisture away from your skin.

·      Change your socks when your feet get sweaty.

·      Air out your feet when you are at home by going barefoot.

·      Wear shoes made of breathable materials.

·      Alternate between two pairs of shoes, wearing each pair every other day, to give your shoes time to dry out between uses. Moisture will allow the fungus to continue to grow.

Athlete’s foot (Tinea Pedis, [TP])

This is a type of fungus that has many forms. It appears mainly between the toes and may be either dry and scaly or wet and inflamed. However, it can also appear as dry skin on the sole or around the borders of the foot. Recognition is important as TP can spread over the foot and be very uncomfortable. If you suspect TP you can refer to the pharmacy for some Lamisil cream, or similar. I can only recommend anti-fungal cream or spray so would only confirm TP and refer on.