Athlete's foot is a fungal infection of the skin and the nails, usually found on the skin between the toes. When the infection spreads to the toenails, they become thick and distorted.
The Athlete's foot fungus, tinea pedis, feeds on chemicals in person's skin and typically affects the skin on the feet between the toes, but can move anywhere on the foot and can affect the toenails.
Fungi are plant organisms (tinea pedis) such as mold and mildew and grow best in conditions that are moist. Bacteria may thrive as a secondary infection, which worsens the symptoms of the disorder and makes it more difficult to cure. A fungal infection is one of the most difficult nail and foot conditions to treat.
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| Photomicrograph of a number of Epidermophyton floccosum macroconidia.
Epidermophyton floccosum is known to be a cause of dermatophytosis leading to athlete's foot and a fungal infection of the nail bed. |
It is common to catch athlete's foot from other people who have it by walking on floors that are moist or wet (e.g. at swimming pools and in shared bathroom facilities). Athlete's foot is also much more common in people who tend to have moist feet. Athlete's foot can also be spread by sharing other people's shoes or personal care items such as towels and wash cloths.
Athlete's foot and fungus may also spread to other parts of the body, notably the groin and underarms, by those who scratch their and then touch themselves elsewhere.
Symptoms include:
- On the skin:
- Reddened, cracked, and peeling skin
- Some bleeding
- Itching
- Burning
- Stinging sensation
- Development of small blisters (Blisters often lead to cracking of the skin. When blisters break, small raw areas of tissue are exposed, causing pain and swelling. Itching and burning may increase as the infection spreads. In severe cases the skin may thicken, like a callus, and begin to scale.)
- On the toe nail:
- Change in color (yellow or brown)
- Nail gets thicker
- Bad odor
- Debris collects beneath the nail
- White marks on the nail
Daily self-care treatments:
Bathe your feet at least once a day with soap and warm water. Dry thoroughly after bathing and keep your feet dry. Change socks frequently and buy socks that absorb moisture, such as cotton and wool. Expose your feet to the air for short periods of time throughout the day (do not walk barefoot, however). Wear sandals with open toes whenever possible.
Monthly treatments:
Schedule Footcare with a skilled medical technician who will evaluate the condition of your feet, trim and smooth your toenails, remove or smooth calluses and corns and maintain the over all good health of your feet.
There are a variety of over-the-counter products that can be used to treat the tinea pedis fungus, such as the following among others:
- Gordochom Fungicide-Germicide
- Restore® AF
- Tineacide®
