Athlete’s foot is a skin disease caused by a fungus, usually occurring between the toes. The fungus most commonly attacks the feet because shoes create a warm, dark, and humid environment, which encourages fungus growth. Not all fungus conditions are athlete’s foot. Other conditions, such as disturbances of the sweat mechanism, reaction to dyes or adhesives in shoes, eczema, and psoriasis, may mimic athlete’s foot. Athlete’s foot may spread to the soles of the feet and to the toenails. Those who scratch the infection and then touch themselves elsewhere can spread it to other parts of the body, notably the groin and underarms. The organisms causing athlete’s foot may persist for long periods. Consequently, the infection may be spread by contaminated bed sheets or clothing to other parts of the body. If an apparent fungus condition does not respond to proper foot hygiene, come in and see our podiatrist immediately.
The signs of athlete’s foot include:
- Dry skin
- Itching and burning, which may increase as the infection spreads
- Scaling
- Inflammation
- Blisters, which often lead to cracking of the skin. When blisters break, small raw areas of tissue are exposed, causing pain and swelling.
Our podiatrist will determine if a fungus is the cause of the problem. If it is, a specific treatment plan, including the prescription of antifungal medication, applied topically or taken by mouth, will usually be suggested. Such a treatment appears to provide better resolution of the problem when the patient observes the course of treatment prescribed by the podiatrist; if it is shortened, failure of the treatment is common. Fungicidal and fungistatic chemicals, used for athlete’s foot treatment, frequently fail to contact the fungi in the horny layers of the skin. Topical or oral antifungal drugs are prescribed with growing frequency. If the infection is caused by bacteria, antibiotics that are effective against a broad spectrum of bacteria, such as penicillin, may be prescribed. It is important to keep the feet dry by dusting foot powder in shoes and hose. The feet should be bathed frequently and all areas around the toes dried thoroughly.
It is not easy to prevent athlete’s foot because it is usually contracted in dressing rooms, showers, and swimming pool locker rooms where bare feet are exposed to the fungus. However, you can do much to prevent infection by practicing good foot hygiene:
- Wash feet daily with soap and water; dry carefully, especially between the toes
- Avoid walking barefoot; use shower shoes
- Reduce perspiration by using talcum powder
- Wear light and airy shoes
- Change shoes and hose regularly to decrease moisture
- Wear socks that keep your feet dry, and change them frequently if you perspire heavily