Athlete's Foot
Athlete's foot is a very common skin
condition--many people will develop it at least once in their lives. It occurs
mostly among teenage and adult males. It is uncommon in women and children under
the age of 12. If a child displays what appears to be the symptoms of athlete's
foot, chances are it's another skin condition. Athlete's foot should not be
ignored--it can be easily treated, but it also can be very resistant to
treatment.
Athlete's foot is a term used to describe what really is a form of fungus
infection of the feet. The correct term for athlete's foot is tinea pedis. The
fungi that cause it are living germs, like small plants, that grow and multiply
on all humans. Some people may actually have the fungus on their skin, but
unless the conditions are agreeable, athlete's foot will not develop. Why some
people develop athlete's foot and others don't is not clearly known.
Athlete's foot does not occur among people who traditionally go barefoot. It's
moisture, sweating and lack of proper ventilation of the feet that present the
perfect setting for the fungus of athlete's foot to grow.
Why does athlete's foot develop?
The fungi that cause athlete's foot like to grow in moist, damp places. Sweaty
feet, not drying feet well after swimming or bathing, tight shoes and socks, and
a warm climate all contribute to the development of athlete's foot.
It's commonly believed that athlete's foot is highly contagious -- that you can
easily catch it from walking barefoot in the locker room. This is not true.
Experiments to infect healthy skin with athlete's foot have failed and often one
family member may have it without infecting others living in the same house.
What does athlete's foot look like?
Athlete's foot may affect different people in different ways. In some, the skin
between the toes (especially the last two toes) peels, cracks and scales. In
others, there is redness, scaling and even blisters on the soles and along the
sides of the feet. These skin changes may be accompanied by itching.
Toenail infections can also occur and can be very stubborn to treat. Toenail
infections result in scaling, crumbling and thickening of the nails and even
nail loss.
Not all rashes on the feet are athlete's foot. Before treating a foot rash
yourself, check with your dermatologist, who can diagnose the condition and
prescribe the correct medication. Using over-the-counter preparations on a rash
that is not athlete's foot may make your condition worse. If athlete's foot
isn't treated, it can result in skin blisters and cracks that can lead to
bacterial infections.
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| Athlete's foot (tinea pedis) | Athlete's foot (tinea pedis) | Athlete's foot (tinea pedis) |
How is athlete's foot diagnosed?
Your dermatologist will examine your feet. This examination may include a
scraping of the skin on your feet. The skin scales are then examined under a
microscope or placed in special substances to look for growth of the fungus.
How is athlete's foot treated?
Once the fungus is diagnosed, treatment should begin immediately. For simple
cases, anti-fungal creams may be prescribed. The creams can relieve the symptoms
fairly quickly. In more severe cases, your dermatologist may prescribe foot
soaks before applying antifungal creams. If your athlete's foot is stubborn,
antifungal pills may be prescribed. Toenail infections are very difficult to
treat. Research is ongoing to try to find effective ways to treat toenail fungal
infections.
It's important to continue the use of your prescribed antifungal creams and to
take all medication. While your skin may look better, the infection can remain
for some time afterwards and could recur.
What is the best way to prevent athlete's foot?
You can prevent athlete's foot by following some simple rules:
