Athlete’s Foot

Athlete’s Foot or Tinea Pedis is among the most well-known fungal infections of the foot. It got nicknamed so due to its tendency to affect athletes who wear tight-fitting athletic footgear without ample air-circulation. Such conditions provide a rich breeding ground for the fungus responsible for this condition. Athlete's foot, however, is not restricted to athletes alone and may affect anyone irrespective of their age and shoe type.

How can you tell if you have Athlete’s Foot?

The symptoms for Athlete’s Foot may manifest in different manners. It can sometimes take the shape of an itchy, burning rash with redness, odor, scaling and peeling skin or blisters that could look like pimples. Athlete’s foot between the toes looks like skin which is pale and has been overexposed to moisture from sweat.

A person suffering from chronic athlete's foot has a rash covering the entire soles and sides of the feet. The rash has fine, scaling skin. Frequent contact with hand during scratching the foot can lead to the infection spreading to the foot as well.

Acute athlete’s foot sufferers generally experience blisters/peeling skin with more intense redness.

What causes the condition?

Dermatophytes, i.e. fungi that infect the skin, nails, and hair causes Athlete's Foot. Yeast can also cause foot infections and rashes between the toes. Individuals prone to Athlete's Foot are often also subject to toenail fungal infections caused by the same fungal breed. Then again, some people are genetically predisposed to developing an Athlete's Foot. Steroidal medication, cancer, and diabetes also hamper our immunoactivity enough to leave us vulnerable to this fungal infection. Sweat worsens your chances of developing athlete’s foot as the humidity it causes inside your shoe makes it perfect for the growth of fungal entities.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Athlete’s foot is frequently self-diagnosed and treated with OTC medicines. If OTC medication fails to provide sufficient relief, professional medical help should be sought. Do seek treatment if peeling, pain, cracked skin, blistering and intense redness is part of the symptoms experienced. At times other conditions may mimic the symptoms of an athlete’s foot and it does well to have it checked out with a KOH prep or culture.

Anti-fungal creams containing terbinafine and butenafine as active ingredients are effective in fighting the fungi that cause Tinea Pedis. When using boots/sneakers, use anti-fungal sprays and powders.

Can you prevent Athlete’s Foot?

Yes, you can. You can follow the suggestions listed below –

• Go barefoot indoors

• Wash your feet every day
  
  
  

• Change sweaty socks

• Use moisture-wicking synthetic socks instead of cotton ones

• Wear sneakers with breathable fabric allowing for air ventilation

• Air your shoes out after usage

• Wear sandals from time to time, airing your feet out

At Phoenix Family Medical Clinic, we treat Athlete’s Foot along with other foot fungal infections. If you find that you are being unable to treat your Athlete’s Foot with OTC anti-fungal creams, come to us and verify if there are other underlying health conditions which are mimicking the symptoms of Athlete’s Foot.

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