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The characteristic rash developed along with the clinical presentation is enough to make a presumptive diagnosis of the Athlete’s foot. However, the treating physician may order a skin test for microscopic examination.
Athlete’s Foot: What is it and how to prevent it?
Athlete’s foot or tinea pedis or fungal infection of foot (foot fungal)
Athlete’s Foot is a fungal infection of the foot which occurs in men, women, and children of all ages. It is not restricted to only athletes. Rather, it is so named as athletes generally sweat more. Moreover, they wear tight-fitting shoes. This predisposes the foot to the humid conditions inside the shoes. As a result, they are more prone to developing fungal infections. Fungal spores are present in the environment around us. On finding suitable moist and humid conditions, these spores germinate and give rise to fungal growth. They are composed of fine filamentous hyphae. Multiple hyphae coalesce to form a mycelium.
The athlete’s foot is a form of superficial fungal infection called dermatophytes (dermato-skin, phytos-to grow) which are generally restricted to the epidermis and dermis. They feed on keratin protein found in nails (tinea unguis), skin (named according to the body part involved) and hair. They are commonly responsible for causing Jock Itch (in the groin, also called tinea cruris), over the scalp (tinea capitis) or generalized (over the body, tinea corporis).
Athlete’s foot: How does it develop?
This condition has certain predisposing factors which makes some people more vulnerable to contracting it. Immunodeficiency states, chronic debilitating conditions like Diabetes mellitus and palmoplantar hyperhidrosis (generally idiopathic) have been implicated. Besides, poor hygiene practices like failure to periodically change socks (in case of Athlete’s foot) and undergarments (in other cases of dermatophytosis) are responsible. Athlete’s foot is contagious (through direct contact). Sharing of contaminated personal towels, shoes may result in the spread of disease to healthy contacts. Walking barefoot in public places like swimming pool locker rooms, showers, gymnasiums, etc are also documented risk factors.
athlete’s foot symptoms
People with Athlete’s foot generally experience the following:
- Painful blisters between the toes and fingers of the feet.
- Mild itching or a pruritic rash that has a burning sensation. It may ulcerate or bleed with a sanguineous or serous discharge.
- Dry soles and feet which may crack and develop fissures.
- Thick discolored nails that may crumble and easily be peeled off.
- Complications include spread to other sites (by repeated scratching of the infected site) for e.g. to the groin (tinea cruris). It may also spread adjacently to the nails causing tinea unguis and weakening of attachment to the nail bed. People with Diabetes or on immunosuppressant drugs may have chronic non-healing ulcers as well.
Diagnosing Athlete’s Foot
The characteristic rash developed along with the clinical presentation is enough to make a presumptive diagnosis of the Athlete’s foot. However, the treating physician may order a skin test for microscopic examination.
Skin scrapings are examined under a 10% KOH mount (Potassium hydroxide) which stains the fungal mycelium but spares the epidermal cells of the skin.
athlete’s foot treatment
Maintaining feet hygiene is of utmost importance.
Wearing soft, comfortable cotton socks and changing them every day is beneficial. One must avoid occlusive rubber/vinyl shoes which lead to retention of heat and promote fungal growth. Dabbing the feet dry after a bathe and ensuring that they are dried is also recommended.
For some individuals who perspire excessively, antiperspirants like 20% aluminium chloride (Drysol) help reduce the sweating. Medical management includes treatment with topical antifungal creams, oral antifungal medications, and powders. They include clotrimazole, luliconazole, sertaconazole creams. Oral capsules include griseofulvin, itraconazole, ketoconazole, ciclopirox. Ketoconazole soaps are available as well. Besides, clotrimazole powder is also available for topical application.
Topical steroid creams are contraindicated. They may worsen the infection and lower the body’s immune defenses to fight against the invading fungal organisms. They are primarily used for treating noninfectious causes of athlete’s foot.
Treatment must at least be continued up to one month and one week after the disappearance of visible lesions of the disease to prevent the recurrence of latent disease.
Athlete’s Foot (Tinea Pedis)
Athlete’s foot is a contagious fungal infection that causes different itchy skin issues on your feet. An itchy, stinging, burning rash forms on infected skin. Athlete’s foot treatment can stop the fungus from spreading and clear it up.
Overview
What is athlete’s foot?
Athlete’s foot is a common fungal infection (caused by a fungus). Athlete’s foot causes an itchy, stinging, burning rash on the skin on one or both of your feet. Athlete’s foot is most common between your toes, but it can also affect the tops of your feet, the soles of your feet and your heels. Your skin may become scaly and cracked or develop blisters. Sometimes, your feet smell bad.
Athlete’s foot is a form of ringworm. “Tinea pedis” is another name for athlete’s foot. “Tinea” is another name for ringworm, and “pedis” means foot or feet.
What does athlete’s foot look like?
Athlete’s foot can affect the skin between your toes, the bottoms of your feet, the tops of your feet, the edges of your feet and your heels. Your skin may appear irritated (red, purple, gray or white), scaly or flaky.
Who is at risk?
Athlete’s foot affects everyone. However, it most commonly affects men (and people assigned male at birth) and people over the age of 60. You may be more likely to develop athlete’s foot if you have:
- Diabetes.
- Obesity.
- A weakened immune system.
- Tissue damage or wounds on your feet.
How common is athlete’s foot?
Athlete’s foot is common. Estimates suggest that 3% to 15% of the population has athlete’s foot, and 70% of the population will have athlete’s point at some time in their lives.
Symptoms and Causes
What are the symptoms of athlete’s foot?
Symptoms of athlete’s foot include:
- Cracked and peeling skin.
- Itchy skin.
- A skin rash.
- A burning sensation.
What are the different types of athlete’s foot?
Your symptoms depend on the type of athlete’s foot that you have.
- Toe web infection: A toe web infection is the most common type of athlete’s foot. It typically affects the skin between your fourth toe (ring toe) and fifth toe (pinkie toe). Your skin may change color, crack, peel or flake.
- Moccasin-type infection: A moccasin-type infection affects the bottoms of your feet, your heels and the edges of your feet. Your feet may be sore for a few days. Then, the skin on the bottoms of your feet thickens and cracks. In rare cases, your toenails may get infected. They can thicken, break into small pieces and fall out.
- Vesicular-type infection: A vesicular-type infection typically affects the bottoms of your feet, but it may appear anywhere on your feet. A vesicular-type infection features bumps or fluid-filled blisters (vesicles).
- Ulcerative infection: An ulcerative infection is the rarest type of athlete’s foot. Open sores (ulcers) often appear between the toes. Open sores may also appear on the bottoms of your feet.
What causes athlete’s foot?
Several different species of fungi cause athlete’s foot.
It commonly spreads through skin-to-skin contact or contact with a flake of skin. It spreads in areas used by large groups of people, like locker rooms, swimming pools and saunas.
It can also spread through contact with an infected surface. You can get athlete’s foot by sharing towels, socks or shoes with someone who has athlete’s foot.
Is athlete’s foot contagious?
Athlete’s foot is contagious. It’s a fungus that grows on or in your skin. Fungi (plural form of fungus) need warm temperatures and moisture to grow. People often wear socks and tight shoes every day, which keep their feet warm and moist. This is the perfect environment for athlete’s foot to grow.
Diagnosis and Tests
How is athlete’s foot diagnosed?
Your healthcare provider can typically diagnose athlete’s foot by examining your feet and symptoms.
What tests will be done to diagnose athlete’s foot?
In some cases, your healthcare provider may remove a small piece of skin (biopsy) and test it in a lab. Several drops of a potassium hydroxide (KOH) solution dissolve the skin cells so only fungal cells are visible.
Management and Treatment
How do I treat athlete’s foot?
Over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription antifungal creams, ointments, gels, sprays or powders effectively treat athlete’s foot. These products contain clotrimazole, miconazole, tolnaftate or terbinafine.
Some prescription antifungal medications for athlete’s foot are pills. These pills contain fluconazole, itraconazole or terbinafine.
It’s important to finish your full course of medicine. If you stop too soon, your athlete’s foot may come back and be harder to treat.
How do I manage my athlete’s foot symptoms?
Keep your feet dry, clean and cool. If possible, don’t wear socks or shoes. Avoid scratching your feet. Scratching your feet may cause the fungus to spread to other parts of your body.
How soon after treatment will I feel better?
With proper diagnosis and treatment, your athlete’s foot should go away in one to eight weeks. Follow your healthcare provider’s instructions.
It’s important to finish your full course of medicine. During the early healing stages, itchiness and irritation will fade. Even if your symptoms go away, you may still have athlete’s foot. If you don’t finish your full course of medicine, your athlete’s foot can come back and be harder to treat.
What will happen if athlete’s foot is left untreated?
Athlete’s foot can spread across the bottom of your foot. This is moccasin athlete’s foot. In feet with moccasin athlete’s foot, the skin on the bottoms, heels and edges of your feet are dry, itchy and scaly.
In severe cases of athlete’s foot, you may develop fluid-filled blisters or open sores. Blisters often appear on the bottoms of your feet, but they may develop anywhere on your feet. Open sores often appear between your toes, but they may appear on the bottoms of your feet. Your feet may also smell bad.
Athlete’s foot doesn’t typically go away on its own. If it’s left untreated, it can spread to other areas of your body, including your:
- Nails: Fungal nail infections can be more difficult to treat. They’re often more resistant to many treatments.
- Hands: A similar fungal infection can spread to your hands. This happens when you scratch your infected feet or use the same towel to dry off your infected feet and hands.
- Groin: The same fungus that causes athlete’s foot can also spread to your groin. It’s a condition called jock itch. The fungus typically spreads from your feet to your groin after using a towel to dry off after bathing or swimming.