Athlete's Foot
Information From The American Podiatric
Medical Association
Athlete’s foot is a skin infection caused by a fungus, usually
occurring between the toes or on the soles of the feet.
The fungus most commonly attacks the feet because shoes create a warm,
dark, and humid environment, which encourages fungus growth. The warmth
and dampness of areas around swimming pools, showers, and locker rooms,
are also breeding grounds for fungi. Because the infection is common
among athletes who used these facilities frequently, the term “athlete’s
foot” became popular. Not all foot rashes
are athlete’s foot. In addition, other conditions, such as disturbances
of the sweat mechanism, reaction to dyes or adhesives in shoes, eczema,
and psoriasis, also may mimic athlete’s foot.
Symptoms
The signs of athlete’s foot can
include dry skin, itching, scaling, inflammation, and 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.
Athlete’s foot may spread to the
soles of the feet and to the toenails. It can be spread to other parts
of the body, notably the groin and underarms, by those who scratch the
infection and then touch themselves elsewhere. The fungus causing athlete’s
foot may persist for long periods, causing many recurrences of the infection.
For this reason, it’s important to have the condition treated
by a podiatric physician.
Prevention
Good foot hygiene is the best defense
against infection. Daily washing of the feet with soap and water; drying
carefully, especially between the toes; and changing shoes and hose
regularly to decrease moisture, help prevent the fungus from infecting
the feet. Also helpful is daily use of a quality foot powder in the
shoes.
Tips
• Avoid walking barefoot in public
areas; use shower shoes.
• Reduce perspiration by using foot powder in shoes.
• Wear shoes of leather or canvas, or perhaps nylon mesh, which
allow good air circulation; avoid rubber or plastic shoes; change to
a different pair of shoes each day if you perspire heavily.
• Wear socks that keep your feet dry, and
change them frequently if you perspire heavily.
Treatment
There are many effective
medications that can be used to treat and help control fungal infections.
Consult Your Podiatrist
If, after proper foot
hygiene and self care, there is no improvement, consult your podiatrist.
The 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’s shortened,
failure of the treatment is common.
If the infection is
caused by bacteria, an antibiotic may be prescribed.