Athlete's Foot: Causes, Symptoms, Types, Risk Factors, Diagnosis, Treatment, Prevention and Complications

Athlete's foot, also known as tinea pedis, frequently begins between the toes. It is more common in people with very sweaty feet and those who wear tight-fitting shoes.

One of the defining characteristics of an athlete's foot is an itchy, scaly rash that is spread by contaminated towels, clothing, or surfaces.

Athlete's foot is closely connected to other fungi infections including jock itch and ringworm. Antifungal medications can be used to treat it, but the infection often comes back.

Causes Of Athlete's Foot

Athlete's foot is brought on by the same fungus (dermatophytes) that causes ringworm and jock itch. The growth of the organisms is favored by moist socks, shoes, and warm, humid environments.

It is possible for an athlete's foot to spread through contact with an infected person or from touching contaminated objects, including towels, floors, and shoes. Additionally, it can spread from the foot to other areas of the body, particularly if you pick at or scrape the infected areas of your foot.

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Symptoms Of Athlete's Foot

One or both feet may be impacted by the athlete's foot. Common indications and symptoms include:

• Between the toes skin becomes dry, peeling, or cracked
• Itching, particularly right after taking off shoes and socks
• Depending on your skin tone, inflamed skin may seem crimson, purple, or grayish
• Stinging or burning sensation
• Blisters
• On the bottom of the foot, there is dry, scaly skin that climbs the side

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Types Of Athlete's foot

The sort of athlete's foot you have will determine your symptoms.

• Toe Web Infection-  Athlete's foot is most frequently associated with a toe web infection. The skin between your ring and pinky toes, which are your fourth and fifth toes, is frequently affected. It's possible for your skin to crack, flake, or change color.
• Moccasin-type Infection- Moccasin-type infections attack the edges, heels, and bottoms of your foot. You can get foot pain for a few days. Your foot's bottom skin then becomes thicker and begins to crack. Your toenails may become infected in unusual circumstances. They might become thicker, splinter, and expel themselves in fragments.
• Vesicular-type infection- Although it usually affects the bottoms of the feet, this form of infection can occur anywhere on the foot. Vesicles, or lumps or blisters filled with fluid, are signs of a vesicular-type illness.
• Ulcerative infection- The least common form of athlete's foot is an ulcerative infection. Between the toes, open sores (ulcers) frequently develop. Your feet's bottoms may potentially develop open sores.

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Risk Factors Of Athlete's Foot

You have a greater chance of developing athlete's foot if you:

• Often wear enclosed shoes 
• Heavy sweating
• Share rugs, mats, bed sheets, clothing, or shoes with someone who has a fungal infection.
• Go barefoot in public spaces where the infection might proliferate, such as showers, saunas, swimming pools, and public baths.

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Diagnosis Of Athlete's foot

Depending on how it looks, your doctor might be able to identify the athlete's foot. Athletes' feet can occasionally resemble dermatitis or dry skin. 

Your doctor may take a skin scrape from the affected region to be tested in a laboratory to assist in confirming the diagnosis and rule out other illnesses.

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Treatment Of Athlete's Foot

You may need to visit a doctor to obtain a prescription-strength cream or ointment such as clotrimazole, econazole (Ecoza), or ciclopirox (Loprox) if your athlete's foot doesn't improve after using over-the-counter remedies and self-care.

If your infection is more severe, your doctor may advise you to take antifungal medications like terbinafine or itraconazole (Sporanox, Tolsura) or you might require both oral and topical medication.

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Prevention Of Athlete's Foot

You can prevent getting athlete's foot or transmitting it to others by following these recommendations:

• Give your feet a chance to breathe. When possible, wear sandals to let as much air as possible reach your feet.
• Every day, wash your feet. Rinse and dry your feet completely, paying careful attention to the space between your toes, using warm, soapy water. If you are prone to athlete's foot, use a medicated foot powder (such as Tinactin, Gold Bond, or others) or another medicinal powder (such as Lotrimin AF, Zeasorb, or others).
• Socks should be changed frequently. At least once a day, and more frequently if your feet start to perspire heavily, you should change your socks. Your feet will stay dryer with cotton-based socks as opposed to those made of nylon since they wick moisture away.
• Wear different pairs of shoes. Change your shoes daily. This allows your shoes to dry out between wearings.
• Keep your feet covered when you are in public. Wear water-resistant sandals or shoes around public pools, showers, and locker rooms.
• Recognize the circumstances that make the spread of the disease more likely. If you share a home with others, avoid sharing soiled clothes, shoes, or towels.

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Complications Of Athlete's Foot

The infection that causes an athlete's foot can spread to other warm, wet areas of the body. The same fungus that causes an athlete's foot also frequently causes a jock itch. 

Because the fungus can move from feet to groin on hands or towels, this infection frequently moves from feet to groin. Bacterial infections can occasionally result from athlete's foot.

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