What is Athlete's Foot?
Athlete's Foot, known as tinea
pedis, is a very common fungal infection
that grows on human skin but especially the feet.
The fungus itself is called Trichophyton or
ringworm fungus. In fact, it is by
far the most common fungal infection of
the skin.
It affects mostly men of all ages as well as young
people and appears in the area between the toes, on
the soles of feet as well as in the fingernails and
toenails. This infection, once it takes hold, grows
and multiplies particularly in a dark, moist and warm
environment. Athlete's foot is very contagious and
may easily be picked up when walking barefoot in public
places. Up to 70% of the population will have
athlete's foot at some time during their lives.
Our skin is constantly being shed and this dead skin
drops off in small pieces all the time. If such skin
contains the athlete's foot fungus, then it can be
picked up on the bare feet of others and they in turn
can become infected. The infection can be spread to
other areas of the body, such as the armpits, knees,
elbows and the groin. It is usually called by a different
name once it spreads (such as jock
itch or tinea cruris for an infection of the skin
of the groin).
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Athlete's Foot - what does it look
like?
Athlete's Foot is a rash which appears on the foot
but does not always have the same appearance.
Other signs and symptoms include:
- burning sensation on the feet
- itching
- bumps on the feet
- cracked, blistered or peeling areas often between
the toes and especially the two smaller toes where
the rash starts to peel and crack.
- redness and scaling on the soles of the feet
- skin between the toes may look 'cheesy' and have
an unpleasant odor
- a rash that spreads to the instep
- blisters and sometimes there are single, small
patches of extremely itchy blisters
- raw skin from scratching (but please try not to
scratch!)
