Athletes Foot (Tinea Pedis)

---

Athlete’s foot — also called tinea pedis — is a contagious fungal infection that affects the skin on the feet.  It can also spread to the toenails and the hands. The fungal infection is called athlete’s foot because it’s commonly seen in athletes.

Athlete’s foot isn’t serious, but sometimes it’s hard to cure. If you have diabetes or a weakened immune system and suspect you have athlete’s foot, you should call your doctor right away.

Anyone can get athlete’s foot, but certain behaviors increase your  risk. Factors that increase your risk of getting athlete’s foot include:

• visiting public places barefoot, especially locker rooms, showers, and swimming pools
• sharing socks, shoes, or towels with an infected person
• wearing tight, closed-toe shoes
• keeping your feet wet for long periods of time
• having sweaty feet
• having a minor skin or nail injury on your foot

There are many possible symptoms of athlete’s foot, which include:

• itching, stinging, and burning between your toes or on soles of your feet
• blisters on your feet that itch
• cracking and peeling skin on your feet, most commonly between your toes and on your soles
• dry skin on your soles or sides of your feet
• raw skin on your feet
• discolored, thick, and crumbly toenails
• toenails that pull away from the nail bed

A doctor may diagnose athlete’s foot by the symptoms. Or, a doctor  may order a skin test if they aren’t sure a fungal infection is causing  your symptoms.

A skin lesion potassium hydroxide exam is the most common test for athlete’s foot. A doctor scrapes off a  small area of infected skin and places it in potassium hydroxide. The  KOH destroys normal cells and leaves the fungal cells untouched so they  are easy to see under a microscope.

Athlete’s foot can often be treated with proper medications.  Your doctor may prescribe topical or oral prescription-strength  antifungal medications. Your doctor may also recommend home treatments  to help clear up the infection. 

Some of the prescription medications your doctor may prescribe for athlete’s foot include:

• topical, prescription-strength clotrimazole or miconazole
• oral antifungal medications such as itraconazole (Sporanox), fluconazole (Diflucan), or prescription-strength terbinafine (Lamisil)
• topical steroid medications to reduce painful inflammation
• oral antibiotics if bacterial infections develop due to raw skin and blisters

Athlete’s foot can lead to complications in some cases. Mild  complications include an allergic reaction to the fungus, which can lead  to blistering on the feet or hands. It’s also possible for the fungal  infection to return after treatment.

There can be more severe  complications if a secondary bacterial infection develops. In this case,  your foot might be swollen, painful, and hot. Pus, drainage, and fever are additional signs of a bacterial infection.

It’s also possible for the bacterial infection to spread to the lymph system. A skin infection could lead to infections of your lymphatic system or lymph nodes.

Athlete’s foot infections can be mild or severe. Some clear up quickly,  and others last a long time. Athlete’s foot infections generally respond  well to antifungal treatment. However, sometimes fungal infections are  difficult to eliminate. Long-term treatment with antifungal medications  may be necessary to keep athlete’s foot infections from returning.