What are the other Names for this Condition? (Also known as/Synonyms)

• Dermatophytosis of Foot
• Epidermophytosis Pedis
• Tinea Pedis

What is Athlete's Foot? (Definition/Background Information)

• Athlete’s Foot is a fungal infection that affects the feet, especially the toes and the spaces in between them
• The group of fungus causing the infection are called dermatophytes (specifically of the Trichophyton genus)
• This disease requires a warm, dark, and moist environment (such as the inside of a shoe), in order for the fungus to grow and thrive

Who gets Athlete's Foot? (Age and Sex Distribution)

• Athlete’s Foot may affect individuals of any age, race, or gender; it is a non-specific disease
• However, it is generally seen with a higher incidence in males
• Children are rarely affected, although an increased incidence in them is noted after puberty

What are the Risk Factors for Athlete's Foot? (Predisposing Factors)

The potential risk factors for Athlete’s Foot are:

• Walking barefoot frequently in wet/damp public places, such as swimming pools, community bath/shower areas, locker rooms, fields, and farms
• Wearing wet (sports) shoes, socks, sweaty and tight-fitting footwear
• Sharing items like rugs, bed linens, footwear, bath towels, with someone affected by Athlete’s Foot
• Neglecting fungal infections at other locations of the body
• Men are more prone to contract the infection than women
• There seems to be a greater susceptibility to the infection, if the host has a weak immune system

It is important to note that having a risk factor does not mean that one will get the condition. A risk factor increases ones chances of getting a condition compared to an individual without the risk factors. Some risk factors are more important than others.

Also, not having a risk factor does not mean that an individual will not get the condition. It is always important to discuss the effect of risk factors with your healthcare provider.

What are the Causes of Athlete's Foot? (Etiology)

• A fungus organism, called Trichophyton or Epidermophyton, transmitted in wet-warm areas, incubates on the foot when conditions are favorable causing Athlete’s Foot
• Athlete’s Foot can spread through direct contact with an infected individual, or by sharing things with an affected individual

What are the Signs and Symptoms of Athlete's Foot?

Athlete’s Foot signs and symptoms include:

• Itching, scaling, and redness of the affected skin
• Burning and stinging sensation
• Cracking and peeling of skin exposing the raw, tender skin and tissue inside, which get inflamed and painfully swollen
• Blister formation
• Soles and sides of the feet may appear dry and parched

How is Athlete's Foot Diagnosed?

Athlete’s Foot is visually recognizable and the physician may conclude based on a simple physical examination of the condition. However, since it presents similarities to other skin conditions, it is normally confirmed by the following diagnostic tests:

• Potassium hydroxide test (KOH test)
• Performing a biopsy on the affected skin sample
• Fungal culture of skin scrapings
• Wood’s lamp test (using ultraviolet rays to check fluorescence properties of the infection)

Many clinical conditions may have similar signs and symptoms. Your healthcare provider may perform additional tests to rule out other clinical conditions to arrive at a definitive diagnosis.

What are the possible Complications of Athlete's Foot?

The complications due to Athlete’s Foot may include:

• The infection may spread to other regions like groin, torso, limbs, etc.
• The infection can affect the toenails and fingernails (tinea unguium)
• Recurrence of the infection
• Risk of other bacterial infections affecting the body, like cellulitis
• The lymph nodes may become infected by bacteria leading to lymphadenitis or lymphangitis
• Sometimes, as the fungal infection is being treated, certain proteins cause allergic reactions by way of blister formations on the sides of the toes and fingers (called an ‘id’ reaction)

How is Athlete's Foot Treated?

Treatment measures for Athlete’s Foot include:

• Most skin-related fungal infections respond well to immediate treatment with topical antifungal creams and medicated dry powder applications, such as miconazole, clotrimazole, terbinafine, and tolnaftate
• If the condition does not respond to over-the-counter topical medications, then the physician might consider prescription topical medications, or oral medications
• Personal hygiene and self-care is essential, components of which include:
  • Washing the feet with soap and water; keeping the area completely dry and clean
  • Wearing clean cotton socks and dry footwear; changing the socks as often as is required
• In order to avoid recurrence of the infection, the antifungal topical creams  have to be applied for an extended period of time (minimum two weeks), even after the condition has been controlled
• Sometimes, Athlete’s Foot may completely resolve without any treatment, with personal hygiene alone

How can Athlete's Foot be Prevented?

Some basic steps to ensure that Athlete’s Foot is kept in check, particularly if you fall in any of the high-risk categories, are:

• Try to avoid being barefoot in public places that could be potentially wet (like the gym, fitness rooms, pools, other community areas) and protect the soles of feet and toes, adequately using proper waterproof footwear
• If you habitually frequent wet (public) areas or are specifically vulnerable to the condition, then use an antifungal powder on the feet daily
• Use clean socks and shoes, and use shoes that are light and airy (ventilated). Avoid wearing the same pair continuously each day, change or rotate pairs
• Avoid socks or shoes made from synthetic materials
• Keep feet clean and dry. Being barefoot (while at home, or when possible in dry places) ventilates the spaces between the toes, and this is recommended
• Fungal infections transmit through contact, hence avoid sharing shoes and socks
• Treat any fungal infection immediately and prevent them from spreading to other regions of the body

What is the Prognosis of Athlete's Foot? (Outcomes/Resolutions)

• Depending on the severity of the infection and treatment measures followed, Athlete’s Foot may last anywhere between 2-4 weeks, and sometimes even longer
• It responds very well to antifungal treatment and good self-hygiene, but the same measures have to be continued even after all signs of infection have ceased, in order to prevent its recurrence
• If the infection spreads to other parts of the body or other secondary bacterial infections arise, then an extended course of treatment may be necessary

Additional and Relevant Useful Information for Athlete's Foot:

Individuals with diabetes or other immunodeficiency-related diseases should seek medical advice immediately if they develop Athlete’s Foot.