goodtoknow says: You don't have to be an athlete to get athlete's foot, a fungal infection that loves to grow in the sweaty nooks and crannies of your body, particularly in between your toes. You can pick it up anywhere other sweaty feet have been such as swimming pools and changing rooms. Athlete's foot starts with itchy skin that then gets cracked. Use an anti fungal treatment quickly to avoid it spreading to your toenails. It's important to keep your skin clean and dry and always use your own towel to avoid spreading athlete's foot.
For a full medical explanation of the causes, symptoms and treatments of athlete's foot, read on.
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Athlete's foot is a skin infection caused by a fungus. Treatment with an antifungal cream usually works well. The tips given below may help to prevent recurrences.
Athlete's foot is a common fungal infection of the skin on the feet. Some types of fungus germs (fungi) are commonly found on human skin. They usually do no harm. However, if conditions are right they can 'invade' the skin, multiply, and cause infection. The conditions fungi like best are warm, moist and airless areas of skin such as between the toes.
Anyone can get athlete's foot. Athlete's foot can also be passed on from person to person. For example, this may occur in communal showers used by athletes or swimmers. A tiny flake of infected skin from a person with athlete's foot can fall off whilst showering. It may then be trodden on by others who can then develop the infection. Once a small patch of infection develops it typically spreads along the skin.
The skin between the little toes tends to be affected at first. A rash develops that becomes itchy and scaly. The skin may become cracked and sore. Tiny flakes of infected skin may fall off. The rash may spread gradually along the toes if left untreated. In some cases it spreads to the soles.
Usually not. Most people treat their itchy toes before it spreads. Sometimes the infection spreads to the skin on other parts of the body. These are usually the moist and airless parts of the skin such as the groin. Fungi do not usually go deeper than the skin into the body. However, other germs (bacteria) may enter through the cracked skin of untreated athlete's foot. This can occasionally cause more serious infections of the foot or leg (such as cellulitis of the leg).
The infection sometimes spreads to a nail. This can be treated. However, it takes several weeks of antifungal tablets to clear the infection from a nail. Therefore, it is best to treat athlete's foot as soon as symptoms start.
You can buy an antifungal cream from pharmacies, or get one on prescription. There are various types and brands. For example; terbinafine, clotrimazole, econazole, ketoconazole, miconazole, and sulconazole. These modern creams are good at clearing fungal skin infections.
An antifungal tablet is sometimes prescribed if the infection does not clear with a cream, or if the infection is severe, or if the infection is in many places on the skin in addition to the toes.
You do not need to stay away from work, school or sports. However, try to keep your feet covered in communal changing areas until the rash is gone. Also, try not to scratch the affected skin, as this may spread infection to other sites.