Athletes Foot

Athlete’s foot is a bit of a troublemaker caused by one of three fungi—Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, and Epidermophyton floccosum. These fungi love to snack on the outer layer of your skin!

Here are the common ways to catch Athlete’s foot:

• Getting up close and personal with someone who’s already infected, or even some animals and everyday high-touch objects like door handles, gym equipment and money.
• Hanging out in moist conditions—a real playground for fungi.
• Some folks might be genetically more likely to catch it.
• If your immune system is weaker because of conditions like diabetes, HIV, or chemotherapy—those fungi might find it easier to move in.
• Diabetes and peripheral vascular disease can also up your risk.
• Walking barefoot in public places, like locker rooms, can definitely invite those fungi to your feet.

Your symptoms can vary depending on the type of athlete’s foot you have:

• Toe web infection often pops up between the fourth and fifth toes. You might notice the skin there becomes scaly, peels, and cracks. If a bacterial infection jumps in, the skin could break down even more.
• Moccasin-type infection might start with just a bit of soreness on your foot. Later, the skin on your sole or heel could thicken and start to crack. If it gets really serious, even your toenails might get infected.
• Vesicular infection typically begins with a sudden outbreak of fluid-filled blisters, usually on the sole of your foot, though they can show up anywhere. These blisters might also lead to a bacterial infection.

You can see an excellent photo gallery of Athlete’s foot here: https://skinsight.com/skin-conditions/athletes-foot-tinea-pedis/

Yes. Athlete’s foot and jock itch are both caused by the same type of fungus, known as tinea. These conditions get their names from where they appear on the body. On the feet, it’s called athlete’s foot (tinea pedis), and in the groin area (tinea cruris), it’s jock itch.

Because athlete’s foot can spread to other parts of your body, be careful not to touch or scratch the infected area and then other parts of your body without washing your hands.

Here are a couple of tips if you’re dealing with athlete’s foot:

• After bathing, make sure to dry your groin area before you dry your feet. This helps prevent the fungus from traveling from your feet to your groin.
• Put on your socks before your underwear. This simple step can help stop the fungus on your feet from spreading to your groin and potentially causing jock itch.

Managing athlete’s foot can often be done effectively at home using over-the-counter treatments and good foot hygiene. However, if you have diabetes or find your infections severe, recurring, or persistent, it’s best to consult your doctor.

Here’s how you can treat and prevent athlete’s foot:

1. Use Antifungal Medications: Opt for non-prescription antifungal treatments such as clotrimazole (Canesten), miconazole (Micatin), terbinafine (Lamisil), and tolnaftate (Tinactin). These are available as creams, lotions, gels, sprays, ointments, and powders. Apply as directed, usually for 1 to 6 weeks, and continue using the medication for the full course even after symptoms disappear.

2. Keep Your Feet Dry and Clean:

• Always dry between your toes after swimming or bathing.
• Consider using a hair dryer on a cool setting to dry affected areas thoroughly.
• Separate your toes with cotton balls to reduce moisture.

3. Choose the Right Footwear:

• Wear socks made from natural, absorbent materials or those designed to keep your feet dry.
• Opt for shoes or sandals that are not too tight and allow your feet to breathe.
• Change your socks daily, or more frequently if they become damp.
• Let your shoes air out for at least 24 hours before wearing them again.

4. Use Powders to Reduce Moisture:

• Apply an antifungal spray or foot powder to help absorb excess moisture.
• You can also use non-medicated powders, but avoid using cornstarch-based powders as they can feed the fungus.

5. Protect Your Feet in Public Places:

• Wear shower sandals in public pools and showers to prevent infection.
• Avoid walking barefoot in public areas to reduce exposure to fungal spores.

6. Handle Laundry Carefully:

• Wash socks and other items used by the infected person separately and frequently to prevent spreading the fungus.

7. Avoid Certain Products:

• Don’t use hydrocortisone cream on fungal infections unless prescribed by your doctor, as it can worsen the infection.

By following these steps, you can help treat and prevent athlete’s foot from becoming a recurring issue.

When it comes to treating fungal infections during pregnancy and breastfeeding, clotrimazole and miconazole are the go-to choices. These agents are generally considered safe. As for tolnaftate, it’s less clear how safe it is during pregnancy and breastfeeding, as it hasn’t been studied extensively in these situations. So, sticking with the more well-researched options is recommended. 

In general, when you apply antifungal creams or ointments to your skin, only a very small amount gets absorbed into your body if your skin is healthy. If you need treatment over a large area of skin while pregnant, it’s a good idea to check in with a healthcare provider for the best advice.

When to see your doctor or primary care provider:

1. High-Risk Conditions:
   • If you have diabetes, a weakened immune system (due to medication or disease), or poor blood flow in your limbs, it’s crucial to monitor any signs of infection closely.
   • Although rare, if a child under 12 develops symptoms of athlete’s foot, consult a healthcare provider.
2. Severe, Worsening or Symptoms Unresponsive to Treatment:
   • If a previous athlete’s foot infection did not fully clear up despite treatment.
   • If symptoms do not improve, or if new symptoms appear and the affected area grows.
   • If the infection covers a large area, is very red and swollen, leaks fluid, or is particularly painful or disabling.
   • If you show signs of a full-body infection, such as fever and fatigue. 
   • If you experience severe reactions to medications.
3. Nail Infections:
   • If athlete’s foot seems to be spreading to the nails, or if you notice any changes in your toenails or fingernails, especially if they start to thicken or crumble, a visit to your primary care provider is necessary for proper assessment and treatment.
4. Uncertain Diagnosis:
   • If you’re unsure about your diagnosis or if self-care measures don’t seem to help, seek further guidance from your healthcare provider to ensure appropriate treatment.