Athletes Foot
What is Athlete’s foot?
Athlete’s foot is the common name given for tinea pedis, which means a fungal infection of the skin on your feet.
Athletes foot symptoms
The most common symptoms are dry scaly patterns on the feet. Most people think this is just dry skin, which can often be the case, but the scaly dryness is usually the giveaway. In addition to this, you can develop itchy red bumps that can also form very small blisters (pustules). The most common area to find Athlete’s foot is in the webbing of the 5th toes.
Causes of Athlete’s foot
It would have to transfer to your foot somehow. So this would most likely be from being barefoot in a gym, changing room, or sharing shoes with someone with Athlete’s foot.
When to seek treatments for Athlete's foot?
If you notice dry scaly patterns on your feet that gradually reappear despite using moisturiser, or if you have red or itchy areas on your feet.
Athlete’s foot treatments
If you have Athlete’s foot you will want to treat the skin, your socks and shoes. The skin can be treated with antifungal cream daily, the shoes and socks with antifungal spray after each use. Ensure that you wash your socks at 60 degrees and change them daily. Wash and dry your feet thoroughly before applying the antifungal cream.
Frequently asked questions
Try to avoid walking barefoot in public areas. Wash your feet and socks every day.
Antifungal creams are highly effective and low cost. You can pick some up at your local pharmacy and apply it once a day. Diagnosis is made clinically but skin scraping can be performed if the diagnosis is not certain.
The most common fungus is called trichophyton rubrum but trichophyton mentagrophytes and epidermophyton floccosum can also be found.
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Thoughts and advice on foot health care from the Podogo team.
