Athlete's Foot

1. What is athlete's foot?
Athlete's foot is a very common skin condition. It occurs mostly among teenage and adult males. It is uncommon in women and children under the age of 12. If a child displays what appears to be the symptoms of athlete's foot, chances are it's another skin condition.

Athlete's foot is a term used to describe what really is a form of fungus infection of the feet. The correct term for athlete's foot is tinea pedis. Why some people develop athlete's foot and others do not is not clearly known.

Athelete's foot does not occur among people who traditionally go barefoot. It's moisture, sweating and lack of proper ventilation of the feet that present the perfect setting for the fungus of athelete's foot to grow.

2. Why does athlete's foot develop?
The fungi that cause athlete's foot like to grow in moist, damp places. Sweaty feet, not drying feet well after swimming or bathing, tight shoes and socks, and a warm climate all contribute to the development of athlete's foot. It's commonly believed that athlete's foot is highly contagious – that you can easily catch it from walking barefoot in the locker room. This is not true.

3. What does athlete's foot look like?
Athlete's foot may affect different people in different ways. In some, the skin between the toes (especially the last two toes) peels, cracks and scales. In others, there is redness, scaling and even blisters on the soles and along the sides of the feet. These skin changes may be accompanied by itching.

Toenail infections can also occur and can be very stubborn to treat. Toenail infections result in scaling, crumbling and thickening of the nails.

4. How is athlete's foot diagnosed?
Your examination may include a scraping of the skin on your feet. The skin scales are then examined under a microscope or placed on a culture plate to look for growth of the fungus.

5. How is athlete's foot treated?
For simple cases, anti-fungal creams may be prescribed. The creams can relieve the symptoms quickly. If your athlete's foot is stubborn, antifungal pills may be prescribed. Toenail infections are very difficult to treat and almost always require treatment with antifungal pills.

6. What is the best way to prevent athlete's foot?
You can prevent athlete's foot by following some simple rules:

• Wash your feet daily.
• Dry your feet thoroughly, especially between your toes.
• Avoid tight footwear, especially in the summer.
• Sandals are the best warm weather footwear.
• Wear cotton socks and change them daily or more frequently if they become damp. If possible, go barefoot at home.
• Dust an anti-fungal powder into your shoes in the summertime.

Content courtesy of the American Academy of Dermatology