ATHLETE'S FOOT

Is the skin between your toes, blistered, cracked, or peeling? Do your toes itch? Do the soles of your feet show signs of redness or scaling? If you said yes to any of these questions, you may have athlete's foot. Athlete's foot is a fungus that thrives in warm, moist, and enclosed environments. The fungus lives in places like snug, poorly ventilated shoes, damp sweaty socks, locker rooms, and gym shower floors.

Athlete's foot is usually a harmless infection. It is often treated successfully with an over-the-counter anti-fungal medicine such as Micatin, Tinactin, Lotrimin, or Lamisil cream. When not treated, the skin may develop blisters and cracks that can lead to a more serious infection. Athlete's foot should clear up within a week or two after beginning treatment. If it does not, you should seek care from a healthcare provider. It is important to use the entire anti-fungal cream if it is prescribed. While your skin may look better with treatment, the infection can remain and could come back.

Athlete's foot is most commonly passed from person to person in public areas, such as locker rooms, swimming pools, showers, and saunas, where bare feet come in contact with the fungus. The fungus will not grow on dry, normal skin.

Follow these tips to prevent athlete's foot:

keep your feet clean
dry feet well after bathing
apply powder between the toes
wear waterproof sandals or shower shoes in public areas
wear socks that absorb moisture and keep the feet dry

Cotton and wool socks absorb sweat and keep the feet dry. Avoid socks made of synthetic material. Other tips to help keep your feet dry include:

change socks daily or more frequently if they become damp
choose shoes such as sandals, canvas, or those made with leather uppers to allow your feet to breathe
let your shoes air out between wearings, or alternate shoes daily

While common in adults, athlete's foot rarely affects children before puberty. The basic rule to follow to avoid athlete's foot is to keep your feet clean and dry, especially in hot weather.

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

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