Navigate Athlete’s Foot With Confidence

Have you ever experienced a stinging or burning rash on your feet or between your toes? If so, it may have been athlete’s foot. Although it’s common, athlete’s foot can affect you in more ways than one.

Keep reading to learn more about athlete’s foot, including its causes, symptoms, risk factors and how to manage and treat it.

What Is Athlete’s Foot?

Tinea pedis, better known as athlete’s foot, is a contagious skin infection caused by fungi. It can cause a stinging or burning sensation on one or both feet and between your toes, and can even cause your skin to crack and flake off. Athlete’s foot is a form of ringworm that grows in areas where it’s often warm and damp, like between your toes. These areas of your feet also contain high amounts of keratin, which is a protein that the fungus feeds on.

Athlete’s foot is highly contagious because it spreads through skin-to-skin contact or contact with a flake of skin. It often spreads in places with a lot of people, like locker rooms, where the air is usually warm and damp, and many people share things like towels, making it easy to spread. It can also be caused by wearing tight socks and shoes, which create a dark, warm and damp environment — perfect for athlete’s foot to grow.

Symptoms and Risk Factors

It’s important to remain aware of the common symptoms of athlete’s foot and risk factors so you can seek treatment sooner rather than later. Common symptoms of athlete’s foot include:

• A burning sensation
• Blisters
• Cracked or peeling skin
• Itchy, scaly skin
• Skin rash
• Swollen skin, especially right after removing socks
• Unpleasant odor

While athlete’s foot is most common in males and those over 60 years old, you may be at an increased risk if you:

• Are obese
• Have a weakened immune system
• Have diabetes
• Have tissue damage or wounds on your feet
• Often wear enclosed shoes
• Share towels, shoes or bed linens with an infected individual
• Sweat frequently
• Walk barefoot in public showers, locker rooms or pools

The good news about athlete’s foot is that it’s highly treatable, as long as you seek prompt care or manage it properly yourself.

Helping You Manage and Treat Athlete’s Foot

When it comes to managing and treating athlete’s foot, you can usually rely on over-the-counter creams, gels or sprays that contain pyridine, allylamine or azole groups, which are medications that stop the fungus's growth or eliminate it. Most of these treatments are available at your local pharmacy without a prescription. Be sure to check the directions on your treatment, as how often it needs to be applied varies depending on the type you get. Typically, athlete’s foot can be cured in three to six weeks.

According to a study conducted by the National Library of Health, athlete’s foot cleared up in 17 out of 100 people who didn’t treat it. However, it went away for 73 out of 100 people who used medication. If topical treatments aren’t working, your doctor may prescribe oral tablets, which are recommended if the fungus is severe and has spread to your toenails or other parts of your body.

How to Prevent Athlete’s Foot

While athlete’s foot is mostly preventable if you take the right steps, sometimes you may still develop it. However, practicing these prevention methods is a great way to keep yourself free from this fungus. You can help prevent athlete’s foot by:

• Applying talcum powder to your feet to absorb moisture
• Changing your socks daily and choosing a material that absorbs moisture
• Effectively drying your feet and in between your toes after you shower or swim
• Not sharing towels, shoes or unwashed bedding
• Rotating the shoes you wear
• Washing your feet and the skin between your toes with antibacterial soap
• Wearing shoes or sandals that allow your feet to get air

Taking these steps greatly reduces your likelihood of developing athlete’s foot. But if you still do, know that we’re here to provide the care you need.

When You Should See Your Doctor

Most of the time, developing athlete’s foot doesn’t dictate a visit to your doctor. However, there are certain circumstances when you should visit your doctor right away, including:

• A fever
• Difficulty standing or walking due to severe pain
• If the affected area looks infected (swelling, irritation or red, purple, gray and white skin)
• Individuals with diabetes or a weakened immune system
• Symptoms that don’t improve or go away with topical treatments
• When the infection spreads to other parts of the body

If you don’t already have an established doctor, find a primary care provider near you so you can get the care you need.

Take Your Next Step With Less Pain

We know that living with athlete’s foot can get in the way of your everyday life, but we’re here to help you heal. Our compassionate primary care providers are committed to providing expert care that meets you in body, mind and spirit so you can move forward in confidence.

Learn more about our dermatology care services or visit your nearest urgent care and let our team members know you’re headed there using On My Way for a streamlined process so you can receive the care you deserve.