Athlete's Foot

What is athlete’s foot?

Athlete’s foot, medically called tinea pedis, is a type of fungal infection that affects the feet. The fungus most often develops between the toes.

Though you can treat athlete’s foot with over-the-counter antifungal medications, the infection may recur. 

What are athlete’s foot symptoms?

Athlete’s foot usually causes a red, itchy rash. You may notice that your symptoms worsen when you remove your shoes and socks.

Some strains of the foot infection may also cause:

• Blisters
• Ulcers
• Dry, cracked skin
• Scaling on the bottom or side of your foot

The fungus may affect one foot or both of your feet and may spread to your hands if you pick or scratch at the infection. 

Though you may initially try to treat your athlete’s foot at home, the experts at Diabetic Foot and Wound Center recommend you come in if your at-home care fails to improve your symptoms within two weeks or the infection recurs.

If you have diabetes, the podiatrists at Diabetic Foot and Wound Center recommend you skip any at-home treatments and contact the office right away to schedule an evaluation. 

How is athlete’s foot diagnosed?

The experts at Diabetic Foot and Wound Center diagnose athlete’s foot during an inspection of your feet and the rash. However, to confirm a diagnosis, your podiatrist may take samples of your skin and send it out to the lab for testing.

How is athlete’s foot treated?

The team at Diabetic Foot and Wound Center develops individualized treatment plans for athlete’s foot based on the severity of the fungal infection and the patient’s medical history.

Your podiatrist may initially recommend over-the-counter (OTC) antifungal medication if you haven’t already tried them. If your fungal infection fails to improve with OTC medication, your podiatrist may recommend a prescription-strength antifungal cream or oral antifungal medication.

In addition to medical management of your athlete’s foot, Diabetic Foot and Wound Center also provides lifestyle recommendations to help clear up the infection and prevent a recurrence, such as:

• Going barefoot when at home
• Drying your feet completely after a bath or shower
• Changing socks twice a day
• Wearing well-ventilated shoes

The fungus that causes athlete’s foot is very contagious and you may contract the infection if you go barefoot in public places, such as locker rooms or public pools or share towels or shoes. 

You can prevent athlete’s foot by wearing shoes in all public areas and not sharing towels or shoes.

Athlete’s foot is a common problem that may recur if you don’t get the right medical care. Contact Diabetic Foot and Wound Center by phone or online today to clear up your infection.