Athlete’s foot is a very common skin condition that affects the sole of the foot and the skin between the toes.
It usually appears as a scaly, red, itchy eruption and on occasion, it may be weepy and oozing.
Although the name suggests that it is an ailment that resides purely with athletes, the reality is that it can affect non-athletes alike. The most common cause of athlete’s foot is through a fungal infection. Such infection is best known by its medical name tinea pedis.
The variety of fungi that can cause an outbreak of athlete’s foot thrive in environments that are warm and moist. Such conditions are commonly found in gyms, locker rooms, swimming pools, nail salons, and closer to home in the socks and clothing that you wear.
Coming into contact with the fungi that stimulate athlete’s foot is relatively easy. Just by walking barefoot in areas where someone else with athlete’s foot has walked can be enough to become infected. Early signs of athlete’s foot may appear as dry skin on the soles of your feet. Generally, from these early signs a degree of itching and burning will occur and in more severe cases there may be cracking, bleeding and associated pain.
To reduce the likelihood of contracting athlete’s foot its best to avoid walking barefoot in public locker rooms and showers. It’s also best to keep feet clean, dry and in shoes that allow the feet to get some air.
For a podiatrist, it is relatively easy to diagnose athlete’s foot through a physical examination of an infected foot. Clearing up the infection usually, involves the application of an anti-fungal cream to the affected area for two to four weeks.