Athlete's foot - causes, symptoms and treatment

Athlete's foot - Causes, symptoms and treatment | Recetas Medicas

Athlete's foot is a common fungal infection that often settles in the skin between the toes. In case of athlete's foot, the skin scales and flakes and it is common for it to itch or sting. There may also be small cracks in the skin. The fungus thrives in warm and humid environments, and it is common to get infected if you walk barefoot in, for example, a changing room. You can treat athlete's foot yourself with over-the-counter medicines. In more severe cases, you may need stronger, prescription remedies to completely get rid of the fungus.

What is athlete's foot?

Athlete's foot is a common skin condition caused by a group of fungi called dermatophytes. The fungus causes an infection in the outermost layer of the skin, which leads to the skin starting to produce more cells than normal. This in turn leads to the skin on the affected area becoming thick and starting to peel.

Athlete's foot is easily contagious and can spread through skin flakes stuck to, for example, floors, carpets, bedding or other surfaces that come into contact with bare feet. It is most common for the infection to spread in moist and warm environments where people walk barefoot, such as in showers, changing rooms and swimming pools. The fungus can also spread through direct skin contact or if you share a towel, socks or shoes with someone else. To reduce the risk of spreading or getting athlete's foot, it can be good, for example, to use bath slippers in changing rooms and not to share personal items.

Symptoms of athlete's foot

It is most common for athlete's foot to occur between two toes, usually the little toe and the toe next to it. Both feet are often affected. You can also get athlete's foot on the side of the foot or under it, for example on the heel. The most common symptoms of athlete's foot are:

• Itching and burning, especially between the toes.
• Red, scaly or flaky skin.
• Sometimes there may be cracks or sores in the skin.
• In severe cases, blisters or sores may form.
• Dry skin under the sole of the foot or on the side of the foot, often with a red border in the transition to the healthy skin.

It is common to have recurrent problems with athlete's foot. So-called chronic athlete's foot refers to a long-term or recurring infection. This means that the symptoms are persistent and can be more difficult to treat than in the case of a more temporary infection. In chronic athlete's foot, you can get scaly skin that resembles eczema. Athlete's foot can sometimes also spread to the toenails and cause nail fungus. Then the nails become thick, soft and yellowish.

Treatment of athlete's foot

Athlete's foot is effectively treated with over-the-counter medicines available at pharmacies, for example in the form of cream, gel, solution or powder. The choice of treatment often depends on your skin; gel is suitable for moist skin while cream is better for dry skin. Some agents are used only once, while others require several weeks of use. In case of very troublesome itching, agents with hydrocortisone can be used. If athlete's foot returns or is difficult to treat, you may need a prescription drug in tablet form. To prevent recurrent athlete's foot, antifungal agents can also be used in shoes and socks.

Preventive measures

You can reduce the risk of getting athlete's foot yourself. Here are some tips on how to prevent yeast infection:

• Keep your feet dry and clean: Fungus thrives in moist environments, so it's important to wash your feet regularly and to dry them thoroughly after a shower or bath, especially between the toes. Feel free to walk barefoot at home to air your feet without shoes or socks.
• Choose shoes and socks that breathe: Shoes and socks that allow your feet to breathe reduce the risk of excessive sweating, which can create an environment for fungus to grow. Avoid tight or tight shoes, such as rubber boots.
• Change your socks often: If your feet get sweaty during the day, you should change to dry, clean socks. Always change socks after exercising.
• Avoid going barefoot in public places: Wear flip flops in showers, changing rooms and swimming pools to protect your feet from coming into contact with fungal spores.
• Wash at 60 degrees: Wash your socks at 60 degrees so that the fungal spores die.

When should you seek care?

Contact a health center if your symptoms have not improved after a few weeks of treatment with over-the-counter medicines. Athlete's foot can sometimes be confused with other skin problems, such as psoriasis or atopic eczema. A doctor can confirm that it is a fungal infection you have suffered and prescribe prescription drugs if necessary.

You should also seek care if you have diabetes and get athlete's foot or if a child under 10 years of age shows symptoms of athlete's foot.