Athlete's Foot or Ringworm of the foot or Tinea Pedis

Athlete's foot is a fungal disease that causes skin infection on the feet. It is also known as the ringworm of the foot. Treatment with an antifungal cream usually works well.

Who gets athlete's foot and how do you get it?

Ø  Anyone especially those with sweaty feet can get athlete's foot.

Ø  It is more common in people who sweat more, or who wear shoes and socks which make their feet sweatier.

Ø  Athlete's foot can also be passed on from person to person if they use the common communal showers or swim with an individual with infection in a swimming pool.

Ø  A tiny flake of infected skin from a person with athlete's foot can fall off whilst showering and then be trodden on by others who may then develop the infection. It spreads along the skin Once a small patch of infection develops.

Symptoms of athlete's foot

Ø  The skin between the little toes will be affected at first in which a rash develops that becomes itchy and scaly.

Ø  The skin may become cracked and sore.

Ø  Large splits (fissures) in the skin between the toes can develop, which can be very painful.

Ø  Tiny flakes of infected skin may fall off.

Ø  The rash may spread gradually along the toes if left untreated.

Ø  In some cases, it spreads to the soles.

Ø  Occasionally, the infection causes a scaling rash on the entire sole and side of the foot.

Ø  In other cases, it causes more of a blistering rash on part of the sole of the foot.

Whether athlete's foot is serious or not?

Ø  Usually, it is not a serious disease as the itchy toes can be treated before it spreads.

Ø  Sometimes the infection spreads to moist and airless parts of the skin such as the groin.

Ø  Fungi do not usually spread deeper than the skin.

Ø  However, other germs (bacteria) may enter through the cracked skin of untreated athlete's foot.

Ø  This can occasionally cause more serious infections of the foot or leg and sometimes spreads to a nail.

Ø  The important thing to remember is that this can be treated by taking antifungal tablets for weeks to clear the infection from a nail.

Ø  Therefore, it is best to treat athlete's foot as soon as symptoms start.

Treatment for athlete's foot

Ø  You can buy a topical (applied directly to affected area) antifungal treatment from pharmacies, or get one on prescription

Ø  There are various types and brands usually creams, but can also be sprays, liquids or powders- for example:

v terbinafine

v clotrimazole

v econazole

v ketoconazole

v miconazole

Ø  These treatments are all good at clearing fungal skin infections.

Ø  There is no evidence that one is better than another.

Ø  For children clotrimazole, econazole or miconazole should be used.

Ø  Although the rash may seem to go quite quickly, you may need to apply the treatment for 1-2 weeks after the rash has gone.

Ø  This is to clear the fungi completely from the skin, which will prevent the rash from returning.

Ø  Clotrimazole: apply 2-3 times a day for at least four weeks.

Ø  Miconazole: apply twice a day, and continue for 10 days after the skin is back to normal.

Ø  Econazole: apply twice a day until the skin is back to normal.

Ø  Ketoconazole. apply twice a day for seven days. Continue for a further few days if more severe. Not suitable for children.

Ø  Terbinafine: apply once or twice a day for seven days. Not suitable for children.

Ø  Undecenoic acid: apply twice a day and continue for a week after the skin is back to normal.

Ø  An antifungal tablet (such as terbinafine, griseofulvin, or itraconazole) is sometimes prescribed for adults if the infection does not clear with cream, or if the infection is severe.

Methods to avoid athlete’s foot

Ø  Keep your feet dry.

Ø  The athlete’s foot fungus loves the warm and moist.

Ø  Avoid sharing towels and communal bathing.

Ø  Wash socks and shoes regularly.

Ø  Use antifungal sprays to beat stubborn cases.

Ø  If persistent or if you feel unwell, see a doctor.