Athlete’s foot (tinea pedis)

Athlete’s foot (tinea pedis)

Athlete's foot is a common fungus infection of the skin of the foot.  The fungus called a dermatophyte lives on dead skin, hair and toenails and thrives and multiplies in warm, moist environments (for example between your toes), leading to infection. The infection is called athletes foot because it is easily spread in changing rooms and communal showers, shared by athletes, sports people and swimmers.  However, anyone can develop the infection if their feet come into contact with tiny flakes of skin from another infected person. For example, sharing sock with a person with athletes foot will mean you will pick up the infection.

The symptoms of athlete’s foot are a red rash between your toes, which is flaky and very itchy.  This can crack, become white and peel off, or blister and become very sore. Cracks in the skin sometimes lead to a secondary bacterial infection.  The space between your 4th and 5th toes is the most commonly affected.  Your feet may also smell unpleasant.  If untreated, the infection can spread along the other toes and to adjacent areas of the foot, causing the whole area to be red, dry and itchy.

Prevention

• Wash your feet and toes daily and dry thoroughly between your toe.
• Do not wear shoes without socks or tights.
• Change your socks or tights daily.
• Wear socks and shoes made from natural materials.
• Do not share towels.
• Wear plastic shoes or flip-flops in communal showers, changing rooms and around pools.
• Try to spend time in bare feet, leaving your shoes and socks off as much as possible.
• Wear thongs or sandals when you take a shower in a locker room.
• Disinfect shower and locker room floors.
• Wear cotton or wool socks

Treatment
Athlete’s foot is treated with antifungal drugs.
Fungicidal essential oils are the most effective topical treatment.Examples are Myrrh, Ti-Tree and Garlic. The treatment will be smelly but will also show dramatic results.

Fungi facts
Athlete’s foot is also known as tinea pedis

There are more than 500,000 different types of fungi, but only 100 types have the potential to infect humans

Dermatophytes are the fungi that cause infections of the skin, hair and nails and this type of fungi is responsible for athlete’s foot

The most common dermatophyte infections are those caused by the Trichophyton species

Trichophyton rubrum and Tricophyton interdigitale are the fungi that are most likely to cause athlete’s foot.

Myth busting
You have to play sport to catch athlete’s foot.

Although athlete’s foot is common in people who play lots of sport, the reason they catch it is because they spend more time in humid communal changing rooms and wear trainers. Even un-sporty people can catch athlete’s foot!

Only people who don’t wash properly get athlete’s foot. Fungi don’t discriminate between clean and dirty feet.