Athlete's Foot: Symptoms, Self-Care and When to Be Seen

What it involves

MedlinePlus describes athlete's foot, also called tinea pedis or ringworm of the foot, as an infection of the feet caused by a fungus. The fungus grows on the skin of the feet, most commonly between the toes, and thrives in warm, moist areas. It is the most common type of tinea infection and is easily spread.

Who this is for

• Patients with cracked, peeling, or itchy skin between the toes or along the side of the foot
• Patients whose foot rash has not cleared after two to four weeks of self-care
• Patients with thick, discolored toenails along with the skin changes
• Patients whose athlete's foot keeps returning

What to expect

• Questions about where the rash is, how long it has lasted, and what you have tried
• A look at both feet, the toenails, and the skin between the toes
• A plain explanation of the likely cause and an antifungal plan
• Foot-care advice, plus a check for signs of a secondary bacterial infection

What raises your risk

MedlinePlus says the risk goes up if you:

• Wear closed shoes, especially plastic-lined ones
• Keep your feet wet for long periods
• Sweat a lot
• Have a minor skin or nail injury

Symptoms to look for

MedlinePlus says the most common symptom is cracked, flaking, peeling skin between the toes or on the side of the foot. Other symptoms include red and itchy skin, burning or stinging pain, and blisters that ooze or crust. If the fungus reaches the nails they can become discolored, thick, and even crumbly. It may also occur with other fungal or yeast skin infections such as jock itch. Pain at the heel is a different problem, covered in the heel pain guide.

Self-care that usually works

MedlinePlus says over-the-counter antifungal powders or creams containing miconazole, clotrimazole, terbinafine, or tolnaftate can help, and that you should keep using the medicine for 1 to 2 weeks after the infection has cleared. Keeping feet clean and dry matters as much: wash with soap and water at least twice a day, dry carefully between the toes, wear clean cotton socks, and change socks and shoes as often as needed.

Preventing a repeat

MedlinePlus advises wearing sandals or flip-flops at a public shower or pool and choosing well-ventilated shoes made of natural material such as leather. Alternate shoes day to day so they dry out completely, avoid plastic-lined shoes, and use antifungal or drying powder if you get it often. Lamb's wool between the toes can keep the web space dry.

When to be seen

MedlinePlus says to see your provider if athlete's foot does not get better in 2 to 4 weeks of self-care or keeps returning. It says to contact your provider right away if the foot is swollen and warm, especially with red streaks or pain, since those are signs of a possible bacterial infection, as are pus, drainage, and fever. Open sores and skin breaks are covered on the wound care page.

What a provider can add

MedlinePlus says a provider can usually diagnose athlete's foot by looking at the skin, and that tests, if needed, may include a KOH exam, a skin culture, or a biopsy. It lists prescription antifungal medicine taken by mouth, topical creams that kill the fungus, and antibiotics for bacterial infection from scratching. Athlete's foot almost always responds well to self-care, although it may come back and can spread to the toenails. Other skin patterns are in the skin conditions guide.

Sources

• MedlinePlus — Athlete's foot
• MedlinePlus — Athlete's Foot health topic