Athlete’s foot is a fungal infection that causes scaling, itching, and inflammation on the feet, which can spread to other areas. It thrives in moist environments and can be prevented with good hygiene. Treatment includes antifungal medications and home remedies such as tea tree oil and Epsom salt soaks.
Tinea pedis, commonly called athlete’s foot, is a fungal infection of the skin that causes scaling, itching, and sometimes inflammation. As the name suggests, tinea pedis — which literally means “ringworm of the foot” — affects the feet, but the infection can spread to other areas, such as the groin. Tinea pedis usually spreads in moist environments where people are often barefoot, such as in bathhouses and public showers. Infection can be prevented with good hygiene and can usually be cured with an over-the-counter fungicide.
Tinea pedis most commonly affects the area between the toes. It can be caused by a variety of parasitic fungi. Athlete’s foot always causes itchy, peeling, or scaling skin, but in severe cases, the infection can blister and crack the skin, causing pain, swelling, and sometimes a secondary bacterial infection. Athlete’s foot can also spread to other areas of the body, but in these cases the terminology of the infection changes. For example, fungal infection of the groin is called tinea cruris, while fungal infection of the nail bed is called onychomycosis.
The fungi that cause tinea pedis thrive in moist environments and can spread from person to person. To prevent the spread of infection, it’s important to keep your feet and footwear clean and dry, and to avoid sharing footwear or towels. Also, it is advisable to wear sandals in public showers or bathhouses so that your feet do not come into direct contact with the wet floor. Washing sheets, towels, and socks frequently and using disinfectant in the shower and on bathroom tiles can help prevent the spread of athlete’s foot in your home.
Some cases of tinea pedis resolve on their own with good hygiene practices and palliative care, but antifungal medications are the standard line of treatment. There are over-the-counter and prescription medications for treating athlete’s foot, both of which are usually taken for a course of at least four weeks after symptoms subside. Topical treatments are the most common, but an oral antifungal may be prescribed in some severe cases. If a secondary bacterial infection is present, an oral antibiotic should be prescribed.
Some effective ways to treat tinea pedis symptoms, such as itching and pain, include applying tea tree oil or baking soda or soaking in Epsom salts dissolved in warm water. Garlic and onion extract can also help treat the infection. The use of anti-itch creams is not recommended, because while they relieve itching, they can contribute to the growth of the fungus by making the skin more moist.
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