Athlete’s foot is an infection of the skin and feet that can be caused by a variety of different fungi.

Signs / Symptoms

What's common signs of athlete's foot?

General signs and symptoms are;

  • Scaly red rash
  • Blisters or ulcers
  • Itching of the feet, especially between the toes
  • Bad smell of feet

 

Common causes

What's common causes of athlete's foot?

It is caused by various species of Fungi.

Departments & Emergency

If there is sign of an infection in feet that do not respond to proper foot hygiene and no improvement within two weeks, it is recommended to go to a General Practitioner or a Dermatology specialist in near days.

Diagnosis

It is based on clinical assessment. If it does not respond to medication it can be useful to further test like biopsy.

Treatment

There is some useful advices:

  • Medications such as creams, sprays, powders, antifungal pills.
  • Dry feet after washing.
  • Use a separate towel for feet and wash it regularly.
  • Take shoes off when at home.
  • Wear clean socks every day.
  • Do not scratch affected skin.
  • Do not walk around barefoot.
  • Do not share towels, socks, or shoes with other people.
  • Do not wear the same pair of shoes for days in a row.
  • Do not wear shoes that make feet hot and sweaty.

FAQ

How do you get rid of an athlete’s foot fast?

Like hydrogen peroxide, rubbing alcohol can help kill off the. Apply it directly to the affected area or soak feet in a footbath of 70 percent rubbing alcohol and 30 percent water for 30 minutes.

What will happen if an athlete’s foot is left untreated?

If left untreated, it can spread to a nail and cause a fungal nail infection. The infection can spread to other areas of skin, such as the hands.

 

References:

  1. Athlete’s foot – Symptoms and causes. (2019, September 4). Mayo Clinic. Retrieved April 28, 2021, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/athletes-foot/symptoms-causes/syc-20353841
  2. Athlete’s foot | Foot health | Patients | APMA. (n.d.). APMA – American Podiatric Medical Association. Retrieved April 28, 2021, from https://www.apma.org/athletesfoot
  3. Athlete’s foot. (2017, October 17). nhs.uk. Retrieved April 28, 2021, from https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/athletes-foot/
  4. Athlete’s foot: Overview – InformedHealth.org – NCBI bookshelf. (2018, June 14). National Center for Biotechnology Information. Retrieved April 28, 2021, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279549/
  5. Gotter, A. (2019, March 7). Home remedies for athlete’s foot. Healthline. Retrieved April 28, 2021, from https://www.healthline.com/health/home-remedies-for-athletes-foot#_noHeaderPrefixedContent
  6. How to prevent athlete’s foot. (n.d.). American Academy of Dermatology. Retrieved April 28, 2021, from https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/a-z/athletes-foot-prevent
  7. Hygiene-related diseases. (2018, December 12). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved April 28, 2021, from https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/hygiene/disease/athletes_foot.html
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