Athlete's foot symptoms & treatment

What is athlete's foot?

Athlete's foot is a contagious fungal infection that causes itchy skin issues on the feet. The medical term for athlete's foot is tinea pedis or ringworm of the feet. Athlete’s foot fungus spreads easily, especially in warm, moist places such as gyms, pool decks and on your own sweaty feet.

Symptoms of athlete’s foot

Check your feet for these common symptoms::

• Itchy blisters
• Dry skin on your soles or sides of your feet
• Stinging, itching, burning or cracking between your toes or on your soles
• Unpleasant foot odor
• Peeling skin on the soles of the feet

Athlete's foot rash or foot fungus can look like:

• Discolored and crumbling toenails
• Toenails that pull away from the skin
• White and soggy toes
• Inflamed skin on the feet that might appear reddish, purplish or grayish, depending on your skin color

Causes for athlete's foot fungal infection

Athlete’s foot (tinea pedis) is a fungal infection on feet caused by fungi that grow and spread on warm, moist skin. It’s very contagious, so it’s important to treat it right away. You can get tinea pedis when you have contact with contaminated objects and surfaces – like towels, pools and floors.

Athlete’s foot fungus is common in gyms, locker rooms and playgrounds, where it spreads easily because of the number of people using these facilities. The warm, wet environment is also ideal for keeping tinea pedis alive.

Athlete’s foot risk factors

Athlete’s foot is common among both adults and children. People with weakened immune systems may be especially at risk for this fungal infection on the feet and may have problems fighting it off. People who use public showers or locker rooms, athletes, people whose feet sweat a lot and people who wear tight shoes also may be more likely to get athlete’s foot.

Athlete’s foot prevention

Although athlete’s foot is a common fungal infection, you can take precautions to avoid getting it:

• Wear fresh socks every day.
• Wash your feet and dry off thoroughly after participating in sports or other activities that cause you to sweat.
• Keep your toenails clean and trimmed.

If you do get athlete’s foot, here are ways you can prevent spreading it to others:

• Keep your feet clean and dry.
• Don’t share bath towels.
• Don’t walk barefoot in locker rooms, pool decks or public showers.
• Wear shoes that allow air to circulate freely around your feet.
• Completely clean your home, especially floors and bedding. Add bleach to the water in your mop bucket or to your laundry. Bleach kills athlete’s foot fungus.

Self care for athlete’s foot

Athlete’s foot is a fungal rash that can usually be treated with nonprescription antifungal creams, ointments, lotions or powders applied to the skin for two to four weeks.

For preventive athlete's foot treatment, if you sweat a lot during the day, be sure to wash your feet with an antifungal cleansing bar, and then apply antifungal powder or lotion. Make sure your feet are completely dry before putting on a clean pair of socks.

When to see a doctor for athlete’s foot

Contact your health care provider if the fungal infection on your feet doesn’t go away or gets worse even after you’ve tried treating it yourself. Your primary care provider or dermatologist also may recommend a prescription antifungal cleanser, powder or lotion. Severe cases must be treated with prescription antifungal drugs to prevent athlete’s foot from coming back. Athlete’s foot cannot be treated with antibiotics.

Our team of dermatologists can diagnose and treat athlete’s foot. Find a dermatologist near you.