Athlete’s Foot: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

What is Athlete’s Foot?

What does Athlete’s Foot look like?

Athlete’s foot is a fungal infection that looks like dry, red, scaly skin. It is medically known as Tinea Pedis. Most of the time athlete’s foot is seen between the toes where it begins, but it can spread to other parts of the foot as well. Blisters on the feet can become super itchy and toenails become dry and discoloured and separate from the nailbed.  It is a fungus and in extreme cases, if left untreated it can lead to a bacterial infection and spread to the toes, or other parts of the feet and create infections in the toenails.

• Between toes
• Blisters
• Fungus
• Toes

Can Athlete’s Foot spread to my hands?

Athlete’s foot can spread to other parts of the foot, and it can also spread to the hands but that is very uncommon in reality. It is highly contagious and needs to be treated as soon as it’s discovered.

How to tell you if have athlete’s foot:

What is the early stage of Athlete’s Foot?

Athlete’s foot begins with dry, red, scaly skin and it can be itchy or feel like a burning or stinging feeling. It should be treated right away before it spreads.

Symptoms

Most often, extreme itchiness is reported, but we also see dry scaly skin, and thick crumbly nails getting pulled off the nail beds.

Can kids get Athlete’s Foot?

Athlete’s foot is common in children who walk around bare feet around pools or locker rooms or who have sweaty feet and don’t change their socks often!

Causes

How do you get Athlete’s Foot?

The fungus grows well in environments like pools and locker rooms because warm and wet conditions are it’s breeding ground! You can also get Athlete’s foot if you have sweaty feet and wear tight-fitting shoes.

Is Athlete’s Foot contagious?

Yes! It is highly contagious and needs to be treated quickly before it spreads to other parts of the foot.

Treatment

How to get rid of Athlete’s Foot forever?

If you can treat it soon you have better success! Most of the time a good over the counter antifungal medication or cream is very helpful to treat Athlete’s foot. If that is not effective, your doctor may request a prescription-strength medication as well if it is persistent. Changing socks and making sure your feet are dry will also make a difference.

How to cure athlete’s Foot at home fast?

Soaking your feet at home can help treat Athlete’s foot. Using a solution of diluted vinegar and saltwater can dry out the blisters. Be sure to dry your feet well, especially between the toes. Some have found that a tea tree oil solution is effective, but check with your doctor as there could be some skin complications with tea tree oil.

Contact Us Today

If you are suffering from the nagging symptoms of Athlete’s Foot, our team of specialized clinicians can help! Say Hello to Beautiful and Healthy Feet, call us at 289-245-6624 to book an appointment.