Athlete’s Foot

Athlete’s foot, also called tinea pedis, is one of the most common fungal infections on the surface of the feet. The microscopic pathogen that causes it also results in fungal toenail infections if it festers in the nail bed. The problem develops when your feet provide the ideal environment for fungal growth. The microorganism thrives in warm, damp atmospheres. Frequently sweaty feet, especially if they spend long hours trapped in shoes, provide excellent breeding grounds. Between the toes is the most common spot for infection, but anywhere on the lower limbs can be affected.

You can pick up the infection from many different places. Public locations where people walk around in bare feet tend to have a higher risk for the fungus. If those places are warm and moist, they provide the perfect environment for the fungi. Pools, locker rooms, saunas, and bathrooms are all common places you can be exposed to the infection. However, direct contact with an infected person’s skin or footwear can also transfer the pathogen to your feet.

As the fungus multiplies, it damages the surface of your skin. Usually your feet burn and feel itchy. Your skin may scale and peel. Occasionally, the infection results in painful blister development. This exposes raw skin to the infection and may cause pain and swelling. The pathogen typically gets trapped in your socks and footwear as well. There it can fester and re-expose your feet to the problem, or even spread it to your nails or other places on your lower limbs. The microorganism causing the problem is highly persistent and contagious—it passes easily to other people and surfaces, but is hard to eradicate.