5 Things You Need to Know About Athlete's Foot

1. There's a Fungus Among Us

Athlete's foot, often referred to as tinea pedis, is one of six different fungi that can infect your feet. These fungi thrive in warm, moist areas between your toes or in the "webs" of your feet. From there it spreads to the sides and underneath your toes before invading the soles. Common breeding locations for athlete's foot fungus include public restrooms, locker rooms and showers, swimming pools and gyms. You might be surprised to learn that puddles, damp socks, shoes and floors also harbor athlete's foot spores.

2. Don't Touch

Athlete's foot sufferers should not touch or scratch the infected area and then touch another body part. Once athlete's foot spores appear, they transmit easily to other places, such as the fingernails, groin or underarms; so wash and dry your feet after exposure. This can be a serious concern for anyone with diabetes and compromised immune systems. Those individuals are more at risk for developing infections that can result in serious medical problems.

3. Spot the Symptoms

Different types of athlete's foot infections produce different symptoms. A toe web infection turns your skin soft, moist and white, causes itching and burning and produces an odor. Often the skin between the toes breaks down, peels and cracks. A moccasin infection starts as a minor irritation that also causes dry, itching or burning skin. As it progresses, the skin on your sole or heel becomes thick, scaly and cracked. In extreme cases, infected toenails thicken, crumble and may fall out. A vesicular infection, the least common, starts as blisters on your instep. The infection moves in between your toes and to other areas of your foot. This type of infection may reoccur in the same location or in another place, such as the arms, chest or fingers.

4. Spread It Around

The athlete's foot fungus appears on your epidermis or other particles that contaminate flooring and floor coverings, sheets and bed covers, clothing, footwear and other areas. Athlete's foot transmits via person-to-person contact or by through your pets. Just because an individual possesses the fungus doesn't mean signs and symptoms manifest. Generally, males contract athlete's foot more often than females.

5. Maybe it's Not Athlete's Foot

Consult with your physician if your condition doesn't improve, if there's excessive inflammation, you have some drainage or if you have a fever. Skin or fluid samples will verify if your symptoms are from athlete's foot and not a skin inflammation. If you do have athlete's foot, the doctor will prescribe an anti fungal medication. If your test is negative, but the doctor still suspects athlete's foot, he might order a culture test to determine the fungus' growth potential. Test results may take several weeks and he might order additional cultures if the problem persists.