Fungal infection (Athlete's Foot)

About this service

Fungal infection (Athlete's Foot) ➤ Self-assessment checklist: Commonly occurs between toes but may occur in other areas of the feet. May be itchy, cracked or scaly, inflamed or blistered skin that burns and/or hurts ➤ What is an athlete's foot infection? Athlete's foot (tinea pedis) is a rash on the skin of the foot. It's the most common skin infection caused by a fungus. Athlete's foot can cause itching, peeling, and cracking on the bottoms of the feet and between the toes. ➤ How do you get it? You can get an athlete's foot infection by touching the foot of a person who has it. Most often, people get it by walking barefoot on contaminated surfaces near swimming pools or in locker rooms. The fungi then grow in your shoes, especially if your shoes are tight and air can't move around your feet. ➤ What are the symptoms? Symptoms of an athlete's foot infection vary from person to person. Some people have severe discomfort, while others have few or no symptoms. Common symptoms include: º Peeling, cracking, and scaling of the feet. º Redness, blisters, or softening and breakdown (maceration) of the skin. º Itching, burning, or both. º Your symptoms may depend on the type of athlete's foot you have. Toe web infection usually occurs between the fourth and fifth toes. The skin gets scaly, peels, and cracks. If you get a bacterial infection, the skin may break down even more. Moccasin-type infection may start with a little soreness on your foot. Then the skin on your sole or heel may become thick and crack. In severe cases, the toenails get infected. Vesicular infection usually starts with a sudden outbreak of fluid-filled blisters. The blisters are usually on the sole but can appear anywhere on your foot. You may also get a bacterial infection.