Learn About Athlete's Foot

What is the definition of Athlete's Foot?

Athlete's foot is an infection of the feet caused by fungus. The medical term is tinea pedis or ringworm of the foot.

What are the alternative names for Athlete's Foot?

Tinea pedis; Fungal infection - feet; Tinea of the foot; Infection - fungal - feet; Ringworm - foot

What are the causes of Athlete's Foot?

Athlete's foot occurs when a certain fungus grows on the skin of your feet. The same fungus may also grow on other parts of the body. However, the feet are most commonly affected, especially between the toes.

Athlete's foot is the most common type of tinea infection. The fungus thrives in warm, moist areas. Your risk for getting athlete's foot increases if you:

  • Wear closed shoes, especially if they are plastic-lined
  • Keep your feet wet for long periods
  • Sweat a lot
  • Develop a minor skin or nail injury

Athlete's foot is easily spread. It can be passed through direct contact or contact with items such as shoes, stockings, and shower or pool surfaces.

What are the symptoms of Athlete's Foot?

The most common symptom is cracked, flaking, peeling skin between the toes or on the side of the foot. Other symptoms can include:

  • Red and itchy skin
  • Burning or stinging pain
  • Blisters that ooze or get crusty

If the fungus spreads to your nails, they can become discolored, thick, and even crumble.

Athlete's foot may occur at the same time as other fungal or yeast skin infections such as jock itch.

Not sure about your diagnosis?
Check Your Symptoms
What are the current treatments for Athlete's Foot?

Over-the-counter antifungal powders or creams can help control the infection:

  • These contain medicine such as miconazole, clotrimazole, terbinafine, or tolnaftate.
  • Keep using the medicine for 1 to 2 weeks after the infection has cleared to prevent it from returning.

In addition:

  • Keep your feet clean and dry, especially between your toes.
  • Wash your feet thoroughly with soap and water and dry the area carefully and completely. Try to do this at least twice a day.
  • To widen and keep the web space (area between the toes) dry, use lamb's wool. This can be bought at a drugstore.
  • Wear clean cotton socks. Change your socks and shoes as often as needed to keep your feet dry.
  • Wear sandals or flip-flops at a public shower or pool.
  • Use antifungal or drying powders to prevent athlete's foot if you tend to get it often, or you frequent places where athlete's foot fungus is common (like public showers).
  • Wear shoes that are well-ventilated and made of natural material such as leather. It may help to alternate shoes each day, so they can completely dry between wearings. Do not wear plastic-lined shoes.

If athlete's foot does not get better in 2 to 4 weeks with self-care, or frequently returns, see your provider. Your provider may prescribe:

  • Antifungal medicines to take by mouth
  • Antibiotics to treat bacterial infections that occur from scratching
  • Topical creams that kill the fungus
Who are the top Athlete's Foot Local Doctors?
Podiatric Medicine
Podiatric Medicine

University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill

300 Meadowmont Village Cir, 
Chapel Hill, NC 
 45.2 mi
Accepting New Patients

Howard Kashefsky is a Podiatric Medicine provider in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Dr. Kashefsky and is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Athlete's Foot. His top areas of expertise are Hammer Toe, Ingrown Toenail, Bunions, and Gangrene. Dr. Kashefsky is currently accepting new patients.

Duke Dermatology South Durham

234 Crooked Creek Pkwy, 
Durham, NC 
 49.3 mi
Accepting New Patients
Offers Telehealth

Amber Fresco is a Dermatologist in Durham, North Carolina. Dr. Fresco has been practicing medicine for over 16 years and is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Athlete's Foot. Her top areas of expertise are Neurocutaneous Melanosis, Giant Congenital Nevus, Familial Atypical Multiple Mole Melanoma Syndrome, and Giant Congenital Melanocytic Nevus. Dr. Fresco is currently accepting new patients.

 
 
 
 
Learn about our expert tiers
Learn More
Family Medicine
Family Medicine

Duke Health Integrated Practice Inc

40 Duke Medicine Cir, 
Durham, NC 
 48.0 mi
Accepting New Patients
Offers Telehealth

Kenyon Railey is a Family Medicine provider in Durham, North Carolina. Dr. Railey and is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Athlete's Foot. His top areas of expertise are Maturity Onset Diabetes of the Young, Type 2 Diabetes (T2D), Hypertension, and Glucocorticoid-Remediable Aldosteronism. Dr. Railey is currently accepting new patients.

What is the outlook (prognosis) for Athlete's Foot?

Athlete's foot almost always responds well to self-care, although it may come back. Long-term medicine and preventive measures may be needed. The infection can spread to the toenails.

When should I contact a medical professional for Athlete's Foot?

Call your provider right away if:

  • Your foot is swollen and warm to the touch, especially if there are red streaks or pain. These are signs of a possible bacterial infection. Other signs include pus, drainage, and fever.
  • Athlete's foot symptoms do not go away within 2 to 4 weeks of self-care treatments.
What are the latest Athlete's Foot Clinical Trials?
Comparison of the Effectiveness of Balance Training and Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization Training in Amateur Athletes with Chronic Ankle Instability

Summary: The goal of this clinical trial is to determine and compare the effects of balance and dynamic neuromuscular stabilization training on ankle function ability, functional instability severity, physical activity level, muscle strength, proprioception, stabilization, balance, reaction time and performance of amateur athletes with chronic ankle instability. The main questions it aims to answer are: * ...

Match to trials
Find the right clinical trials for you in under a minute
Get started
Kronik Ayak Bileği İnstabilitesi Olan Voleybolcularda Denge ve Patlayıcı Güç Üzerine Morfolojik Bir Çalışma

Summary: The former purpose of this study to investigate the effect of transverse abdominis, lumbar multifidus, vastus lateralis, lateral gastrocnemius, anterior talofibular ligament of morphology on explosive power and balance performance in cronic ankle instability with volleyball players. The latter purpose of this study to determine morphological characteristics volleyball players with and without cron...

Who are the sources who wrote this article ?

Published Date: May 31, 2023
Published By: Ramin Fathi, MD, FAAD, Director, Phoenix Surgical Dermatology Group, Phoenix, AZ. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

What are the references for this article ?

Elewski BE, Hughey LC, Hunt KM, Hay RJ. Fungal diseases. In: Bolognia JL, Schaffer JV, Cerroni L, eds. Dermatology. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 77.

Hay RJ. Dermatophytosis (ringworm) and other superficial mycoses. In: Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 266.