Athlete's foot (Tinea) factsheet

Athlete's foot is a skin disease caused by a fungus, usually occurring between the toes. The correct name is tinea pedis.
The feet can provide a warm, dark, and humid environment which encourages fungal growth.

Who catches athlete's foot?

The warmth and dampness around swimming pools, showers and locker rooms has made the condition common amongst people practising lots of sport, hence the name athlete's foot.
It is a very common skin disease, especially amongst teenagers and adult males. It is less common in women and in children under 12.
It is not known why some people are more likely than others to catch athlete's foot.

How do you catch athlete's foot?

Athlete's foot is usually caught where bare feet come into contact with the fungus.
The warmth and dampness of changing rooms encourages fungal growth.
Infection can also spread through contaminated bed sheets and clothing.

How infectious is athlete's foot?

Athlete's foot is quite infectious.

What is athlete's foot like?

A person with athlete's foot has an itchy, scaly, dry rash on the bottom and sides of his or her feet and between the toes.
There can be inflammation and blisters on the bottom of the feet. The blisters can lead to the cracking of the skin exposing raw tissue causing pain and swelling.
An infection of the toenails can occur at the same time. The toenails become crumbly and are hard to cut.
The fungus can spread if the infection is scratched and other body parts are then touched.
The initial stage of infection usually only lasts 1-10 days, but a persistent, untreated infection can persist for months or years.

How serious is athlete's foot?

Normally this is only a mild infection.
The blisters can lead to cracking skin which sometimes allows bacterial infections of the feet.

Can you prevent athlete's foot?

Good foot hygiene is the best way to prevent infection. You should:

• Wash your feet daily and dry them carefully, especially between the toes.
• Reduce foot perspiration by using talcum powder.
• Avoid tight footwear, especially in summer.
• Wear cotton socks that keep your feet dry and change them frequently, especially if you tend to sweat heavily.

Should a child with athlete's foot be kept off school?

The DfEE/DoH guidelines on infection control in schools and nurseries do not recommend that a child with athlete's foot should be kept away from school. Precautions should be taken to ensure that the child does not walk around barefoot to prevent the spread of infection.

How can you treat someone with athlete's foot?

The feet must be washed frequently. All areas between the toes must be dried thoroughly and then kept dry by dusting foot powder in socks. Many cases need use nothing more than this.
In more severe cases lotions and creams that kill fungi are prescribed by doctors.
The whole course of medication must be taken otherwise the rash may disappear while the infection remains.
Early treatment is better as once infection has spread to the toenails it becomes harder to deal with.

Last reviewed: 25 January 2010