Athlete’s Foot is a common condition affecting the foot as the result of a fungus or dermatophyte. If untreated or not treated properly, it can lead to serious limb threatening infections of the foot and leg when it causes the skin to break down allowing bacteria to enter the foot.
Athlete’s foot (also known as Tinea Pedis) can lead to spreading of the fungus onto the nails resulting in disease of the nail known as Onychomycosis, resulting in nail deformity and potential for additional infections, abscess, ulcerations and nail pain. There are different types of athlete’s foot, depending on location. One type resides mainly between the toes and the other, often more chronic type, surrounds the outside of the foot and has a moccasin-type distribution.
Treatment of athlete’s foot may require topical creams and in some severe cases oral medications.
Once resolved, emphasis should be on preventing recurrent athlete’s foot by treating initial case long enough as well as wearing sandals or shoes with mesh and wearing socks that wick away moisture.
