What Causes Athlete's Foot?

Tinea pedis is the medical name for athlete's foot fungus.  This organism prefers warm, moist skin; this is why the infection commonly occurs in the folds between the toes and is often worse in warm weather.  Not all skin rashes on the foot are due to fungus.  Eczema can appear very similar to a fungal infection.

This fungus may stay in the skin indefinitely.  Even if the rash seems to have been cured, microscopic examination may reveal the fungus to be present.  While medicines will clear the rash, the fungus may be dormant, only to cause a recurrence several months later.  Eating a high sugar diet feeds the organism and low carb diets such as Atkins can improve scaling and itching.

Should it be treated?

Sometimes a fungal infection will cause cracking between the toes which then allows the secondary invasion by bacteria.  These bacteria can cause an infection of the skin called cellulitis that can be very serious and even life-threatening.  For this reason, it is best to keep athlete's foot infection under control with intermittent topical therapy.

Is it contagious?

Yes. However, special precautions at home are unnecessary, since there is no way your family can avoid exposure to the fungus at swimming pools and locker rooms.  Ordinary precautions such as disinfecting showers and not sharing towels are all that are necessary. In our society, everyone is exposed to the fungus that causes athlete's foot.  Why some people get the infection, while others are resistant probably has to do more with their immune system and its ability to control the fungus.

Fungal infection of the rest of the skin is quite contagious.

Many types of fungus are spread from animals to humans.   You may need to have your pet treated at the same time by a veterinarian to ensure you don't get the infection again.

Human to human contact can also spread this fungus as in wrestlers, children in daycare centers and using others' towels or combs.

Soil contains fungi and occasionally gardeners can develop fungal infections.

Treatment

Many people try over-the-counter cortisone creams on the rash which actually make the fungal infection spread or worsen. Over-the-counter antifungal creams like Tinactin cream are effective.  In warm weather, use of a foot powder or spray to absorb perspiration is advisable and wearing sandals for air circulation may also be of benefit.  Copper impregnated socks can help keep athlete's foot fungus under control.

If your foot fungus has spread up your leg or you also suffer from "jock-itch", an oral antifungal prescription, GrisPeg, may be prescribed.  This will require blood tests before you start the medication and after you finish the drug to check liver function.  Since this drug is metabolized by your liver, you will want to avoid alcohol and other drugs which can damage the liver.  Treatment with this drug usually lasts one to three months. Fungal infections occurring on areas of the body are called ringworm because of the rounded edges of the rash.  Ringworm can occur in the beard (Tinea barbae), the scalp (Tinea capitis), the palms (Tinea manuum), the body (Tinea corporis) and the groin (Tinea cruris).  Most of these infections should be treated by  prescription topical or systemic drugs for a lasting cure.

Toenail infections are very difficult to treat and used to require months of therapy with oral antifungal drugs.  It usually is not worth the risk to your health to treat these infections for what is basically a cosmetic problem.  Now there is a laser that has been shown to clear nail fungus in one session by heating the nail and killing the fungus.  Clearance of nail fungus in some studies is as high as 75% which is a better result than obtained with the more toxic antifungal drugs.  Occasionally a very thickened toenail will partially break off or grow so thick that it has to be surgically removed.   This is performed in the dermatologist's office under local anesthesia.  Removal is relatively painless and the pain afterward is minimal. The nail sometimes will grow out normally after it is removed especially if laser is used at the same time.