Athlete's foot

What is athlete’s foot?

Athlete’s foot is a common fungal infection that affects the feet. The infection usually occurs on the skin of the feet and between the toes, but can also spread to the toenails and hands. It usually causes itching, cracked and dry skin, and sometimes blisters and sores.

Athlete’s foot is caused by a group of fungi called dermatophytes. These fungi thrive in warm and moist conditions. They feed on keratin, a protein found in nails, skin and hair.

The condition is contagious and can be passed from one person to another through skin particles. It can spread through contact with an infected person or from contact with contaminated surfaces, such as towels, floors and shoes. Once the infected skin comes into contact with broken skin it can quickly and easily transfer.

Who gets athlete’s foot?

Athlete’s foot (as the name suggests) is typically experienced by people who take part in sports, especially sports that cause sweating (like running) or involve bare feet (like swimming and judo). This is because their feet often sweat in trainers and create the perfect environment for the fungi to thrive.

It’s also common in people who work in jobs where they come into contact with water and also people who work in industrial settings.

The highly contagious nature of athlete’s foot means that it affects a large number of people. It often spreads in the family home and in primary schools where children participate in PE lessons in bare feet.

Approximately 15% of the UK population suffers with athlete’s foot, with the highest rates seen in men over the age of 16. ^[1]

How common is athlete’s foot?

Over 70% of people will have athlete’s foot at least once in their lives. It usually occurs between the toes but can also infect the hands. Sometimes it can spread to the sole of the foot where it causes dry and cracked skin.

Both children and adults can get athlete’s foot, although it’s more common in men and older people and those who participate in sports or work in damp conditions.

Swimming pool users and people who work in industrial settings are the most likely to get athlete’s foot. ^[1]

What causes athlete’s foot?

Athlete’s foot is caused by a fungus called dermatophytes. This type of fungi thrives in warm and moist conditions (like a sweaty sock or trainer). The fungi enters the body through cracks and splits in the skin.

Once the fungus is in the skin it continues to thrive in the warm and moist conditions and spreads around the foot.

Athlete’s foot spreads from one person to another when skin flakes are transferred from an infected foot. This typically occurs in communal showers or in changing rooms where people walk around with bare feet after exercising. It can also happen when people share trainers or other sporting equipment carrying infected skin flakes. Sharing towels is a common way to spread the infection.

It can recur if socks and shoes are not washed or discarded following infection.

What are the symptoms of athlete’s foot?

The symptoms of athlete’s foot are usually seen between the toes, but can appear on the sole of the foot, in toenails and on hands.

Typical symptoms include:

• itching and stinging between the toes (often between the little toe and the one next to it)
• cracking and peeling skin
• blisters (which are often itchy)
• dry skin on the soles of the feet or between the toes
• raw skin on the feet
• discoloured toenails
• fragile toenails that crumble or pull away from the nail bed
• swelling
• hard white skin between the toes and on the sole and balls of the feet

Can athlete’s foot lead to other problems?

Athlete’s foot is very common and is often not serious, but left untreated it can sometimes lead to nail infections that are tricky to treat.

In very rare cases, the infection can spread to the lymph nodes. This can lead to an infection in the vessels of the lymph nodes called lymphangitis.

If you don’t treat your athlete’s foot, there’s also a chance that the skin may crack, leading to bacterial skin infection.

If you have diabetes, you should be vigilant when it comes to athlete’s foot because you’re at a greater risk of developing it than the general population, due to the unique composition of your sweat.