The name should not be misleading. It is not in fact a disorder that affects only athletes, on the contrary: especially in summer it can affect anyone. Let’s see how to avoid it and, if necessary, cure it.
What is athlete’s foot
Ringworm of the foot, more easily known as athlete’s foot, is an extremely contagious fungal infection.
It is caused by fungi (or fungi) dermatophytes (ie that thrive on the epidermis) of the genus Trichophyton and Epidermophyton which, due to the humidity normally present for sweating, are installed between the toes where it is easier to take root.
The disease is quite widespread, especially in summer, and the infection occurs mainly in humid places such as changing rooms, swimming pools, saunas.
Athlete’s foot is an infection that mainly affects athletes because they are habitual visitors to such places, however all other people can also be affected by this form of mycosis of the foot, with a greater predisposition of adult / elderly males.
If your problem is mycosis of the toenails read this article.
The areas most affected by mycosis are the interdigital spaces (ie those between the fingers) and the soles of the feet, and the transmission takes place both through direct contact and indirectly through small fragments of skin that are dispersed in the environment.
It is not a serious pathology: the fungus does not penetrate deeply and causes simple erythema, redness, cracking and, sometimes, small blisters or sores.
However, these disorders can be associated with unpleasant effects such as intense itching, burning and bad smell and also involve the nails, which change color and flake.
In addition, feeding on keratin, a substance abundant in the outermost layers of the skin, this fungus exposes the skin to infection by other microorganisms.
Acting promptly to block its growth is, therefore, also important to avoid complications such as cuts and bacterial superinfections.
Symptoms
The pathology is not serious, but certainly unpleasant and, in case of bacterial superinfection, causes intense itching, burning and is often associated with bad smell.
Four distinct clinical forms can be observed, which sometimes combine and appear simultaneously.
There is a chronic hyperkeratotic form that manifests itself with desquamation and thickening of the entire plantar surface, a chronic intertriginous one that, instead, causes desquamation, erythema and erosion of the lateral part of the foot, a blister-bullous that causes the appearance of small blisters on the sole of the foot and, finally, an acute ulcerative that is perhaps the most widespread. In this case, the most affected area is between the 3rd and 4th toes where redness (erythema) and cracks are observed; Among its possible complications are cellulitis, lymphangitis (an infection of the lymphatic vessels) and possible bacterial superinfections.
Diagnosis of athlete’s foot
It is usually very simple: to formulate it, the specialist just needs the physical examination of the infected foot, associated with an assessment of the risk factors present (such as, for example, the use of tight shoes or the presence of heat and humidity in the environment).
If, however, the diagnosis is not evident, it may be necessary to examine a skin sample under a microscope, also to exclude the presence of other diseases (eczema, psoriasis, allergic contact dermatitis).
Causes of athlete’s foot
It is the humidity that favors the proliferation of these fungi; Suffice it to say that in the area where mycosis occurs most frequently (between the fourth and fifth toes) the average humidity rate can reach 98%. Precisely for this reason, prolonged contact with the floors of showers, saunas, changing rooms and hot and humid pools, makes infection more likely.
This predilection for humidity means that athlete’s foot is a more frequent disorder in summer, when more intense sweating favors the maceration of the skin and makes it more easily attacked. In addition, walking barefoot in the pool, beach and bathrooms of hotels, resorts and campsites increases the likelihood of contagion.
A first good rule to avoid infection is, therefore, to avoid walking barefoot in public places, but also sweaty socks and closed shoes or that do not allow adequate transpiration of the foot should be abandoned.
Simple remedies and easy precautions
The infection can be treated with creams (especially if the skin is macerated), sprays, powders, ointments and lotions based on antifungals (bifonazole, clotrimazole, miconazole, econazole and sulconazole). The treatment lasts about 3 weeks, but it is advisable to continue it for at least 2 weeks after the symptoms disappear to avoid recurrence.
The therapy lasts a few weeks and can be combined with the use of products that counteract excessive sweating. Only if cuts or exudates are formed may an aluminium-based antiseptic and astringent treatment be necessary.
Help can also come from herbal counters: thyme, lavender, grapefruit seed extract, propolis, aloe vera, calendula, cat’s claw, echinacea and oats help improve the state of the skin.
Finally, to recover from the most severe forms of athlete’s foot, the doctor may prescribe oral corticosteroids or antifungals (fluconazole, itraconazole and terbinafine), which allow you to eliminate the infection in 7-10 days.
During the treatment, shoes and socks can also be treated with antifungal powders, while linen and floors, especially in the bathroom and shower, should be washed with varechina.
To avoid infecting those around us, it would be good not to attend the pools and not to exchange towels, beach towels, sponges, shower gloves and shoes.
Finally, it is better to avoid binges on sweets and fruit: sugar, in fact, promotes the growth of the fungus. Ample space, however, to vegetables.
Prevention is also key. Therefore it is important to keep your feet cool and dry, use shoes that allow perspiration, cotton or silk socks, wear slippers and make use of personal towels.
It is also advisable to wash the laundry at high temperatures (over 60 ° C) or in varechina.
Complications
Like all skin mycoses, athlete’s foot should not be underestimated and it is advisable to resort to timely treatment to avoid bacterial superinfections.
In addition, if the disease is neglected, painful blisters may arise that can limit walking, or skin cracks resistant to superficial care that can cause bleeding.
Other skin mycoses
In addition to athlete’s foot, there are other skin mycoses, which differ depending on the areas of the body affected, the characteristics of the lesions and the symptoms.
| Mycosis | Affected areas | Features of lesions | Symptoms |
| Tinea corporis | Face, neck, trunk, arms and legs, in hairless areas. | Circular patches, with raised edge, reddened and flaky, sometimes with vesicles, and a lighter and smoother central part, which progressively widen. | Usually asymptomatic; sometimes mild burning or itching. |
| Tinea barbae | Beard area. | Surface patches, circular in shape. | Swollen and aching patch with vesicles and pustules, which sometimes exudes pus (cherion). |
| Tinea cruris | Skin folds, especially inguinal folds. | Large annular patches, with raised edge, reddened and desquamanting, which progressively widen. | Often associated with itching; sometimes mild burning. |
| Tinea capitis | Scalp | Round patches with dandruff-like peeling. | Hair loss in the infected area and, in severe cases, a large swollen and aching patch with vesicles and pustules, which sometimes exudes pus (cherion). |
| Onychomycosis | Toenails and fingernails. | Alterations of different parts of the nail, which becomes whitish-yellowish, soft, fragile, with a tendency to crumble and / or rise from the nail bed. | Usually asymptomatic; sometimes mild burning or pain if the supporting tissues of the nail become inflamed. |
| Cutaneous candidiasis | Skin folds of various parts of the body (submammary, inguinal, abdominal in obese people) and spaces between the fingers. | Bright red spots, sometimes eroded and shiny covered with a whitish dusty patina or with whitish border macerated at the edges. Vesicles or pustules may also be present near the main patch. They tend to desquamanti. | Always associated with itching; often mild swelling, burning or pain. |
| Vaginal candidiasis | Vulva. | Erythema, edema and grazes. | Almost always accompanied by burning, itching, vulvar irritation, whitish discharge similar to curd cheese. |
| Pityriasis versicolor | Shoulders, neck, upper arms, back, abdomen. | Circular-ovoid patches of contrasting color with that of healthy skin (pink on tanned skin; coffee-milk on light skin) with a tendency to converge, forming wider asymmetrical “map” patches. | Usually asymptomatic; sometimes itching of varying intensity. |
Joycelyn Elders is the author and creator of EmpowerEssence, a health and wellness blog. Elders is a respected public health advocate and pediatrician dedicated to promoting general health and well-being.
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