Athlete foot how do you get it

Pus, drainage, and fever are additional signs of a bacterial infection. A skin infection could lead to infections of your lymphatic system or lymph nodes. Some clear up quickly, and others last a long time. However, sometimes fungal infections are difficult to eliminate. Our feet get us around every day, and often in uncomfortable shoes. No wonder many of us end up with tired, achy, and stinky feet. But a kitchen…. A Listerine foot soak is a type of at-home foot bath. It's primarily used to treat athlete's foot and onychomycosis toenail fungus.

It causes a scaly, itchy rash that may be painful…. Jock itch is a fungal infection. It causes a rash that often itches or burns. The rash may be red, flaky, or scaly. While jock itch is bothersome…. Tinea manuum is a contagious, fungal infection of the hands.

Viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites can all cause skin infections. What Happens How athlete's foot tinea pedis develops and how well it responds to treatment depends on the type of athlete's foot you have. Toe web infection Toe web infections interdigital often begin with skin that seems moist and pale white. Toe web infections respond well to treatment. Moccasin-type infection Moccasin-type infections may begin with minor irritation, dryness, itching, burning, or scaly skin and progress to thickened, cracked skin on the sole or heel.

Moccasin-type infections may be long-lasting. Vesicular infection Vesicular infections blisters usually begin with a sudden outbreak of blisters that become red and inflamed.

Vesicular infections usually respond well to treatment. Complications If untreated, skin blisters and cracks caused by athlete's foot can lead to severe bacterial infections. Athlete's foot is most likely to return if: You don't take preventive measures and are again exposed to fungi that cause athlete's foot. You don't use antifungal medicine for the prescribed length of time and the fungi are not completely killed.

The fungi are not completely killed even after the full course of medicine. Severe infections that appear suddenly, and keep returning, can lead to long-lasting infection. What Increases Your Risk Athlete's foot is easily spread contagious.

Risk factors you cannot change Risk factors you cannot change include: Being male. Men are more susceptible than women. Having a history of being susceptible to fungal infections. Having an impaired immune system due to conditions such as diabetes or cancer. Living in a warm, damp climate. Athlete's foot is more common in older adults.

Children rarely get it. Risk factors you can change Risk factors you can change include: Allowing your feet to remain damp. Wearing tight, poorly ventilated shoes. Using public or shared showers or locker rooms without wearing shower shoes. Doing activities that involve being in the water for long periods of time.

When should you call your doctor? Call your doctor about a skin infection on your feet if: Your feet have severe cracking, scaling, or peeling skin.

You have blisters on your feet. You notice signs of bacterial infection, including: Increased pain, swelling, redness, tenderness, or heat. Red streaks extending from the affected area. Discharge of pus. Fever of The infection appears to be spreading. You have diabetes or diseases associated with poor circulation and you get athlete's foot. People who have diabetes are at increased risk of a severe bacterial infection of the foot and leg if they have athlete's foot.

Your symptoms do not improve after 2 weeks of treatment or are not gone after 4 weeks of treatment with a nonprescription antifungal medicine.

Watchful waiting Watchful waiting is a period of time during which you and your doctor observe your symptoms or condition without using medical treatment. Who to see Health professionals who can diagnose or treat athlete's foot include: Physician assistants. Nurse practitioners. Family medicine doctors. Internal medicine doctors. Exams and Tests In most cases, your doctor can diagnose athlete's foot tinea pedis by looking at your foot.

He or she will examine the skin and nail samples using laboratory tests including: KOH potassium hydroxide preparation , to confirm the presence of fungi. Fungal culture, to identify the type of fungus present. Treatment Overview How you treat athlete's foot tinea pedis depends on its type and severity.

Nonprescription antifungals usually are used first. Nonprescription antifungals are applied to the skin topical medicines. Prescription antifungals may be tried if nonprescription medicines are not successful or if you have a severe infection.

Toe web infections Toe web interdigital infections occur between the toes, especially between the fourth and fifth toes. Treat mild to moderate toe web infections by keeping your feet clean and dry and using nonprescription antifungal creams or lotions. If a severe infection develops, your doctor may prescribe a combination of topical antifungal creams plus either oral or topical antibiotic medicines. Moccasin-type infections Moccasin-type athlete's foot causes scaly, thickened skin on the sole and heel of the foot.

Nonprescription medicines may not penetrate the thick skin of the sole well enough to cure moccasin-type athlete's foot. In this case, a prescription topical antifungal medicine that penetrates the sole, such as ketoconazole, may be used. Prescription oral antifungal medicines are sometimes needed to cure moccasin-type athlete's foot.

Vesicular infections Vesicular infections, or blisters, usually appear on the foot instep but can also develop between the toes, on the sole of the foot, on the top of the foot, or on the heel. Treatment of vesicular infections may be done at your doctor's office or at home. You can dry out the blisters at home by soaking your foot in nonprescription Burow's solution several times a day for 3 or more days until the blister area is dried out.

After the area is dried out, use a topical antifungal cream as directed. If you also have a bacterial infection, you will most likely need an oral antibiotic. Even when treated, athlete's foot often returns. This is likely to happen if: You don't take preventive measures and are again exposed to the fungi that cause athlete's foot.

You don't use antifungal medicine for the specified length of time and the fungi are not completely killed. You can prevent athlete's foot by: Keeping your feet clean and dry. Dry between your toes after swimming or bathing. Wear shoes or sandals that allow your feet to breathe. When indoors, wear socks without shoes. Wear socks to absorb sweat. Change your socks twice a day. Use talcum or antifungal powder on your feet.

Allow your shoes to air for at least 24 hours before you wear them again. Wearing shower sandals in public pools and showers. What to think about You may choose not to treat athlete's foot if your symptoms don't bother you and you have no health problems that increase your chance of severe foot infection, such as diabetes.

Prevention You can prevent athlete's foot tinea pedis by: Keeping your feet clean and dry. Tips to prevent athlete's foot recurrence Always finish the full course of any antifungal medicine cream or pills. Live fungi remain on your skin for days after your symptoms have disappeared. The chances of killing athlete's foot are greatest when you treat it for the prescribed period of time. Washing clothes in soapy, warm water may not kill the fungi that cause athlete's foot.

Use hot water and bleach to increase the chance of killing fungi on your clothes. You can help prevent recurrence of a toe web infection by using powder to keep your feet dry, using lamb's wool between the toes to separate them , and wearing wider, roomier shoes that have not been infected by fungi.

Lamb's wool is available at most pharmacies or foot care stores. Home Treatment You can usually treat athlete's foot tinea pedis yourself at home by using nonprescription medicines and taking care of your feet. Nonprescription medicines Nonprescription antifungals include clotrimazole Lotrimin , miconazole Micatin , terbinafine Lamisil , and tolnaftate Tinactin.

Avoid using hydrocortisone cream on a fungal infection, unless your doctor prescribes it. Foot care Good foot care helps treat and prevent athlete's foot. Keep your feet clean and dry. Wear shower sandals in public pools and showers. Medications Antifungal medicines that are used on the skin topical are usually the first choice for treating athlete's foot tinea pedis. Medicine choices Nonprescription antifungals are usually tried first.

What to think about You may choose not to treat athlete's foot if your symptoms don't bother you and you have no health problems that increase your risk of severe foot infection, such as diabetes. Other Treatment Tea tree oil or garlic ajoene may help prevent or treat athlete's foot tinea pedis fungi.

Tea tree oil is an antifungal and antibacterial agent derived from the Australian Melaleuca alternifolia tree. Although it reduces fungi and resulting symptoms, tea tree oil may not completely kill off the infection. It is sometimes used to treat athlete's foot. Compresses or foot soaks using nonprescription Burow's solution can help soothe and dry out blisterlike vesicular athlete's foot.

After the blister fluid is gone, you can use antifungal creams or prescription antifungal pills. References Citations Crawford F Athlete's foot, search date July Melaleuca alternifolia Tea Tree. Louis: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier. Tinea of the foot section of Superficial fungal infections. Edinburgh: Mosby Elsevier. Habif TP, et al. Tinea of the foot tinea pedis.

In Skin Disease: Diagnosis and Treatment, 3rd ed. You can also spread it from the foot to other parts of the body, especially if you scratch or pick the infected parts of your foot. The athlete's foot infection can spread to other warm, moist parts of the body. Jock itch is often caused by the same fungus that results in athlete's foot. It's common for the infection to spread from the feet to the groin because the fungus can travel on hands or towels.

Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Athlete's foot between the toes Open pop-up dialog box Close. Athlete's foot between the toes Athlete's foot can cause cracked peeling skin between the toes. Athlete's foot Open pop-up dialog box Close.

Athlete's foot Athlete's foot is a fungal infection that causes scaly rash that may itch, sting or burn. Athlete's foot on side of foot Open pop-up dialog box Close. Athlete's foot on side of foot Athlete's foot can cause dry, scaly skin on the bottom and sides of the foot.

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