
Despite the name, athlete's foot -- or tinea pedis -- isn't actually related to sports. It's simply a fungal infection caused by Trichophyton, a fungus that thrives on your skin. While it lives on your skin, it generally loses the fight against bacteria that also inhabit your epidermis.
A locker room provides the perfect environment for Trichophyton to flourish, but any warm, moist location will suffice. Once the infection takes root, it can cause dry, raw, and intensely itchy skin. In some cases, it can even spread to the scalp, resulting in hair loss, or to the groin area, leading to an uncomfortable condition known as "jock itch." Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to treat it.
- Keep your feet dry. Although it might seem strange when your feet are already itching and cracking, fungus thrives in dark, damp environments. Whenever possible, remove your shoes and socks to help your feet stay dry.
- Use iodine. Cracking between your toes may also mean you have a bacterial infection. Soak your feet in a warm water and iodine mixture for 20 minutes daily. After soaking, dry your feet thoroughly before moving on to the next step.
- Apply medication. While commercials often overpromise, over-the-counter athlete's foot treatments are usually very effective. Creams tend to be the most successful. After cleaning and drying your feet, apply medications like undecylenic acid (Desenex), tolnaftate (Tinactin), or miconazole (Micatin). Twice a day should suffice.
- Don't forget your shoes. Reusing fungus-infected shoes is like reintroducing the problem. Eliminate the fungus from your shoes with antifungal or antibacterial powder or spray.
- Focus on prevention. Make prevention a priority. Disinfect your shower or bathtub with antiseptic after every use. If you're using a public locker room shower, wear flip-flops to avoid direct contact with the floor. Always dry your feet thoroughly before putting on clean socks.
Most cases of athlete's foot can be treated at home with persistence. Just because symptoms vanish, don't assume the problem is resolved. Continue treatment for three to six weeks to fully eliminate the fungus. If you'd rather avoid over-the-counter treatments, you can soak your feet in a mix of water and vinegar each evening.
For the soak, use 1 cup (227 milliliters) of vinegar per 2 quarts (1.8 liters) of water. A 15- to 30-minute soak should be enough. Saltwater is another option. Mix 1 teaspoon (4.9 milliliters) of salt with 1 cup of warm water. Soak your feet in the salty solution for 10 minutes, then dry them thoroughly. If your symptoms worsen or don't improve after one or two weeks, you may need to seek professional help. Severe cases with cracking, oozing, or pus may indicate a more serious condition requiring medical attention.