Athletes Foot – Tinea

What is Athletes Foot

Have you ever had rashes across your feet or in between your toes? Or maybe small blister-like skin lines across your feet? There’s a good chance you have athletes foot. Athletes foot is a fungal infection known as ‘tinea’ that affects the skin. It can be quite common in warmer environments and can affect anyone – not just athlete’s as the name suggests. There are a number of causes and risk factors for athletes foot, but luckily there is plenty your podiatrist can do to help manage the infection!

What causes Tinea?

Tinea is ultimately caused when fungal spores in our environment infect our skin via an opening such as a cut or a wound. Common ways fungus may infect your skin include:

• Excessively sweaty feet
• Not drying your feet after a shower (including between your toes)
• Exposure to public baths, public showers and communal pools (particularly when walking around barefoot)
• Not changing your socks daily
• A weakened immune system

What are the symptoms of Tinea?

• Itching, burning or stinging sensation on the sole of your feet or between your toes.
• Cracked skin, often appearing as small blisters
• Inflammed, rash-like appearance

If untreated, the tinea can worsen and present the following symptoms:

• Painful feet
• Oozing blisters
• Unpleasant foot odour
• Fungal nail infections

How can we treat Athletes Foot?

Treatment for athletes foot will often depend on the severity of the condition. Some cases will be effectively treated by over-the-counter medication, while more serious cases may need a more aggressive treatment from your GP or Podiatrist. Easy at-home treatments for tinea may include:

• Washing and drying your feet daily
• Switching to breathable socks, preferably bamboo
• Wearing open shoes where possible to let air circulate
• Leaving your shoes out to air often and keeping them dry as much as you can.
• Washing your bed sheets with anti-fungal wash, such as Canesten.

Common medical treatment for tinea may include:

• Anti-fungal cream, gel, ointment, powder or spray – available over the counter at chemists
• Anti-fungal tablet medication – available via a GP prescription.

Long-term use can lead to liver and kidney issues, so be sure to have regular assessments via your GP Fungal nail treatment: When fungus affects the nail, both topical and oral medication can be utilised for treatment. The Movement Centre also offers fungal nail laser therapy for a higher treatment success rate.

How to Avoid Athletes Foot?

The best thing you can do to avoid athletes foot is to maintain good foot hygiene in day-to-day life. These will be very similar to the at-home treatment options for tinea. Examples may include:

• Keeping your feet both dry and clean.
• Drying your feet after showers – especially between your toes
• Wearing thongs whenever you’re in public baths, public showers and public pools

If you think you might have athletes foot, be sure to book an appointment at The Movement Centre today. Our team of podiatrists are experts of all foot and lower leg issues, and would be happy to help diagnosis your condition and get you back on your feet in one piece!