Athlete’s foot is a common fungal infection of the skin on the feet. Fungal germs or fungi often occur in small numbers on human skin where they usually do no harm.However, if conditions are right they can invade the skin, multiply, and cause infection. The conditions fungi like best are warm, moist and airless areas of skin, such as between the toes.
Athlete’s foot is a common fungal infection of the skin on the feet. Fungal germs or fungi often occur in small numbers on human skin where they usually do no harm.However, if conditions are right they can invade the skin, multiply, and cause infection. The conditions fungi like best are warm, moist and airless areas of skin, such as between the toes.
Athlete’s foot can also be passed on from person to person and common symptoms include:
A rash that becomes itchy and scaly.
The skin may become cracked and sore.
Tiny flakes of infected skin may fall off.
The rash may spread gradually along the toes if left untreated.
In some cases it spreads to the soles.
Scaling rash on the entire sole and side of the foot
Fungi do not usually go deeper than the skin into the body. However, other germs (bacteria) may enter through the cracked skin of untreated athlete’s foot. This can occasionally cause more serious infections of the foot or leg.The infection sometimes spreads to a nail. This can be treated.
