ATHLETE'S FOOT

What is it?

Athlete's foot is a fungal infection which thrives in moist, warm areas of skin such as that between the toes. You've no doubt heard of it and you may even have experienced it, as one in seven adults will catch it at some point.

How do I know if I've got it?

You'll know you've got athlete's foot if you notice itchy, irritating patches of skin between, the toes. It often starts between the little toe and the one next to it, but can spread to other parts of the foot and even other parts of the body. The skin may be damp and soggy, but it may also crack, flake, bleed and be quite painful.

Who gets it and how do you catch it?

It's called 'athlete's foot' because sporty people who spend a lot of time wearing training shoes often suffer with it. That's because the training shoes, combined with exercise create a warm, damp environment on which the fungus loves to grow.

But it's not just sporty people who get it. It's very easy to catch and pass athlete's foot on to other people. The fungus can be transferred wherever you go barefoot, such as in your bathroom at home, in communal showers and changing areas, or if you share towels or shoes used by someone who has athlete's foot.

How do I treat it?

The infection is unlikely to go away on its own and, because it is so easy to spread to other people and other parts of the foot and body, it should be treated.

• Be particularly careful to wash and dry your feet thoroughly at least once or twice a day
• Use tissue paper rather than a towel to dry your feet and toes so that you don't risk passing the infection to another person who may subsequently use the towel, or to another part of your body
• If you are a regular sufferer, you should see your doctor who may be able to suggest a more effective treatment.

What happens if it's not treated?

As well as not going away, the fungus may also spread to the nails. This is called fungal nail infection and was covered in the previous section.
It can also spread to the groin area and other parts of the body.

How can I avoid getting athlete's foot?

There are two ways to avoid getting it.
To start with, protect yourself against picking up the fungus in the first place, by:

• not sharing bath towels and bath mats
• wearing suitable shoes or flip-flops in showers, changing rooms and around swimming pools

Secondly, try to keep your feet as dry and cool as possible, as the fungus lives in damp, warm skin. Try:

• drying your feet really thoroughly each time you wash them, particularly between the toes, using tissue paper
• wearing cotton socks and shoes made from natural materials which will allow your skin to 'breathe'
• using your training shoes only for sport
• Athlete's foot is a very common condition
• It thrives in moist, warm areas of skin
• It can be spread easily to other people and other parts of the body, including the toenails
• The infection is unlikely to go away without treatment