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Athlete's Foot, also known as tinea pedis, is a skin disease caused by a fungus that usually--but not always--occurs between the toes. The fungus attacks the feet because shoes create a warm, dark, and humid environment that encourages fungus growth. Warm, damp areas around swimming pools, showers, and locker rooms, are also breeding grounds for fungi.

Symptoms of Athlete's Foot can include drying skin, itching, scaling, inflammation, and blisters on and between the toes. Athlete's Foot can spread to the soles of the feet and to the toenails as well as other parts of the body, which is why timely treatment is so important. Keep in mind that not all Athlete's Foot infections are itchy and it may only be seen as dryness or scaling on the soles of the feet with no involvement between the toes.

You can prevent Athlete's Foot by:

• Not walking barefoot, particularly in public pools and locker rooms.
• Reducing foot perspiration by using talcum powder on the feet--better than putting it in your shoes.
• Avoid wearing the same shoes on consecutive days.
• There are sprays and ultraviolet sanitizers available which can treat the shoes directly.
• Wearing socks that keep your feet dry, and changing them frequently if you perspire heavily. The material should be of the tpye that wicks perspiration away from the skin.  Cotton absorbs moisture well, but leaves moisture against the skin, so cotton socks are NOT recommended.

While over-the-counter products are often used to treat mild Athlete's Foot problems, they often fail to contact the fungi in the lower layers of the skin. For persistent Athlete's Foot, a prescription fungicidal topical or an oral antifungal drug may be needed.  

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