Athlete's foot (swimmers' eczema, tinea pedis)

1. Athlete's foot is a common skin infection. This is caused by a fungus that feeds on the top layer of the skin, especially between the toes and on the sides of the feet. This manifests itself in white / gray flakes, cracks and sometimes redness, with possibly pain and itching. Athlete's foot can be treated in different ways, but it can come back more easily.

What is athlete's foot?

1. Athlete's foot (medical term: tinea pedis) is a skin infection on the feet that is mainly visible between the toes and on the sides of the feet. You can recognize it by cracks between your toes, or white / gray skin flakes on that spot, but possibly also on the sides of your feet. Here you sometimes also see a round, red discoloration. The affected areas can be quite itchy and you may also experience a stabbing pain. Athlete's foot is also called swimmers' eczema, because it develops more easily in a warm, moist environment. In English, the condition is known as 'athlete's foot'. You can also easily catch it in changing rooms, saunas and fitness rooms. Because this fungus is contagious, you are actually at risk in all areas where many people walk around barefoot. But also by wearing tight, poorly ventilating shoes or socks, you increase the risk of swimmers' eczema. Athlete's foot is common: about 10 percent of the population suffers from it; among adult men this is even 20 percent. Once you've had swimmers' eczema, getting rid of it completely isn't easy either. The fungus leaves traces in your socks and shoes. Even washing these will not remove them. This can keep you infected. Athlete's foot is not serious in itself, but it is annoying and persistent. Moreover, the skin can become so damaged that it is easier to contract a bacterial infection, with even more pain and complaints as a result.

2. Athlete's foot (medical term: tinea pedis) is a skin infection on the feet that is mainly visible between the toes and on the sides of the feet. You can recognize it by cracks between your toes, or white / gray skin flakes on that spot, but possibly also on the sides of your feet. Here you sometimes also see a round, red discoloration. The affected areas can be quite itchy and you may also experience a stabbing pain. Athlete's foot is also called swimmers' eczema because it develops more easily in a warm, moist environment. In English, the condition is known as 'athlete's foot'. You can also easily catch it in changing rooms, saunas and fitness rooms. Because this fungus is contagious, you are actually at risk in all areas where many people walk around barefoot. But also by wearing tight, poorly ventilating shoes or socks, you increase the risk of swimmers' eczema. Athlete's foot is common: about 10 percent of the population suffers from it; among adult men this is even 20 percent. Once you've had swimmers' eczema, getting rid of it completely isn't easy either. The fungus leaves traces in your socks and shoes. Even washing these will not remove them. This can keep you infected. Athlete's foot is not serious in itself, but it is annoying and persistent. Moreover, the skin can become so damaged that it is easier to contract a bacterial infection, with even more pain and complaints as a result.

Athlete's foot

1. Athlete's foot is caused by a certain type of fungus that develops foot with the horny layer of your skin. It needs certain conditions to cause an infection; especially a warm, humid environment. So if your feet come into contact with such spots and you don't dry them properly, you can get mold. Walking barefoot in public areas is the most important factor in contracting athlete's foot.

2. Athlete's foot is caused by a certain type of fungus that occurs on the basis of the horny layer of your skin. It needs certain conditions to cause infection; especially a warm, humid environment. So if your feet come into contact with such spots and you don't dry them properly, you can get mold. Walking barefoot in public areas is the most important factor in contracting athlete's foot.

Athlete's foot symptoms

1. Athlete's foot is usually easily identified by the following symptoms: gaps between the toes white / gray flakes between the toes and on the side of the foot round, red rash on the side of the foot stabbing pain (severe) itching an unpleasant odor Sometimes the fungus can also spread to your toenails, which then turn yellow and crumbly. In addition, you can sometimes also get red blisters between your fingers. Is the infection getting worse and do you experience swelling, redness, more pain and pus? Then there is a chance that you have also contracted a bacterial infection. Especially then it is important to contact the doctor.

2. Athlete's foot is usually easily recognized by the following symptoms: gaps between the toes white / gray flakes between the toes and on the side of the foot round, red rash on the side of the foot stabbing pain (severe) itching an unpleasant odor Sometimes the fungus can also spread to your toenails, which then turn yellow and crumbly. In addition, you can sometimes also get red blisters between your fingers. Is the infection getting worse and do you experience swelling, redness, more pain and pus? Then there is a chance that you have also contracted a bacterial infection. Especially then it is important to contact your doctor.

How is athlete's foot diagnosed?

1. Athlete's foot is usually easy for a GP to recognize with the naked eye, but some flakes can be placed under the microscope to determine with certainty that it is a fungus.

2. Athlete's foot is usually easy for a GP to recognize with the naked eye, but if necessary some flakes can be placed under the microscope to determine with certainty that it is a fungus.

Risk factors / groups

1. Athlete's foot is more common in men than in women. About 20 percent regularly suffer from it. There are also people whose little toe has grown inward too much, so that it is constantly pressed against the fourth toe and is difficult to dry or keep dry when sweating. They also belong to the risk groups for swimmers' eczema.

2. Athlete's foot is more common in men than in women. About 20 percent regularly suffer from it. There are also people whose little toe has grown in too much, so that it is constantly pressed against the fourth toe and is difficult to dry or keep dry when sweating. They also belong to the risk groups for swimmers' eczema.

There are several risk factors that increase the chance of developing athlete's foot, such as:

1. Walking barefoot in public areas, especially those that are humid and warm, such as swimming pools, saunas, gyms and locker rooms not drying your feet properly, especially the area between your toes wear tight and / or poorly ventilating socks and / or shoes not treating your shoes and socks properly with an anti-fungal agent after contamination, so that you can re-infect yourself, even if you treat the fungus properly.

Athlete's foot

1. Athlete's foot is treatable in itself, but this takes time and must be done consistently. Most people treat swimmers' eczema themselves with topical agents, such as an ointment or cream containing certain fungicidal ingredients, such as Daktarin, Nizoral or Loprox. These are freely available at the drugstore or pharmacy. You have to keep applying the cream for four to six weeks, even if you no longer have complaints. Read and follow the package leaflet carefully. There are also special anti-fungal powders available to sprinkle in your socks and shoes. This way you can also kill the spores of the fungi and prevent your complaints from returning. Do you suffer from persistent athlete's foot? Then you can use the medicines Letoconazole or griseofulvin. These are both available on prescription from pharmacies. In case of a bacterial infection, you can be prescribed antibiotics in cream form. In the case of stubborn athlete's foot, it is sometimes also decided to take antifungal drugs. However, these are quite heavy and not suitable for everyone. Especially pregnant women, women who want to become pregnant or women who are breastfeeding should not take them. Moreover, these can have many side effects and reduce the effect of other drugs such as the contraceptive pill or, on the contrary, enhance the effect of certain medicines, such as antidepressants, certain heart medications and blood thinners.

You can also do the following to prevent the return of athlete's foot:

1. Dry your feet well after a bath or shower. Consider using a hair dryer on the areas between your toes. be careful not to spread the spores to healthy toes by using the same towel you just used on the infected toes. preferably do not use soap to wash your feet or at least rinse away all soap residues well. wear wool, cotton or bamboo socks that ventilate well and are not constrictive. wear shoes that allow enough space for your toes, or preferably open shoes, such as sandals or flip flops. wear flip flops when walking around public areas in a country with a warm and humid climate.

Forecast

1. Athlete's foot is generally not serious and can be treated well. Complications can occur, such as a bacterial infection. Then you need more extensive treatment. In public areas in a country with a warm and humid climate, there are usually many spores, so there is a high risk of contamination. If you don't treat an athlete's foot once you get it, it will easily come back because of traces left behind. However, you can try to prevent this. Sources)

Most searched

1. ]