Athletes Foot
Athlete’s foot is a fungal infection that affects the upper layer of the skin of the foot, especially when it is warm, moist, and irritated.
It is as also known as tinea pedi and ringworm of the foot. The fungus that causes athlete’s foot is called Trichophyton and is commonly found on floors and in clothing.
​
Athlete’s foot fungus only infects the skin if conditions are right – it requires a warm and moist environment, for example, the inside of a shoe. Because of this, only about 0.75 percent of people who regularly walk about barefoot are affected.
Causes
Thick, tight shoes are more likely to trigger athlete’s foot because they squeeze the toes together, creating ideal conditions for the fungus to thrive. Experts say that plastic shoes, which warm and moisten feet the most, are more likely to bring on athlete’s foot than those made from other materials, such as leather or canvas.
​
If socks are damp and the feet are warm, there is a greater risk of developing athlete’s foot.
Athlete’s foot can be spread through direct and indirect contact:
-
direct, skin-to-skin contact, as may occur when an uninfected person touches the infected area of somebody with athlete’s foot
-
indirect contact, in which the fungi can infect people via contaminated surfaces, clothing, socks, shoes, bed sheets, and towels
​
Athlete’s foot commonly spreads around swimming pools and communal showers – these places are generally humid and warm. People with weakened immune systems are more susceptible to developing athlete’s foot.
