Definition
What is Athlete's foot?
Athlete's foot (tinea pedis) is a superficial infection of the skin of the foot, especially between the fourth and fifth toes, caused by keratin-feeding dermatophyte fungi. It has three main types: the between-the-toes type, with whitening, peeling and cracks between the toes; a dry, scaly, thickened type that wraps around the sole and sides of the foot like a moccasin; and an inflammatory type with itchy, fluid-filled blisters on the sole. The name 'athlete's foot' comes from its strong link to gyms, shared showers and pool areas.
Athlete's foot is more common in men than women and peaks between the ages of 16 and 45. That's not surprising: men use gyms and locker rooms more, can spend 10-12 hours a day in non-breathable footwear like safety boots, military boots and closed office shoes, and their feet sweat more. The inside of a closed shoe is warm, dark and damp, which is exactly what fungus loves. Urbanization, the spread of sports facilities and rising body weight are considered among the main reasons athlete's foot is increasing worldwide.
Athlete's foot starts as a small itch, but if ignored, the problem grows. The fungus can spread to the nails, causing yellowing, thickening and crumbling; nail fungus requires a much longer and more demanding treatment. Cracks between the toes can open the door to bacteria, and in men with diabetes in particular, this can set the stage for serious infections. The fungus on your feet can also be carried to your groin and hands when putting on underwear or with a towel. Catching it early, treating it consistently and changing your shoe and sock habits are the keys to breaking this chain.
Check yourself
How do you spot it?
- ✓Whitened, softened and peeling skin between the fourth and fifth toes
- ✓Itching, burning and fine cracks between the toes
- ✓Dry, fine scaling and thickening on the soles and sides of the feet (moccasin type)
- ✓Small, itchy, fluid-filled blisters on the sole or arch
- ✓A noticeable, sharp odor when you take off your shoes
- ✓Yellowing, white spots, thickening and crumbling of the toenails
- ✓Dirty-looking buildup under the nail and the nail lifting from its bed
- ✓Sometimes similar scaling on the hands, especially one hand (the one you scratch your feet with)
Why it happens
Main causes
01
Closed, non-breathable shoes
Safety boots, military boots, rubber boots and closed office shoes worn all day create a warm, damp environment for your feet. Wearing the same shoes every day means the inner lining never dries out.
02
Shared showers, pools and locker rooms
Walking barefoot in shared wet areas like gyms, pools, Turkish baths (hamams) and dorms is the most common way to come into contact with fungal spores. Spreading between family members at home is also common.
03
Excessive sweating
In men whose feet sweat a lot, the skin between the toes stays constantly damp. Excessive sweating and athlete's foot feed off each other.
04
Synthetic socks and feet that don't dry
Socks that don't absorb or wick away sweat, not drying between your toes after a shower and putting shoes on wet feet all open the door to fungus.
05
Age, weight and diabetes
As you get older and gain weight, foot care becomes harder and circulation slows down. Diabetes makes fungal infections more frequent and raises the risk of complications.
06
Nail trauma
Tight shoes and constant impact on the nails in sports like soccer and running can leave the nail vulnerable to fungus. A study of 15,000 patients in Canada found that nail fungus was more common in men and at older ages.
In daily life
Triggers that cause flare-ups
Medical approach
Treatment options
01
Topical antifungal creams, sprays and powders
For superficial, limited athlete's foot, topical antifungals are the foundation of treatment. A Cochrane review showed that different groups of topical antifungals are clearly more effective than placebo for athlete's foot. They're usually used once or twice a day for anywhere from one to six weeks; follow your doctor's or pharmacist's advice on the product and duration.
02
Oral antifungal treatment
For widespread, moccasin-type or recurring athlete's foot, when the nails are involved, or in people with immune problems, your doctor may recommend oral antifungal medications. These medications require evaluation for liver effects and interactions with other drugs.
03
Managing nail fungus separately
Nail fungus responds much more slowly than skin fungus; improvement shows as the nail grows out, and the process can take months. Depending on how much of the nail is affected, your doctor may recommend medicated nail lacquers, oral treatment or a combination of both. It's recommended to confirm the diagnosis with a nail sample.
04
An accurate diagnosis
Scaling and itching on the feet isn't always fungal; contact dermatitis, psoriasis and eczema can look similar. Guidelines recommend confirming the diagnosis with a simple skin scraping whenever possible.
05
Bacterial infection and caring for cracks
Discharge between the toes, redness spreading to the top of the foot or pain may be signs of a bacterial infection. In that case, your doctor will evaluate it separately. In men with diabetes, cracks in the feet should always be taken seriously.
Did you know? · Athlete's foot
34.9% · In the Achilles Project, which examined thousands of patients in Europe, a fungal foot disease was found in 34.9% of people in the first study group.
Step by step
Care routine for Athlete's foot
4 steps
- 01
Start with dry feet
After your shower, dry your feet with a separate towel, patting between each toe one by one. If needed, use a hair dryer on the cool setting.
- 02
Treatment cream or spray
Apply the antifungal your doctor or pharmacist recommended between your toes and a little beyond the affected area, and let it dry for a few minutes.
- 03
The right socks
Wear cotton or moisture-wicking technical socks. If your feet sweat a lot, keep a spare pair with you to change during the day.
- 04
Rest yesterday's shoes
Don't wear the same shoes more than two days in a row; the inner lining needs at least a day of rest to dry out.
Caution
What to avoid, and when to see a doctor?
Avoid these
- ✕Walking barefoot in locker rooms, pools and shared showers
- ✕Sharing towels, socks, slippers and nail clippers
- ✕Wearing the same shoes every day
- ✕Putting socks on wet or damp feet
- ✕Stopping treatment once the itching goes away
- ✕Applying thick, greasy cream between your toes
- ✕Ignoring nail changes as 'just cosmetic'
- ✕Using a steroid cream on your own when you suspect fungus
See a dermatologist
- →If there's no improvement after two to four weeks of regular treatment
- →If your toenails have started to yellow, thicken or crumble
- →If you have redness, swelling, pain, discharge or fever in your foot
- →If you have diabetes, for every crack or sore on your foot
- →If athlete's foot keeps coming back
- →If similar symptoms have started on your hands or groin
- →If you have widespread fluid-filled blisters on your soles
Common misconceptions
Myth or fact?
✕Common belief
Athlete's foot only happens to dirty feet.
✓Fact
Athlete's foot is very common in well-groomed men who wash every day and work out. The real factors are moisture, closed shoes and contact with shared wet areas.
✕Common belief
If the itching is gone, the fungus is gone too.
✓Fact
The itching may ease in the first few days, but the fungus can still be on your skin. Stopping treatment before the recommended time is one of the most common reasons it comes back.
✕Common belief
Nail fungus is just a cosmetic problem.
✓Fact
Nail fungus acts like a permanent reservoir for the fungus and can cause athlete's foot and jock itch to keep coming back. A thickened nail can hurt inside your shoe and raise the risk of sores in people with diabetes.
Popular searches
Most asked about Athlete's foot
Your questions
Frequently asked questions
01Can athlete's foot come back from my shoes?+
Yes, it can. Fungal spores can survive in shoe linings, insoles and socks. During treatment, airing out your shoes, rotating them, using an antifungal powder or spray inside them and washing your socks hot all reduce the risk of reinfection.
02I have to wear work boots. What can I do?+
Wear moisture-wicking technical socks and carry a spare pair to change at lunch. If possible, get two pairs of boots and alternate them, giving each a day to dry out. Take your boots off right after your shift and take out the insoles to air them out. If your feet sweat a lot, tell your doctor; approaches that reduce sweating can also be part of the solution.
03Can athlete's foot spread to my groin?+
Yes, this is very common. The fungus can be carried from your feet to your groin when putting on underwear or when drying off with the same towel. Putting on your socks before your underwear and using a separate towel for your feet reduces this risk.
04How long does athlete's foot take to go away?+
Superficial fungus between the toes is usually brought under control within a few weeks with proper topical treatment. The moccasin type and nail fungus can take much longer; since nail improvement depends on the nail growing back, it can take months. Patience and consistency are the two most important rules.
05My feet smell. Is it fungus?+
Foot odor alone doesn't mean fungus; it's usually caused by sweat interacting with bacteria. But if you also have whitening, peeling and itching between your toes, fungus becomes more likely. Since both are fed by moisture and closed shoes, drying well and rotating socks and shoes help with both.
Scientific basis
Sources
- 01High prevalence of foot diseases in Europe: results of the Achilles Project.
Burzykowski T, Molenberghs G, Abeck D, Haneke E, Hay R, et al. · Mycoses · 2003 · doi:10.1046/j.0933-7407.2003.00933.x
In a large Europe-wide survey, fungal foot disease was found in 34.9% of patients in the first study group and 40.6% in the second.
- 02Tinea pedis: an updated review.
Leung AK, Barankin B, Lam JM, Leong KF, Hon KL · Drugs Context · 2023 · doi:10.7573/dic.2023-5-1
Athlete's foot was reported to be more common in men, to peak between ages 16 and 45, and topical antifungals were described as the foundation of treatment for superficial cases.
- 03Tinea pedis: the etiology and global epidemiology of a common fungal infection.
Ilkit M, Durdu M · Crit Rev Microbiol · 2015 · doi:10.3109/1040841X.2013.856853
The global rise in athlete's foot was highlighted as being linked to urbanization, the spread of sports and fitness facilities, obesity and an aging population.
- 04Topical treatments for fungal infections of the skin and nails of the foot.
Crawford F, Hollis S · Cochrane Database Syst Rev · 2007 · doi:10.1002/14651858.CD001434.pub2
A Cochrane review assessed that topical antifungals are effective compared with placebo for fungal infections of the skin of the foot, and evaluated differences between drug groups.
- 05Prevalence and epidemiology of onychomycosis in patients visiting physicians' offices: a multicenter canadian survey of 15,000 patients.
Gupta AK, Jain HC, Lynde CW, Macdonald P, Cooper EA, Summerbell RC · J Am Acad Dermatol · 2000 · doi:10.1067/mjd.2000.104794
Nail fungus was confirmed in 8% of 15,000 patients; it was significantly more common in men and at older ages, and the vast majority was on the toenails.
- 06Infection risk by dermatophytes during storage and after domestic laundry and their temperature-dependent inactivation.
Hammer TR, Mucha H, Hoefer D · Mycopathologia · 2011 · doi:10.1007/s11046-010-9347-9
Fungus was shown to pass from infected to clean fabric even in the laundry hamper; washing at 30 °C was not enough, while 60 °C eliminated the fungus.
- 07Topographic diversity of fungal and bacterial communities in human skin.
Findley K, Oh J, Yang J, Conlan S, Deming C, et al. · Nature · 2013 · doi:10.1038/nature12171
The heel, toenails and the spaces between the toes were shown to be the areas with the highest fungal diversity on the body.
- 08Athlete's foot
NHS · NHS · 2024
The NHS recommends drying thoroughly between the toes, using a separate towel for your feet, wearing clean cotton socks every day and not wearing the same shoes for more than 2-3 days in a row.
- 09Fungal nail infection
NHS · NHS · 2026
The NHS explains that nail fungus causes discoloration, thickening and crumbling of the nail, that treatment takes a long time, and why treating athlete's foot early matters.
