Athlete's foot (tinea pedis)
About Athlete's foot (tinea pedis)
A fungal infection that affects the feet, most commonly between the toes. It is the most common fungal infection and is caused by the same fungi that cause ringworm. Keeping the skin clean and dry is the best way to prevent athlete's foot. The disorder is contagious and can be acquired by coming into contact with infected floors, shoes, or other surfaces. Rarely athlete's foot can become secondarily infected with a bacteria.Symptoms
Itchy, red, raised, scaly patches. Burning and itching between the toes. Itchy blisters. Cracking and very dry skin. Thick and ragged toenails.Tests & Diagnostics
A history and physical exam will be performed. The diagnosis can often be made by the characteristic appearance of the rash. The provider may use a microscope to look at a scraping from the skin. Rarely, other testing may need to be done in the laboratory.OTC sleep aids and supportive treatments
Prescription medications
Conventional treatment summary
Most cases can be treated with topical medications such as: miconazole (Monistat), clotrimazole (Mycelex), ketoconazole (Nizoral), tolnaftate (Tinactin, Ting), or terbinafine (Lamisil). Clotrimazole, miconazole, terbinafine and tolnaftate are available over the counter without a prescription. If there are multiple affected area or the patch is large then oral medication will be used consisting of terbinafine (Lamisil) or itraconazole (Sporanox). If a secondary bacterial infection is suspected an antibiotic may be prescribed.Medical specialties
Internal Medicine · Dermatology · Pediatrics · Family Practice · Podiatry
This page is educational content, not medical advice. Always consult a qualified clinician for diagnosis and treatment of Athlete's foot (tinea pedis).