What is Tinea Pedis?

What is tinea pedis? If you notice an infection of the feet which is affecting your soles, interdigital clefts of toes, and nails. Then there are chances that it is a fungal infection. If you are suffering from tinea pedis condition, no need to be worried about it. Because you are not alone, who is suffering from tinea pedis. Because as per the study almost 10 % of the population suffers from this condition.

What is tinea pedis disease?

Tinea pedis are foot infections, which are caused due to a dermatophyte fungus. It is grows vigorously in warm humid conditions. Athlete’s foot / Tinea pedis most commonly found in young adult men. For Tinea pedis, the most commonly term used is an athlete’s foot or ringworm of the foot. It is the condition in which fungus grows on or in the top layer of the skin. 

It is usually a result of the growth of the following fungus: Moreover, Trichophyton rubrum causes a tinea pedis. Trichophyton interdigitale and Epidermophyton floccosum also involved, in causing tinea pedis. Occasionally agents that include tinea pedis are Tricholosporum violaceum. But T. rubrum fungus most commonly seen in more than 70 % of patients who are suffering from tinea pedis.

Trichophyton T.rubrum

1. Interdigitale (previously called T. mentagrophytes var. interdigitale) Epidermophyton floccosum

It is associated with a long-standing itching, intertriginous dermatitis of the toes, characterized by peeling of the skin, maceration and fissuring.

Where tinea pedis found?

It is caused by Trichophyton rubrum. It is a dermatophyte infection initially endemic only to a small region of Southeast Asia and also in parts of Africa as well as Australia.

How do you get tinea pedis?

The athlete’s foot comes up as a condition when the tinea fungus starts to grow on the feet of an infected person, or by touching surfaces contaminated with the fungus. The fungus thrives in warm and moist environments. It is most commonly found in showers, on locker room floors, and also around swimming pools.

Who is the risk for tinea pedis?

• Anyone is prone to get athlete’s foot, but certain behaviors make you more prone to the risk. Factors that end up increasing your risk of getting athlete’s foot to include:
• People who give frequent visits to public places barefoot, especially the locker rooms, common showers, and the swimming pools.
• Some people have a habit of sharing their socks, shoes, or towels, but if unknowingly they are sharing these things with an infected person, then they are at higher risk of getting tinea pedis.
• Wearing tight-fitting or closed-toe shoes can lead to sweating, therefore leading to fungal infection i.e. tinea pedis.
• Keeping your feet wet for long periods of time, will make the environment for fungal infection.
• Sweaty feet can also cause a fungal infection. 
• In some cases, those who have a minor skin or nail injury on your foot can get a fungal infection.

What are the symptoms of tinea pedis?

There are many possible symptoms of athlete’s foot, which definitely act as warning signs: 

• Itching, stinging and burning between the toes
• Itching, stinging and burning on the soles of the feet
• Blisters on the feet that itch
• If there is cracking and peeling of the skin on the feet, which is most commonly seen in between the toes and on the soles.
• Dry skin on the soles or sides of the feet
• Raw skin on the feet
• Discolored, thick, and crumbly toenails
• Toenails that pull away from the nail bed

Must Read

Types of Fungal infections

Diagnosis of athlete’s foot

For this condition as there are no investigations required. Your Dermatologist will examine you physically. Your dermatologist will ask you about your symptoms of foot, along with it they will ask, “ did you have any past history of the same? Or currently, you have almost the same lesion in another part of your body”.

Complications

There are some complications such as, 

• Cellulitis
• Pyoderma
• Lymphangitis
• Osteomyelitis 

Treatments for tinea pedis

• It is important to treat tinea pedis/athlete’s feet right away, especially when itchiness first appears. In most cases of tinea pedis /athlete’s feet can be easily cured with the antifungal products that can be available over-the-counter, and by adding some basic good hygiene habits.
• Antifungal creams, powders, and sprays are all largely used to manage the infection. However, it is important to continue treatment for some time even after the rash has cleared to prevent it from recurring.
• It is important to remember that if tinea pedis is not treated properly and promptly, the infection can become very stubborn. Even when it is treated with antifungal medications, the infection may end up taking some weeks to disappear and may keep recurring even after clearing out.

Care to be taken for tinea pedis

• Once you know you have tinea pedis, wash each and every clothes in warm water.
• Maintain hygiene of foot
• Avoid walking barefoot.
• Advised to dry toes thoroughly after bathing.
• Keep toes and feet always dry
• Can use dusting powder such as clotrimazole powder
• To keep your shoes and socks dry, use plain talc and do dusting every day
• Use medicated cream as per your doctor’s advice.
• Reduce using a shower room and swimming pool, but if you still wanna go, you will have to make your feet dry and use antifungal talc.
• If you are diabetic, then you need to take more care, because in some cases it might progress to onychomycosis. 

How to prevent from recurrence of foot infections

• Wash your feet twice a day with soap, and dry them thoroughly especially in between your toes.
• Wash your socks daily at a higher temperature.
• Apply antifungal powder on your feet daily
• While using the public shower and while walking on the side of the swimming pool, wear your flat sandals.
• Don’t share socks, shoes or towels.
• Wear socks, which have breathable fibers e.g cotton or wool, or synthetic fiber.
• Wear your shoes, which have breathable materials.
• Keep 2 shoes, wear each on alternate days.
• Try to keep shoes and socks clean every day. Therefore change your socks every day and wash them.
• Change your socks, when your feet get sweaty. 

However, if the antifungal creams are not helpful, then you need to get it diagnosed by a clinic like Clear Skin, where the experienced doctors and specialists can consult you about treatments to cure this problem permanently.

In this blog, I have explained to you, that it might take some time to heal tinea pedis, but it can be treated very effectively. For any further inquiry, you can ask us questions. Thanks