Athlete’s foot also known as tinea pedis, a form of ringworm, is usually a mild fungal skin infection. However, the foot fungus can cause tiny cracks in the skin between the toes. Bacteria may then get under the skin and travel up to cause a cellulitis in the calf (but without an apparent infection of the foot).

The cellulitis can be treated, but it may recur if the athlete’s foot is not also treated. Unless athlete’s foot is looked for, it can easily be missed as the source of the problem. Some people have two, three or more bouts of cellulitis before it is realized that the infection in the leg is due to the minor skin cracks and fungal infection between the toes! People more prone to cellulitis such as those with swollen legs and the obese should be careful to treat any athlete’s foot promptly. Itchiness between the toes is the first sign of athlete’s foot.