What is Athlete’s Foot?

Athlete’s foot is a common skin infection caused by the dermatophyte fungi which are the ringworm fungi (tinea). The infection can occur anywhere on the body but commonly infects the feet due to the warm, moist and dark environment. Breeding grounds for the fungus include swimming pools, showers, and locker rooms. The infection was common among athletes who use these facilities frequently and so the term “athlete’s foot” became popular. The truth is you do not have to be an athlete to get athlete’s foot, in fact it is estimated that near 70% of the population will be infected with tinea pedis at some time in their lives.

Symptoms of Athlete’s Foot

There are three types of Athlete’s Foot.

Toe web infection

This is the most common type of athlete’s foot and usually occurs between the two smallest toes but can occur between any set of toes or all of them.

This type begins with skin that feels soft and moist and can have some itching and burning involved. It may get worse if not treated and can spread across the foot to other toes and start to move up the foot.

Moccasin-type Infection

A long lasting(chronic) infection. This may begin with minor irritation, dryness, itching and burning but will progress to a thickened, scaling, cracked and peeling skin on the sole of the foot or heel. In some severe cases the toenails become infected and can thicken, crumble and fall off. This type can also appear in the palm of a hand.

Vesicular Infection

This is the least common type of infection and begins with a sudden outbreak of large fluid filled areas under the skin. The blisters often develop on the skin of the instep but can also develop between the toes, on the heel or on the sole of top of the foot. Occasional reoccurrence can happen after the initial infection. The infection may occur in the same area or in another area such as the arms, chest or fingers. Scaly skin may be present between outbreaks.

Possible complications of Athlete’s Foot

The complications of athlete’s foot include the potential, if untreated, to spread to other parts of the body or other people mainly your family members. The fungus may spread to your legs, toenails, hands, fingernails, and essentially any body area.

Infection of bacteria can occur due to the injury of the skin by the fungus. The natural protective barrier is broken and bacteria and yeasts can enter and the broken skin and cause bad smell, or an inflammation known as cellulitis.

How to treat Athlete’s Foot

Treatments can be divided into two parts.

The first step in treatment is to make the infected area less suitable for the athletes foot fungus to grow. This means keeping the area clean and dry with good hygiene. Use cotton socks whenever possible and remove shoes and let the feet breathe.

The second part of treatment is the use of topical antifungal creams and external medications. Treatment should be continued for at least four weeks and performed daily.

Prevention of infections of athlete’s foot

Avoid walking barefoot in public showers, locker rooms, pool decks, etc. Sandals or some form of footwear should be worn at all times.

Do not share footware and avoid rental footwear, such as bowling shoes or roller skates.

If rental equipment is used or any of the conditions mentioned above unavoidable, clean and powder feet as soon as possible after the occurrence.

When to seek medical treatment for athlete’s foot

If the infection is not clearing up and increased swelling and redness or bleeding are present, see your health care practictioner. Bacterial infection may also be occurring which makes it necessary for an antibiotic pill to counteract the infection. If fungal nail is present or you are a diabetic or have a compromised immune system, you should also see your physician for treatment.

Doctors that treat athlete’s foot.

Dermatologists are skin disorder specialists and can treat athlete’s foot. Family medical physicians, pediatricians, podiatrists (foot doctors) and other practitioners may also treat this common infection.

Sometimes the fungal infection can have a few symptoms such as itching, especially when perspiring occurs. As the weather warms the condition gets worse. The disease is easy for a dermatologist to recognize but it can be mistaken for other skin conditions. There is no known medical reason why it occurs in some people and not others. The dermatologist can perform a "KOH prep" which is a common test done quickly in the office to make sure of the diagnosis.

The infection is treated with either topical or oral antifungal medications. In very mild cases, non-prescription antifungal creams will work. Prescription antifungal lotions and sprays may work better. The most economical effective treatment is to apply an antifungal shampoo (Nizoral, Loprox) to the body as if it were soap, but leave it on for some minutes before rinsing.

For severe, extensive or recurrent cases, a few tablets of Nizoral pills will clear things up. A newer pill, Sporonox, may replace Nizoral for this problem. These will eliminate the fungus and relive any itch and scale. The

What is Ringworm?

Ringworm is a common infection not caused by a worm as the name would imply but by a parasitic fungi organisms called dermatophytes. They feed on the dead layer of keratine protein found on the outer layer of the skin, nails and hair. These fungi flourish in the skin areas that remain moist, warm and hidden from the light.

This 3-Day Ringworm Treatment has been reviewed and supported by leading physicians familiar with the ringworm fungus. If you are suffering from ringworm, stop hoping the next treatment you try will solve the problem. This program will provide you with all of the necessary information and procedures to make sure the problem is brought under control and ensure it won’t come back. Get relief now.

What Does It Look Like?

There are a variety of ringworm infections that can occur on different areas of the body. The common term for ringworm is “tinea” and depending on where the infection is on the body it will be designated with a latin term for the body part. The tinea infections can each look a bit different but the most common type of ringworm on the body, tinea corporis, will have a red to brown circular bumpy patch of skin. The area will be lighter in the center giving it the ring appearance. Most ringworm infections are itchy and can be painful if not treated.

Make Sure It Is Ringworm

Ringworm can be mistaken for one of the following conditions granuloma annulare, discoid lupus, and sarcoidosis. Bullous tinea pedis (athlete foot with blisters) can mimic bullous drug reactions, bullous pemphigoid, and other bullous diseases of the skin. If suspected ringworm does not respond to routine antifungal treatment, further diagnostics must be performed, like a skin biopsy, a fungal culture, or a skin scraping for fungus identification.

How Do You Catch It?

Ringworm is spread by contact with an infected person, animal or infected surface, such as clothes, towels, and bedding. It’s more common among people living in crowded conditions or participating in contact sports, such as wrestling gymnastics, or martial arts. Ringworm can also be contracted through the soil.

Ringworm-in-children: Children going to day care have a higher risk of the infection as it is highly contagious and as children play one may pass it to another. Also children tend to be more susceptible to certain types of ringworm because their immune systems are not fully developed.

There are several kinds of ringworm that have developed over time and have been given their own names to differentiate them from some of the more well known types. A few of the examples are:

Majocchi’s granuloma, a deeper fungal infection of skin, hair, and hair follicles. It is most common in women who shave their legs.

Tinea corporis gladiatorum, a special name given to tinea corporis spread by skin-to-skin contact between wrestlers.

Tinea imbricata, a form of tinea corporis seen in Central and South America, Asia, and the South Pacific.

How is ringworm treated?

Ringworm can be treated topically (with external applications) or systemically (for example, with oral medications):

Topical treatment: When fungus affects the skin of the body or the groin, many antifungal creams can clear the condition in two weeks or so. Examples of such preparations include those that contain clotrimazole (Cruex cream, Desenex cream, Lotrimin cream, lotion, and solution), miconazole (Monistat-Derm cream), ketoconazole (Nizoral cream); and terbinafine (Lamisil cream and solution). These treatments are effective for many cases of foot fungus as well.

Buy products for ringworm at drugstore.com.

Systemic treatment: For a long time, the only effective antifungal tablet was griseofulvin (Fulvicin, Grifulvin, and Gris-PEG). In recent years, newer agents have been introduced that are both safer and more effective. These include terbinafine (Lamisil), itraconazole (Sporanox), and fluconazole (Diflucan). Reputations die hard, however, and many people continue to fear that even these newer agents are “bad for the liver,” when in fact they are quite safe when used properly.

This common but persistent condition is considered a nuisance to most people but can become a more serious problem to anyone if not treated correctly. To the diabetic however, it is always a serious matter and extremely important to have early diagnosis and effective treatment.

One of the reasons diabetics are susceptible to infection and disease is their immune system is less able to counter the attack. The diabetic has a better chance of getting athlete’s foot (tinea pedis) and other fungal type infections then someone without diabetes due to the bodies inability to fight off the problem.

The Invasion

Once the infection has invaded the skin and started to attack the area of entry another problem occurs for the diabetic. In many diabetes cases there has been nerve damage from the years of wear and tear on the body. This makes it harder for the diabetes sufferer to recognize the symptoms of a foot disorder when it first starts. With a problem like athletes foot, if the symptoms are recognized early and treated consistently with an effective antifungal medication, in most cases it can be cured. If it is not treated early and allowed to spread it then becomes a much more difficult problem to overcome.

More Problems

Last but not least there is again one more reason why these minor infections are major problems for the diabetic. The process of healing the infected area is hindered as the reduced blood flow to the extremities does not keep a fresh supply of blood circulating to replenish the blood in the affected area. People without diabetes have fresh blood circulating to the leg, feet and other extremities, cleansing and replenishing blood from the affected areas. Because the diabetic does not have this normal blood flow it increases the odds of a more serious infection and conditions such as gangrene developing. This is one of the reasons why consistent inspections of the feet and extremities is vital to a diabetics health.

Ringworm is a very common disease in cats and dogs, especially dogs.  Ringworm is not a worm but a fungus that thrives on dead tissues present on skin surfaces.  The fungus grows in a circular pattern and will appear inflamed.

The pets usually pick up the fungus from their surroundings like kennels and other animals that already have the fungal infection.    The most common areas of the occurrence of ringworm are the face, ear tips, tails and paws.

I suggest as a good basis for an anti-fungal treatment for your pet is to start with and maintain an anti-fungal shampoo on a regular basis until the problem is resolved. This will aid in controlling the spreading of the fungus and provide a treatment that can’t be licked off.

A topical anti-fungal cream should be used on the areas of the infection. Apply the cream as indicated in the directions but it is important to use a cream safe for pets since they tend to lick the cream as soon as it is applied.

The Malaseb Shampoo offered by Pet Meds is a very good product and they also stock a couple of anti-fungal creams and lotions labeled for pets. Pet Meds is a pet supply warehouse so should you need any other pet supplies you will find this supplier to be one of the best in the business in service and price. Orders over $39.00 ship for free.

The Pet Meds banner will take you to the store where you can search the site for ringworm to get a list of the products available.

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.