Athlete’s Foot (interdigital tinea pedis) is a contagious skin condition caused by a fungus which attacks the warm and wet spaces between your toes, and usually starts between your fourth and fifth toes. It can spread to your other toes, toenails and even to your groin.

 

Symptoms are itchy, irritating patches of skin between the toes, and possibly elsewhere on the foot. The skin may also crack, flake, bleed and be quite painful, especially when it’s stretched. 

 

You’re most likely to catch it by walking barefoot around swimming pools, bathrooms and changing rooms, or by sharing a towel. Unless you kill or eliminate the fungus from the skin, it will not go away. If you don’t treat it properly, the infection becomes chronic, it might spread to the soles of your feet and your skin might become very dry and hard. This is called ‘moccasin’ or ‘plantar’ tinea pedis.

 

If left untreated for a long time, the fungus might spread to the bed of the nails, causing them to become thick, dry and brittle. Although this type of nail fungus usually requires oral medication, there are some topical treatments.

 

Try our Athlete's Foot Guide to help you identify whether you have an  Athlete’s Foot infection.