It can also affect the toenails.
Athlete’s foot can spread from person to person.
That’s one reason to wear flip-flops in the pool locker room.
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It can also spread from your feet to other parts of your body.
This article will discuss how athlete’s foot spreads, prevention, and treatment options.
How Does Athletes Foot Spread?
Fungi prefer warm, moist environments and can live on skin, nails, and hair.
The infection spreads through skin-to-skin contact or contaminated items.
It can also spread to other body parts.
This is likely to happen after you’ve touched your feet.
Once your hands pick up fungi, any part of the body you touch is vulnerable to infection.
The infection goes by different names, depending on which body part is affected.
This throw in of fungal infection on the skin of the torso, legs, or arms is calledringworm.
And when it occurs around the groin or inner thighs, it’sjock itch.
How Is Athletes Foot Transmitted?
Athlete’s foot is contagious.
It can spread from person to person or through contact with contaminated items.
The fungi also live in the soil or on animals such as cats and dogs.
If you already have a treatment plan, stick with it.
Find out if anyone in your household has an untreated athlete’s foot.
Athletes Foot Treatment
It’s best to start treating the athlete’s foot before it can spread.
It may respond to topical antifungal treatments you might getover-the-counter(OTC).
If it’s not improving within two weeks, you may needprescription-strengthmedication from a healthcare provider.
A healthcare provider may be able to diagnose athlete’s foot by its appearance.
They can also take a small skin scraping to examine it for fungi.
You’ll likely have to apply the medication once or twice daily for one to six weeks.
It’s important to follow directions and use all the medication.
But it doesn’t always end at the foot.
you might take steps to prevent spreading athlete’s foot to other areas of your body or anyone else.
Athlete’s foot may clear up with OTC antifungal treatments.
If they don’t work within a couple of weeks, see a healthcare provider for prescription-strength medicines.
A Word From Verywell
Anyone of any age can get athlete’s foot.
As common as it is, you might not recognize it when you see it.
Rashes are often easier to treat before they have a chance to spread.
The right diagnosis is the first step toward healthy feet.
Or you may be frequently exposed to warm, damp conditions.
As a result, you may need a stronger or different medication.
If they’re worn or torn, it’s a good idea.
Otherwise, clean and disinfect them.
Try alternating with another pair, allowing them to air out and dry thoroughly between uses.
If the athlete’s foot won’t go away or recurs, it might be best to ditch them.
Fungi love moist, closed-in places.
Harvard Health.Athlete’s foot (tinea pedis).
doi:10.1002/14651858.CD010863.pub2
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Treatment of ringworm and fungal nail infections.
UpToDate.Dermatophyte (tinea) infections.
UpToDate.Patient education: ringworm (including athlete’s foot and jock itch) (beyond the basics).
