Athlete's foot

Signs and symptoms of athlete's foot

Athlete's foot mostly affects the skin between the toes or on the bottom of the feet.

Affected areas of skin may be:

• dry, red, scaly and flaky
• white, soggy and cracked
• itchy
• sore
• covered in small blisters

The infection can spread around your foot and to your toenails. Scratching the infected skin and then touching other parts of your body can also spread the infection.

In severe cases, skin damaged by athlete's foot can become infected with bacteria. This can lead to cellulitis, which causes the skin to become red, hot and swollen.

• read more about fungal nail infection

Causes of athlete's foot

Athlete's foot is caused by fungi growing on the skin. The fungi that cause the infection grow well in warm, dark and moist places like feet.

You're more likely to get athlete's foot if you:

• don't keep your feet clean and dry
• wear shoes that cause your feet to get hot and sweaty
• walk around barefoot in places where fungal infections can spread easily, such as communal showers, locker rooms and gyms
• share towels, socks and shoes with other people
• have a weakened immune system
• have certain other health conditions, such as diabetes

Athlete's foot can easily spread to other people by touching infected skin or coming into contact with contaminated surfaces or objects.

Treatments for athlete's foot

Athlete's foot is unlikely to get better on its own. It can usually be treated using antifungal treatments available from pharmacies without needing to see a GP. Antifungal treatments work by stopping the fungus, causing your athlete's foot, from growing.

Ask your pharmacist if you need any advice on treatment for athlete’s foot. They can recommend an antifungal medicine that's safe for you to use.

Not all types are suitable for children, older people, and pregnant or breastfeeding women.

Contact your GP if your athlete's foot doesn't start to improve after two weeks of treatment, or if it's causing significant pain or discomfort.

It's also important to practise good foot hygiene during treatment. This is to speed up recovery and prevent athlete's foot returning.

When to see your GP

You should see your GP if:

• treatments from a pharmacy don't work
• you're in a lot of discomfort
• your foot is red, hot and painful – this could be a more serious infection
• you have diabetes – foot problems can be more serious if you have diabetes
• you have a weakened immune system – for example, you've had an organ transplant or are having chemotherapy

Preventing athlete's foot

You can reduce your risk of developing athlete's foot by:

• drying your feet gently but thoroughly after washing them, particularly the areas between your toes
• wearing cotton socks and roomy shoes made of natural materials such as leather – this can allow your feet to ‘breathe’
• wear a fresh pair of socks, tights or stockings every day
• change your shoes every couple of days – this allows them to dry out between uses
• not walking around barefoot in public showers and locker rooms
• not sharing towels, socks and shoes with other people, and ensuring your towels are washed regularly 
• using talcum powder on your feet to stop them getting sweaty
• not using moisturiser between your toes, as this can help fungi multiply

If you or your child develops athlete's foot, there's no need to stay off work or school. Follow the advice above to reduce the risk of spreading the infection to others.

More useful links

• How to use your health services