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Athlete’s Foot (Tinea Pedis) in Adults: Condition, Treatments, and Pictures – Overview

52403
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Information for
AdultsChildTeen

caption goes here…

Images of Tinea Pedis (Athlete’s Foot, Ringworm of Foot or Feet)

Overview

Athlete’s foot (tinea pedis), also known as ringworm of the foot, is a surface (superficial) fungal infection of the skin of the foot. The most common fungal disease in humans, athlete’s foot, may be passed to humans by direct contact with infected people, infected animals, contaminated objects (such as towels or locker room floors), or the soil.

Who’s at risk?

Athlete’s foot may occur in people of all ages, of all races, and of both sexes. However, athlete’s foot is more common in males than in females. Children rarely develop athlete’s foot.

Some conditions make athlete’s foot more likely to occur:

Living in warm, humid climates
Using public or community pools or showers
Wearing tight, non-ventilated footwear
Sweating profusely
Having diabetes or a weak immune system

Signs and Symptoms

The most common locations for athlete’s foot include:

Spaces (webs) between the toes, especially between the 4th and 5th toes and between the 3rd and 4th toes
Soles of the feet
Tops of the feet

Athlete’s foot may affect one or both feet. It can look different depending on which part of the foot (or feet) is involved and which fungus (ie, dermatophyte) has caused the infection:

On the top of the foot, athlete’s foot appears as a red scaly patch or patches, ranging in size from 1 to 5 cm. The border of the affected skin may be raised, with bumps, blisters, or scabs. Often, the center of the lesion has normal-appearing skin with a ring-shaped edge, leading to the descriptive but inaccurate name ringworm. (It is inaccurate because there is no worm involved.)
Between the toes (the interdigital spaces), athlete’s foot may appear as inflamed, scaly, and soggy tissue. Splitting of the skin (fissures) may be present between or under the toes. This form of athlete’s foot tends to be quite itchy.
On the sole of the foot (the plantar surface), athlete’s foot may appear as pink-to-red skin with scales ranging from mild to widespread (diffuse).
Another type of tinea pedis infection, called bullous tinea pedis, has painful and itchy blisters on the arch (instep) and/or the ball of the foot.
The most severe form of tinea pedis infection, called ulcerative tinea pedis, appears as painful blisters, pus-filled bumps (pustules), and shallow open sores (ulcers). These lesions are especially common between the toes but may involve the entire sole. Because of the numerous breaks in the skin, lesions commonly become infected with bacteria. Ulcerative tinea pedis occurs most frequently in people with diabetes and others with weak immune systems.

Self-Care Guidelines

If you suspect that you have athlete’s foot, you might try one of the following over-the-counter antifungal creams or lotions:

Terbinafine
Clotrimazole
Miconazole

Apply the antifungal cream between the toes and to the soles of both feet for at least 2 weeks after the areas are completely clear of lesions.

In addition, try to keep your feet dry, creating a condition where the fungus cannot live and grow:

Wash your feet daily and dry them carefully, even using a hair dryer (on low setting) if possible.
Use a separate towel for your feet, and do not share this towel with anyone else.
Wear socks made of cotton or wool, and change them once or twice a day, or even more often if they become damp.
Avoid shoes made of synthetic materials such as rubber or vinyl.
Wear sandals as often as possible.
Apply antifungal powder to your feet and inside your shoes every day.
Wear protective footwear in locker rooms and public or community pools and showers.

When to Seek Medical Care

If the lesions do not improve after 2 weeks of applying over-the-counter antifungal creams or if they are exceptionally itchy or painful, see your doctor for an evaluation. If you have blisters, pustules, and/or ulcers on your feet, see a doctor as soon as possible.

Treatments Your Physician May Prescribe

To confirm the diagnosis of athlete’s foot, your physician might scrape some surface skin material (scales) onto a glass slide and examine them under a microscope. This procedure, called a KOH (potassium hydroxide) preparation, allows the doctor to look for tell-tale signs of fungal infection.

Once the diagnosis of athlete’s foot has been confirmed, your physician will probably start treatment with an antifungal medication. Most infections can be treated with topical creams and lotions, including:

Over-the-counter preparations such as terbinafine, clotrimazole, or miconazole
Prescription-strength creams such as econazole, oxiconazole, ciclopirox, ketoconazole, sulconazole, naftifine, or butenafine

Other topical medications your physician may consider:

Compounds containing urea, lactic acid, or salicylic acid to help dissolve the scale and allow the antifungal cream to penetrate better into the skin
Solutions containing aluminum chloride, which reduces sweating of the foot
Antibiotic creams to prevent or treat bacterial infections, if present

Rarely, more extensive infections or those not improving with topical antifungal medications may require 3–4 weeks of treatment with oral antifungal pills, including:

Terbinafine
Itraconazole
Griseofulvin
Fluconazole
Ketoconazole

The infection should go away within 4–6 weeks after using effective treatment.

Trusted Links

MedlinePlus: Athlete’s FootClinical Information and Differential Diagnosis of Tinea Pedis (Athlete’s Foot, Ringworm of Foot or Feet)

References

Bolognia, Jean L., ed. Dermatology, pp.1174-1185. New York: Mosby, 2003.

Freedberg, Irwin M., ed. Fitzpatrick’s Dermatology in General Medicine. 6^th ed. pp.1251, 2000-2001, 2337, 2340-2041, 2446-2447. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2003.

Athlete’s Foot (Tinea Pedis) in Adults: Condition, Treatments, and Pictures – Overview

52403
34

Information for
AdultsChildTeen

caption goes here…

Images of Tinea Pedis (Athlete’s Foot, Ringworm of Foot or Feet)

Overview

Who’s at risk?

Athlete’s foot may occur in people of all ages, of all races, and of both sexes. However, athlete’s foot is more common in males than in females. Children rarely develop athlete’s foot.

Some conditions make athlete’s foot more likely to occur:

Living in warm, humid climates
Using public or community pools or showers
Wearing tight, non-ventilated footwear
Sweating profusely
Having diabetes or a weak immune system

Signs and Symptoms

The most common locations for athlete’s foot include:

Spaces (webs) between the toes, especially between the 4th and 5th toes and between the 3rd and 4th toes
Soles of the feet
Tops of the feet

Athlete’s foot may affect one or both feet. It can look different depending on which part of the foot (or feet) is involved and which fungus (ie, dermatophyte) has caused the infection:

On the top of the foot, athlete’s foot appears as a red scaly patch or patches, ranging in size from 1 to 5 cm. The border of the affected skin may be raised, with bumps, blisters, or scabs. Often, the center of the lesion has normal-appearing skin with a ring-shaped edge, leading to the descriptive but inaccurate name ringworm. (It is inaccurate because there is no worm involved.)
Between the toes (the interdigital spaces), athlete’s foot may appear as inflamed, scaly, and soggy tissue. Splitting of the skin (fissures) may be present between or under the toes. This form of athlete’s foot tends to be quite itchy.
On the sole of the foot (the plantar surface), athlete’s foot may appear as pink-to-red skin with scales ranging from mild to widespread (diffuse).
Another type of tinea pedis infection, called bullous tinea pedis, has painful and itchy blisters on the arch (instep) and/or the ball of the foot.
The most severe form of tinea pedis infection, called ulcerative tinea pedis, appears as painful blisters, pus-filled bumps (pustules), and shallow open sores (ulcers). These lesions are especially common between the toes but may involve the entire sole. Because of the numerous breaks in the skin, lesions commonly become infected with bacteria. Ulcerative tinea pedis occurs most frequently in people with diabetes and others with weak immune systems.

Self-Care Guidelines

If you suspect that you have athlete’s foot, you might try one of the following over-the-counter antifungal creams or lotions:

Terbinafine
Clotrimazole
Miconazole

Apply the antifungal cream between the toes and to the soles of both feet for at least 2 weeks after the areas are completely clear of lesions.

In addition, try to keep your feet dry, creating a condition where the fungus cannot live and grow:

Wash your feet daily and dry them carefully, even using a hair dryer (on low setting) if possible.
Use a separate towel for your feet, and do not share this towel with anyone else.
Wear socks made of cotton or wool, and change them once or twice a day, or even more often if they become damp.
Avoid shoes made of synthetic materials such as rubber or vinyl.
Wear sandals as often as possible.
Apply antifungal powder to your feet and inside your shoes every day.
Wear protective footwear in locker rooms and public or community pools and showers.

When to Seek Medical Care

Treatments Your Physician May Prescribe

Over-the-counter preparations such as terbinafine, clotrimazole, or miconazole
Prescription-strength creams such as econazole, oxiconazole, ciclopirox, ketoconazole, sulconazole, naftifine, or butenafine

Other topical medications your physician may consider:

Compounds containing urea, lactic acid, or salicylic acid to help dissolve the scale and allow the antifungal cream to penetrate better into the skin
Solutions containing aluminum chloride, which reduces sweating of the foot
Antibiotic creams to prevent or treat bacterial infections, if present

Rarely, more extensive infections or those not improving with topical antifungal medications may require 3–4 weeks of treatment with oral antifungal pills, including:

Terbinafine
Itraconazole
Griseofulvin
Fluconazole
Ketoconazole

The infection should go away within 4–6 weeks after using effective treatment.

Trusted Links

MedlinePlus: Athlete’s FootClinical Information and Differential Diagnosis of Tinea Pedis (Athlete’s Foot, Ringworm of Foot or Feet)

References

Bolognia, Jean L., ed. Dermatology, pp.1174-1185. New York: Mosby, 2003.

Freedberg, Irwin M., ed. Fitzpatrick’s Dermatology in General Medicine. 6^th ed. pp.1251, 2000-2001, 2337, 2340-2041, 2446-2447. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2003.

Athlete’s Foot | Michigan Medicine

Topic Overview

What is athlete’s foot?

Athlete’s foot is a rash on the skin of the foot. It is the most common fungal skin infection. There are three main types of athlete’s foot. Each type affects different parts of the foot and may look different.

What causes athlete’s foot?

Athlete’s foot is caused by a fungus that grows on or in the top layer of skin. Fungi (plural of fungus) grow best in warm, wet places, such as the area between the toes.

Athlete’s foot spreads easily. You can get it by touching the toes or feet of a person who has it. But most often, people get it by walking barefoot on contaminated surfaces near swimming pools or in locker rooms. The fungi then grow in your shoes, especially if your shoes are so tight that air cannot move around your feet.

If you touch something that has fungi on it, you can spread athlete’s foot to other people—even if you don’t get the infection yourself. Some people are more likely than others to get athlete’s foot. Experts don’t know why this is. After you have had athlete’s foot, you are more likely to get it again.

What are the symptoms?

Athlete’s foot can make your feet and the skin between your toes burn and itch. The skin may peel and crack. Your symptoms can depend on the type of athlete’s foot you have.

Toe web infection
usually occurs between the fourth and fifth toes. The skin becomes scaly, peels, and cracks. Some people also may have an infection with bacteria. This can make the skin break down even more.
Moccasin type infection
may start with a little soreness on your foot. Then the skin on the bottom or heel of your foot can become thick and crack. In bad cases, the toenails get infected and can thicken, crumble, and even fall out. Fungal infection in toenails needs separate treatment.
Vesicular type infection
usually begins with a sudden outbreak of fluid-filled blisters under the skin. The blisters are usually on the bottom of the foot. But they can appear anywhere on your foot. You also can get a bacterial infection with this type of athlete’s foot.

How is athlete’s foot diagnosed?

Most of the time, a doctor can tell that you have athlete’s foot by looking at your feet. He or she will also ask about your symptoms and any past fungal infections you may have had. If your athlete’s foot looks unusual, or if treatment did not help you before, your doctor may take a skin or nail sample to test for fungi.

Not all skin problems on the foot are athlete’s foot. If you think you have athlete’s foot but have never had it before, it’s a good idea to have your doctor look at it.

How is it treated?

You can treat most cases of athlete’s foot at home with over-the-counter lotion, cream, or spray. For bad cases, your doctor may give you a prescription for pills or for medicine you put on your skin. Use the medicine for as long as your doctor tells you to. This will help make sure that you get rid of the infection. You also need to keep your feet clean and dry. Fungi need wet, warm places to grow.

You can do some things so you don’t get athlete’s foot again. Wear shower sandals in shared areas like locker rooms, and use talcum powder to help keep your feet dry. Wear sandals or roomy shoes made of materials that allow moisture to escape.

Cause

Athlete’s foot (tinea pedis) is a fungal infection of the skin of the foot. You get athlete’s foot when you come in contact with the fungus and it begins to grow on your skin.

Fungi commonly grow on or in the top layer of human skin and may or may not cause infections. Fungi grow best in warm, moist areas, such as the area between the toes.

Athlete’s foot is easily spread (contagious). You can get it by touching the affected area of a person who has it. More commonly, you pick up the fungi from damp, contaminated surfaces, such as the floors in public showers or locker rooms.

Although athlete’s foot is contagious, some people are more likely to get it (susceptible) than others. Susceptibility may increase with age. Experts don’t know why some people are more likely to get it. After you have had athlete’s foot, you are more likely to get it again.

If you come in contact with the fungi that cause athlete’s foot, you can spread the fungi to others, whether you get the infection or not.

Symptoms

Athlete’s foot (tinea pedis) symptoms vary from person to person. Although some people have severe discomfort, others have few or no symptoms. Common symptoms include:

Peeling, cracking, and scaling of the feet.
Redness, blisters, or softening and breaking down (maceration) of the skin.
Itching, burning, or both.

Toe web infection

Toe web infection (interdigital) is the most common type of athlete’s foot. It usually occurs between the two smallest toes. This type of infection:

Often begins with skin that seems soft and moist and pale white.
May cause itching, burning, and a slight odor.
May get worse. The skin between the toes becomes scaly, peels, and cracks. If the infection becomes severe, a bacterial infection is usually present, which causes further skin breakdown and a foul odor.

Moccasin-type infection

A moccasin-type infection is a long-lasting (chronic) infection. This type of infection:

May begin with minor irritation, dryness, itching, burning, or scaly skin.
Progresses to thickened, scaling, cracked, and peeling skin on the sole or heel. In severe cases, the toenails become infected and can thicken, crumble, and even fall out. For more information, see the topic Fungal Nail Infections.
May appear on the palm of the hand (symptoms commonly affect one hand and both feet).

Vesicular infection

A vesicular infection is the least common type of infection. This type:

Usually begins with a sudden outbreak of fluid-filled blisters under the skin. The blisters most often develop on the skin of the instep but may also develop between the toes, on the heel, or on the sole or top of the foot.
Sometimes occurs again after the first infection. Infections may occur in the same area or in another area such as the arms, chest, or fingers. You may have scaly skin between eruptions.
May also be accompanied by a bacterial infection.

Athlete’s foot is sometimes confused with pitted keratolysis. In this health problem, the skin looks like a “moist honeycomb.” It most often occurs where the foot carries weight, such as on the heel and the ball of the foot. Symptoms include feet that are very sweaty and smell bad.

What Happens

How athlete’s foot (tinea pedis) develops and how well it responds to treatment depends on the type of athlete’s foot you have.

Toe web infection

Toe web infections (interdigital) often begin with skin that seems moist and pale white. You may notice itching, burning, and a slight odor. As the infection gets worse, the skin between the toes becomes scaly, peels, and cracks. If the fungal infection becomes severe, a bacterial infection also may develop. This can cause further skin breakdown. The bacterial infection may also infect the lower leg (cellulitis of the lower leg). Toe web infections often result in a sudden vesicular (blister) infection.

Toe web infections respond well to treatment.

Moccasin-type infection

Moccasin-type infections may begin with minor irritation, dryness, itching, burning, or scaly skin and progress to thickened, cracked skin on the sole or heel. In severe cases, the toenails become infected and can thicken, crumble, and even fall out. If you do not take preventive measures, this infection often returns. You may also develop an infection on the palm of the hand (symptoms commonly affect one hand and both feet).

Moccasin-type infections may be long-lasting.

Vesicular infection

Vesicular infections (blisters) usually begin with a sudden outbreak of blisters that become red and inflamed. Blisters sometimes erupt again after the first infection. A bacterial infection may also be present. A vesicular infection often develops from a long-lasting toe web infection. Blisters may also appear on palms, the side of the fingers, and other areas (dermatophytid or id reaction).

Vesicular infections usually respond well to treatment.

Complications

If untreated, skin blisters and cracks caused by athlete’s foot can lead to severe bacterial infections. In some types of athlete’s foot, the toenails may be infected. For more information, see the topic Fungal Nail Infections.

All types of athlete’s foot can be treated, but symptoms often return after treatment. Athlete’s foot is most likely to return if:

You don’t take preventive measures and are again exposed to fungi that cause athlete’s foot.
You don’t use antifungal medicine for the prescribed length of time and the fungi are not completely killed.
The fungi are not completely killed even after the full course of medicine.

Severe infections that appear suddenly, and keep returning, can lead to long-lasting infection.

What Increases Your Risk

Athlete’s foot is contagious, but some people are more likely to get it (susceptible) than others. Susceptibility may increase with age. Experts don’t know why some people are more likely to get it. After you have had athlete’s foot, you are more likely to get it again.

If you aren’t susceptible to athlete’s foot, you may come in contact with the fungi that cause athlete’s foot yet not get an infection. But you can still spread the fungi to others.

Risk factors you cannot change

Risk factors you cannot change include:

Being male. Men are more susceptible than women.
Having a history of being susceptible to fungal infections.
Having an impaired immune system (due to conditions such as diabetes or cancer).
Living in a warm, damp climate.
Aging. Athlete’s foot is more common in older adults. Children rarely get it.

Risk factors you can change

Risk factors you can change include:

Allowing your feet to remain damp.
Wearing tight, poorly ventilated shoes.
Using public or shared showers or locker rooms without wearing shower shoes.
Doing activities that involve being in the water for long periods of time.

When should you call your doctor?

Call your doctor about a skin infection on your feet if:

Your feet have severe cracking, scaling, or peeling skin.
You have blisters on your feet.
You notice signs of bacterial infection, including:
- Increased pain, swelling, redness, tenderness, or heat.
- Red streaks extending from the affected area.
- Discharge of pus.
- Fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher with no other cause.
The infection appears to be spreading.
You have diabetes or diseases associated with poor circulation and you get athlete’s foot. People who have diabetes are at increased risk of a severe bacterial infection of the foot and leg if they have athlete’s foot.
Your symptoms do not improve after 2 weeks of treatment or are not gone after 4 weeks of treatment with a nonprescription antifungal medicine.

Watchful waiting

Watchful waiting is a period of time during which you and your doctor observe your symptoms or condition without using medical treatment. You can usually treat athlete’s foot yourself at home. But any persistent, severe, or recurrent infections should be evaluated by your doctor.

When athlete’s foot symptoms appear, you can first use a nonprescription product. If your symptoms do not improve after 2 weeks of treatment or have not gone away after 4 weeks of treatment, call your doctor.

Who to see

Health professionals who can diagnose or treat athlete’s foot include:

Exams and Tests

In most cases, your doctor can diagnose athlete’s foot (tinea pedis) by looking at your foot. He or she will also ask about your symptoms and any previous fungal infections you have had.

If your symptoms look unusual or if a previous infection has not responded well to treatment, your doctor may collect a skin or nail sample by lightly scratching the skin with a blade or the edge of a microscope slide, or by trimming a nail. He or she will examine the skin and nail samples using laboratory tests including:

In rare cases, a skin biopsy will be done by removing a small piece of skin that will be looked at under a microscope.

Treatment Overview

How you treat athlete’s foot (tinea pedis) depends on its type and severity. Most cases of athlete’s foot can be treated at home using an antifungal medicine to kill the fungus or slow its growth.

Nonprescription antifungals usually are used first. These include clotrimazole (Lotrimin), miconazole (Micatin), terbinafine (Lamisil), and tolnaftate (Tinactin). Nonprescription antifungals are applied to the skin (topical medicines).
Prescription antifungals may be tried if nonprescription medicines are not successful or if you have a severe infection. Some of these medicines are topical antifungals, which are put directly on the skin. Examples include butenafine (Mentax), clotrimazole, and naftifine (Naftin). Prescription antifungals can also be taken as a pill, which are called oral antifungals. Examples of oral antifungals include fluconazole (Diflucan), itraconazole (Sporanox), and terbinafine (Lamisil).

For severe athlete’s foot that doesn’t improve, your doctor may prescribe oral antifungal medicine (pills). Oral antifungal pills are used only for severe cases, because they are expensive and require periodic testing for dangerous side effects. Athlete’s foot can return even after antifungal pill treatment.

Even if your symptoms improve or stop shortly after you begin using antifungal medicine, it is important that you complete the full course of medicine. This increases the chance that athlete’s foot will not return. Reinfection is common, and athlete’s foot needs to be fully treated each time symptoms develop.

Toe web infections

Toe web (interdigital) infections occur between the toes, especially between the fourth and fifth toes. This is the most common type of athlete’s foot infection.

Treat mild to moderate toe web infections by keeping your feet clean and dry and using nonprescription antifungal creams or lotions.
If a severe infection develops, your doctor may prescribe a combination of topical antifungal creams plus either oral or topical antibiotic medicines.

Moccasin-type infections

Moccasin-type athlete’s foot causes scaly, thickened skin on the sole and heel of the foot. Often the toenails become infected (onychomycosis). A moccasin-type infection can be more difficult to treat, because the skin on the sole of the foot is very thick.

Nonprescription medicines may not penetrate the thick skin of the sole well enough to cure moccasin-type athlete’s foot. In this case, a prescription topical antifungal medicine that penetrates the sole, such as ketoconazole, may be used.
Prescription oral antifungal medicines are sometimes needed to cure moccasin-type athlete’s foot.

Vesicular infections

Vesicular infections, or blisters, usually appear on the foot instep but can also develop between the toes, on the sole of the foot, on the top of the foot, or on the heel. This type of fungal infection may be accompanied by a bacterial infection. This is the least common type of infection.

Treatment of vesicular infections may be done at your doctor’s office or at home.

You can dry out the blisters at home by soaking your foot in nonprescription Burow’s solution several times a day for 3 or more days until the blister area is dried out. After the area is dried out, use a topical antifungal cream as directed. You can also apply compresses using Burow’s solution.
If you also have a bacterial infection, you will most likely need an oral antibiotic.

Even when treated, athlete’s foot often returns. This is likely to happen if:

You don’t take preventive measures and are again exposed to the fungi that cause athlete’s foot.
You don’t use antifungal medicine for the specified length of time and the fungi are not completely killed.
The fungi are not completely killed even after the full course of medicine.

You can prevent athlete’s foot by:

Keeping your feet clean and dry.
- Dry between your toes after swimming or bathing.
- Wear shoes or sandals that allow your feet to breathe.
- When indoors, wear socks without shoes.
- Wear socks to absorb sweat. Change your socks twice a day.
- Use talcum or antifungal powder on your feet.
- Allow your shoes to air for at least 24 hours before you wear them again.
Wearing shower sandals in public pools and showers.

What to think about

You may choose not to treat athlete’s foot if your symptoms don’t bother you and you have no health problems that increase your chance of severe foot infection, such as diabetes. But untreated athlete’s foot that causes skin blisters or cracks can lead to severe bacterial infection. Also, if you don’t treat athlete’s foot, you can spread it to other people.

Severe infections that appear suddenly (acute) usually respond well to treatment. Long-lasting (chronic) infections can be more difficult to cure.

Toenail infections (onychomycosis) that can develop with athlete’s foot tend to be more difficult to cure than fungal skin infections. For more information, see the topic Fungal Nail Infections.

Prevention

You can prevent athlete’s foot (tinea pedis) by:

Keeping your feet clean and dry.
- Dry between your toes after swimming or bathing.
- Wear shoes or sandals that allow your feet to breathe.
- When indoors, wear socks without shoes.
- Wear socks to absorb sweat. Change your socks twice a day.
- Use talcum or antifungal powder on your feet.
- Allow your shoes to air for at least 24 hours before you wear them again.
Wearing shower sandals in public pools and showers.

If you have athlete’s foot, dry your groin area before your feet after bathing. Also, put on your socks before your underwear. This can prevent fungi from spreading from your feet to your groin, which may cause jock itch. For more information about jock itch, see the topic Ringworm of the Skin.

Tips to prevent athlete’s foot recurrence

Always finish the full course of any antifungal medicine (cream or pills). Live fungi remain on your skin for days after your symptoms have disappeared. The chances of killing athlete’s foot are greatest when you treat it for the prescribed period of time.
Washing clothes in soapy, warm water may not kill the fungi that cause athlete’s foot. Use hot water and bleach to increase the chance of killing fungi on your clothes.
You can help prevent recurrence of a toe web infection by using powder to keep your feet dry, using lamb’s wool between the toes (to separate them), and wearing wider, roomier shoes that have not been infected by fungi. Lamb’s wool is available at most pharmacies or foot care stores.

Home Treatment

You can usually treat athlete’s foot (tinea pedis) yourself at home by using nonprescription medicines and taking care of your feet. But if you have diabetes and develop athlete’s foot, or have persistent, severe, or recurrent infections, see your doctor.

Nonprescription medicines

Nonprescription antifungals include clotrimazole (Lotrimin), miconazole (Micatin), terbinafine (Lamisil), and tolnaftate (Tinactin). These medicines are creams, lotions, solutions, gels, sprays, ointments, swabs, or powders that are applied to the skin (topical medicine). Treatment will last from 1 to 6 weeks.

If you have a vesicular (blister) infection, soak your foot in Burow’s solution several times a day for 3 or more days until the blister fluid is gone. After the fluid is gone, use an antifungal cream as directed. You can also apply compresses using Burow’s solution.

To prevent athlete’s foot from returning, use the full course of all medicine as directed, even after symptoms have gone away.

Avoid using hydrocortisone cream on a fungal infection, unless your doctor prescribes it.

Foot care

Good foot care helps treat and prevent athlete’s foot.

Keep your feet clean and dry.
- Dry between your toes after swimming or bathing.
- Wear shoes or sandals that allow your feet to breathe.
- When indoors, wear socks without shoes.
- Wear socks to absorb sweat. Change your socks twice a day.
- Use talcum or antifungal powder on your feet.
- Allow your shoes to air for at least 24 hours before you wear them again.
Wear shower sandals in public pools and showers.

You may choose not to treat athlete’s foot if your symptoms don’t bother you and you have no health problems that increase your risk of severe foot infection, such as diabetes. But an untreated athlete’s foot infection causing skin blisters or cracks can lead to severe bacterial infection. Also, if you don’t treat athlete’s foot infection, you can spread it to other people.

Medications

Antifungal medicines that are used on the skin (topical) are usually the first choice for treating athlete’s foot (tinea pedis). They are available in prescription or nonprescription forms. Nonprescription medicines are usually tried first.

For severe cases of athlete’s foot, your doctor may prescribe oral antifungals (pills). But treatment with this medicine is expensive, requires periodic testing for dangerous side effects, and does not guarantee a cure.

When you are treating athlete’s foot, it is important that you use the full course of the medicine. Using it as directed, even after the symptoms go away, increases the likelihood that you will kill the fungi and that the infection will not return.

Medicine choices

Nonprescription antifungals are usually tried first. These include clotrimazole (Lotrimin), miconazole (Micatin), terbinafine (Lamisil), and tolnaftate (Tinactin).

Prescription antifungals may be tried if nonprescription medicines do not help or if you have a severe infection. Some of these medicines are topical antifungals, which are put directly on the skin. Examples include butenafine (Mentax), clotrimazole, and naftifine (Naftin). Prescription antifungals can also be taken as a pill, which are called oral antifungals. Examples of oral antifungals include fluconazole (Diflucan), itraconazole (Sporanox), and terbinafine (Lamisil).

What to think about

If your symptoms do not improve after 2 weeks of treatment or have not gone away after 4 weeks of treatment, call your doctor.

Some topical antifungal medicines work faster (1 to 2 weeks) than other topical medicines (4 to 8 weeks). All of the faster-acting medicines have similar cure rates.^{footnote 1} The fast-acting medicines may cost more than the slower-acting ones, but you use less of these medicines to fully treat a fungal infection. Oral antifungal medicines are typically taken for 2 to 8 weeks.

Other Treatment

Tea tree oil or garlic (ajoene) may help prevent or treat athlete’s foot (tinea pedis) fungi. Burow’s solution is helpful for treating blisterlike (vesicular) infection.

Tea tree oil is an antifungal and antibacterial agent derived from the Australian Melaleuca alternifolia tree. Although it reduces fungi and resulting symptoms, tea tree oil may not completely kill off the infection.^{footnote 2}
Ajoene is an antifungal compound found in garlic. It is sometimes used to treat athlete’s foot.
Compresses or foot soaks using nonprescription Burow’s solution can help soothe and dry out blisterlike (vesicular) athlete’s foot. After the blister fluid is gone, you can use antifungal creams or prescription antifungal pills.

References

Citations
Crawford F (2009). Athlete’s foot, search date July 2008. Online version of BMJ Clinical Evidence: http://www.clinicalevidence.com.
Murray MT, Pizzorno JE Jr (2006). Melaleuca alternifolia (Tea Tree). In JE Pizzorno Jr, MT Murray, eds., Textbook of Natural Medicine, vol. 1, chap. 104, pp. 1053–1056. St. Louis: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier.
Other Works Consulted
Habif TP (2010). Tinea of the foot section of Superficial fungal infections. In Clinical Dermatology: A Color Guide to Diagnosis and Therapy, 5th ed., pp. 495–497. Edinburgh: Mosby Elsevier.
Habif TP, et al. (2011). Tinea of the foot (tinea pedis). In Skin Disease: Diagnosis and Treatment, 3rd ed., pp. 269–272. Edinburgh: Saunders.
Wolff K, Johnson RA. (2009). Tinea pedis section of Fungal infections of the skin and hair. In Fitzpatrick’s Color Atlas and Synopsis of Clinical Dermatology, 6th ed., pp. 692–701. New York: McGraw-Hill.

Credits

Current as of:
July 2, 2020

Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:
Patrice Burgess MD – Family Medicine
Adam Husney MD – Family Medicine
Martin J. Gabica MD – Family Medicine
Elizabeth T. Russo MD – Internal Medicine
Ellen K. Roh MD – Dermatology

Athlete’s foot: Overview – InformedHealth.org

Introduction

Many people will have athlete’s foot at some point in their lives. It usually affects the gaps between the toes.

Athlete’s foot can normally be treated effectively with creams available from the pharmacy. To prevent athlete’s foot from developing in the first place, it’s important to keep your feet dry.

Symptoms

Athlete’s foot (tinea pedis) is particularly common between the little toe and the toe next to it. The fungus can cause the skin to redden and crack. The affected areas are flaky and sometimes itchy. The skin can also turn white and thicken, and is then often slightly swollen.

Athlete’s foot: Typical redness and cracks in the skin

If the infection spreads across the sole of the foot it is referred to as moccasin athlete’s foot. The soles of the feet, the heels and the edges of the feet are then dry, scaly and may be itchy. Moccasin athlete’s foot is sometimes mistaken for other conditions such as eczema.

A rare kind of athlete’s foot causes an acute inflammation associated with skin redness, blisters, pus-filled bumps and open sores. The skin may itch and feel tight.

Causes

Athlete’s foot is usually caused by fungi that infect the skin (dermatophytes). They can enter the skin through small cracks or wounds, and infect the top layer.

The fungi are passed on through direct skin contact or through contact with flakes of skin. That can happen if, for instance, you step on infectious flakes of skin in communal showers. The same fungi can also cause fungal nail infections.

Fungal skin infections need moisture and warmth to spread. Our feet offer a perfect environment for them, because we wear shoes for most of the day and so our feet are often warm and moist. The skin on our feet also contains a lot of keratin, – a protein that can be found in the top layer of skin. The fungi feed on this.

Risk factors

Certain risk factors can increase the risk of athlete’s foot. These are the main ones:

A genetic predisposition (if a lot of people in your family have it),
Particularly sweaty feet
A weak immune system, for instance due to a serious illness or the long-term use of medication that weakens the immune system
Circulation problems in the legs, for example as a result of diabetes or narrowed blood vessels
Some sports, especially running and swimming

People who always have to wear sturdy shoes at work, such as safety boots or rubber boots, are also at higher risk.

Prevalence

Athlete’s foot is very common. It is estimated that 3 to 15% of the population are affected. Men and older people are more likely to get it.

Outlook

Although athlete’s foot doesn’t cause any serious problems in people who are otherwise healthy, it normally doesn’t go away on its own. If left untreated, it can spread to a nail and cause a fungal nail infection. The infection can spread to other areas of skin, such as the hands, but that rarely happens.

Very rarely, and only in severe cases of athlete’s foot, it can also lead to a bacterial infection.

Diagnosis

The doctor examines the affected parts of skin and asks about the symptoms. They may take a skin sample to rule out other similar skin conditions. That involves scraping off a small amount of skin and treating it with a chemical agent to identify fungal spores under a microscope. The results are often available the next day. In rare cases, a fungal culture will be grown in a laboratory in order to determine the exact strain of fungus. That takes around three weeks.

Prevention

Because fungi grow particularly well in a moist environment, it’s important to make sure you keep your feet dry. You might try the following, for example:

Thoroughly drying your feet with a towel after having a shower or bath, or after swimming
Wearing shoes that aren’t too tight and let your feet breathe
Not wearing the same pair of shoes two days in a row
Taking your shoes off as often as possible

The following things can help keep you from getting athlete’s foot from infected flakes of skin and stop it from coming back:

Wearing flip-flops when using swimming pools, communal showers and changing rooms
Not sharing towels, shoes, or socks
Washing socks, bedding and towels at 60 degrees Celsius or more
Adding special anti-fungal laundry sanitizers if washing at lower temperatures

There haven’t been any good studies on how effective these preventive measures are.

Treatment

Athlete’s foot can usually be treated effectively with creams, gels or sprays that are available from pharmacies without a prescription. These products contain an ingredient that stops the growth of the fungus or kills it.

Home remedies such as tea tree oil or certain herbal foot baths are sometimes recommended. But there’s no scientific proof that they are effective in the treatment of athlete’s foot.

If athlete’s foot can’t be treated successfully with creams, gels or sprays, treatment with tablets may be considered. But this is only rarely necessary.

Further information

When people are ill or need medical advice, they usually go to see their family doctor first. Read about how to find the right doctor, how to prepare for the appointment and what to remember.

Sources

Deutsche Dermatologische Gesellschaft (DDG), Deutschsprachige Mykologische Gesellschaft (DMykG). Tinea der freien Haut (S1-Leitlinie). AWMF-Registernr.: 013-002. October 2008.
IQWiG health information is written with the aim of helping
people understand the advantages and disadvantages of the main treatment options and health
care services.
Because IQWiG is a German institute, some of the information provided here is specific to the
German health care system. The suitability of any of the described options in an individual
case can be determined by talking to a doctor. We do not offer individual consultations.
Our information is based on the results of good-quality studies. It is written by a
team of
health care professionals, scientists and editors, and reviewed by external experts. You can
find a detailed description of how our health information is produced and updated in
our methods.

What Happens if Athlete’s Foot Is Left Untreated?

At any given time, between 3% and 15% of the population has athlete’s foot. The clinical name for this common condition is tinea pedis, and it’s caused by a fungus. Although untreated athlete’s foot isn’t fatal, it may become such an annoyance that it affects your daily life.

How Do You Know if You Have Athlete’s Foot?

If you have athlete’s foot, the area between the second-to-last and the pinkie toe — the most commonly affected area — feels itchy. The fungus makes your skin turn red, dried, and cracked. Your skin also may get thicker and turn white as well as being flaky and swollen. Small blisters may form on your foot, or you may have sores that leak fluid and have a bad smell.

Left untreated, athlete’s foot can affect the toenails — which may thicken, become discolored or crumble — and even spread to your hands or groin. Additionally, athlete’s foot can make you more vulnerable to bacterial infections, such as cellulitis.

Not Only Athletes Get Athlete’s Foot

The fungus that causes athlete’s foot is contagious and can be transferred from one person to another through contact. If someone with athlete’s foot uses the shower at the gym before you and you step into the shower barefoot, the fungus can enter small cracks on your feet and begin growing in the top layer of your skin.

The fungus thrives in warm, damp areas, and your feet provide an excellent habitat, especially if your feet are regularly sweaty or your shoes aren’t well-ventilated. Some people are more likely to get athlete’s foot than others. You are at a greater risk if you:

Use public showers regularly, especially without protection for your feet
Are male
Share shoes, towels, bath mats, rugs, or bedding with someone who has athlete’s foot
Frequently walk barefoot in public areas

Taking Some Precautions May Help You Avoid It

There are a few simple steps that may help you avoid getting athlete’s foot. Good personal hygiene is critical if you are at risk of getting athlete’s foot. Additional precautions include:

Wash and thoroughly dry your feet after exercising
Avoid using public swimming pools and showers
Keep your feet cool
Wear sandals when possible
Always wash socks after wearing them
Rotate between pairs of shoes
Avoid thick socks and closed, heavy shoes

Treating Athlete’s Foot May Be Relatively Easy

A mild case of athlete’s foot may be easy to treat using an over-the-counter antifungal cream. Those that work best include one of the following active ingredients:

Clotrimazole
Econazole
Ketoconazole
Miconazole
Naftifine
Oxiconazole
Sulconazole
Terbinafine
Terconazole

It may take up to two weeks for a topical antifungal medication to work. If the over-the-counter medication doesn’t help after two weeks of use, book an appointment with Alliance Foot & Ankle Specialists.

[Related: More Prevention Tips and Treatment Options of Athlete’s Foot]

Contact Our Sports Medicine Podiatrists if Problems Persist

If you notice sores that leak fluid, or if your hands, nails, or groin are affected, seek medical attention. These are signs that the infection is more than mild, and you may need a prescription-strength medication. People with diabetes should seek medical care at the first sign of athlete’s foot, due to a greater risk of bacterial infection.

If youre issues with athlete’s foot continue, contact our sports medicine podiatrists at one of our convenient offices in Keller or Grapevine, TX, to schedule an appointment today.

Athlete’s foot | DermNet NZ

Author: Hon A/Prof Amanda Oakley, Dermatologist, Hamilton, New Zealand, 2003.

Athlete’s foot is a term often used to describe a fungal infection (or dermatophytosis) of the foot (tinea pedis).

It most often results in peeling skin and fissuring between the toes (the toe clefts). The cleft between the fourth and fifth toes is the most frequently affected.

Fungal infection is not the only reason for peeling and fissuring between the toes, and the term athlete’s foot is sometimes used to refer to any condition where the toe clefts are inflamed.

Athlete’s foot

What causes athlete’s foot?

Athlete’s foot is generally due to proliferation of dermatophyte fungi of the genera Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton interdigitale, and Epidermophyton floccosum.

Predisposing factors

Athlete’s foot is more common in those who participate in sports because:

They may wear occlusive footwear
They sweat heavily
They may fail to dry their feet carefully after showering
They are exposed to fungal spores on the surfaces of communal areas.

What are the clinical features of athlete’s foot?

The clinical features of athlete’s foot may include:

Moist, peeling skin between the toes
White, yellow, or greenish discolouration
Sometimes, thickened skin
Painful fissures
Unpleasant smell.

Athlet’s foot is generally mild; very inflamed athlete’s foot is generally due to secondary bacterial infection.

How is athlete’s foot diagnosed?

The diagnosis is usually clinical, as athlete’s foot has a characteristic appearance. If resistant to treatment, investigations are undertaken to identify a specific infection.

What is the differential diagnosis of athlete’s foot?

Athlete’s foot is a localised interdigital form of intertrigo.

Apart from tinea pedis, peeling and fissuring between the toes can be due to:

Non-fungal causes of athlete’s foot

Was is the treatment of athlete’s foot?

Treatment for athlete’s foot should begin with general measures.

Dry carefully between the toes.
Use a dusting powder to keep the affected area dry.
Keep toes apart using a cotton or foam wedge.
Wear shoes that are loose around the toes or go bare foot.
Apply a topical antifungal agent. These may also control many of the bacteria that live in the moist skin between the toes.

Whitfield ointment (3% salicylic acid, 6% benzoic acid in petrolatum) is particularly useful, as it removes the surface layer of moist peeling skin (ie, it is keratolytic), and it eliminates bacteria and fungi.

Make sure that other sites of fungal infection are also treated effectively.

Athlete’s Foot | Cigna

Condition Basics

What is athlete’s foot?

Athlete’s foot (tinea pedis) is a rash on the skin of the foot. It’s the most common skin infection caused by a fungus. Athlete’s foot can cause itching, peeling, and cracking on the bottoms of the feet and between the toes.

How do you get it?

You can get athlete’s foot by touching the foot of a person who has it. Most often, people get it by walking barefoot on contaminated surfaces near swimming pools or in locker rooms. The fungi then grow in your shoes, especially if your shoes are tight and air can’t move around your feet.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms of athlete’s foot vary from person to person. Some people have severe discomfort, while others have few or no symptoms.

Common symptoms include:

Peeling, cracking, and scaling of the feet.
Redness, blisters, or softening and breakdown (maceration) of the skin.
Itching, burning, or both.

Your symptoms may depend on the type of athlete’s foot you have.

Toe web infection usually occurs between the fourth and fifth toes. The skin gets scaly, peels, and cracks. If you get a bacterial infection, the skin may break down even more.
Moccasin-type infection may start with a little soreness on your foot. Then the skin on your sole or heel may become thick and crack. In severe cases, the toenails get infected.
Vesicular infection usually starts with a sudden outbreak of fluid-filled blisters. The blisters are usually on the sole but can appear anywhere on your foot. You may also get a bacterial infection.

How is athlete’s foot diagnosed?

A doctor can usually tell if you have athlete’s foot by looking at your feet. He or she will also ask about your symptoms and any past fungal infections you’ve had. If your symptoms are unusual or treatment didn’t help before, your doctor may take a skin or nail sample to test for fungi.

How is it treated?

Treatment for athlete’s foot depends on its type and severity. Most cases can be treated at home with antifungal medicines. They kill the fungus or slow its growth. You also need to keep your feet clean and dry.

Over-the-counter antifungal lotions, creams, or sprays usually are used first. These include clotrimazole (Lotrimin) and tolnaftate (Tinactin).

Prescription antifungals may be tried if nonprescription medicines don’t help. Some prescription antifungals are put directly on the skin. Others are taken as a pill.

If you have a severe infection that doesn’t improve, your doctor may prescribe antifungal pills. They are used only for severe cases.

How can you care for athlete’s foot?

You can usually treat athlete’s foot at home by using nonprescription medicines and taking care of your feet. But if you have diabetes and get athlete’s foot, or if you have infections that are severe or long-lasting or that keep coming back, see your doctor.

Here are some things you can do to help treat and prevent athlete’s foot.

Use nonprescription antifungal medicines.
- These include clotrimazole (Lotrimin), miconazole (Micatin), terbinafine (Lamisil), and tolnaftate (Tinactin).
- These medicines are creams, lotions, solutions, gels, sprays, ointments, swabs, or powders that you put on the skin (topical medicine). Treatment lasts from 1 to 6 weeks.
- To prevent athlete’s foot from coming back, use the full course of all medicine as directed, even after symptoms have gone away.
Avoid using hydrocortisone cream.
Don’t use this type of cream on a fungal infection, unless your doctor prescribes it.
Soak your foot in Burow’s solution.
If you have a vesicular (blister) infection, soak your foot in Burow’s solution several times a day. Do this for 3 or more days until the blister fluid is gone. After the fluid is gone, use an antifungal cream as directed. You can also apply compresses using Burow’s solution.
Keep your feet clean and dry.
- Dry between your toes after you swim or bathe.
- Wear shoes or sandals that allow your feet to breathe.
- Wear socks to absorb sweat. Change your socks daily, or more often if wet.
- Use an antifungal spray or foot powder that helps to absorb moisture.
- Let your shoes air out for at least 24 hours before you wear them again.
Wear shower sandals.
Wear them in public pools and showers.
Avoid spreading athlete’s foot to other parts of your body.
- If you have athlete’s foot, dry your groin area before you dry your feet after bathing.
- Put on your socks before your underwear. This can prevent fungi from spreading from your feet to your groin. Fungi in the groin can cause jock itch.

Fungal disease of the foot | Examination and treatment in Germany

Dermatology Center informs: fungal disease of the foot (Tinea pedis)

Definition of fungal disease (Tinea pedis

)

The dermatologist distinguishes between different types of fungal disease of the foot (Tinea pedis):

form (occurs most often)
squamous cell form (manifests itself on the lower surface of the foot)
vesicular form (blistering on the lower edge and arch of the foot)

Fungus (Tinea pedis) is a fungal infection of the interdigital regions, the lower surface of the foot, rear feet and in particularly difficult cases of toenails.The disease is often chronic. In most cases, the fungus appears primarily between the fourth and fifth toes. If the nails are also affected, the dermatologist diagnoses onychomycosis.

How can you recognize a fungal infection of the feet? The primary stage is accompanied by a whitish tinge and swelling of the infected skin. After that, the following symptoms appear:

redness
fluid secretion
blistering
skin begins to peel off
burdensome and persistent itching
tingling and burning between the toes or on the heels
skin inflammation
inflammation in the nail area

Dermatologists most often diagnose the interdigital form, which is a sign of peeling of the skin between the fingers.Sometimes this form of fungal disease (Tinea pedis) goes unnoticed. Dermatologists diagnose diabetic patients with a squamous cell form of the fungus that spreads from the heel to the back of the foot, while the skin is slightly inflamed. With the further development of the disease in the area of the heels, a layer of keratinized skin with painful cracks forms. If the fungus manifests itself on the arch of the foot or edges, then we are talking about the vesicular form of the fungus, a sign of which are blisters or vesicles, which can dry out due to a thick layer of keratinized skin on the legs.

In case of fungal disease (Tinea pedis), the patient is advised to immediately consult a dermatologist for treatment in order to avoid long-term damage to the skin. The fungus is by no means a minor disease, as it can spread to other regions of the body and cause irreparable harm. In addition, fungal disease (Tinea pedis) is contagious.

Synonyms and similar terms

Synonyms: mycosis of the feet, dermatophyte of the foot, Tinea pedis interdigitalis , Tinea pedis plantaris
lang .: athlete´s foot

Description

Fungus (Tinea pedis) is not only a widespread fungal infection, but also the most common infectious disease in western industrialized countries, and is therefore sometimes referred to as a “national” disease. Based on research estimates, about 2/3 of the German population has already suffered from this ailment at least once, and it occurs more often in men than in women, and is extremely rare in children.

In most cases, the disease is caused by filamentous fungi (dermatophytes), less often yeasts, in particular candida species, and molds.Despite the fact that many patients show typical complaints such as itching, moisture and blistering, they do not seek the help of a dermatologist because of a sense of shame, since many are convinced that the appearance of a fungal disease (Tinea pedis) is associated with poor hygiene. However, this is a widespread misconception.

Since the disease is highly contagious, you should immediately seek help from a dermatologist. The disease will not go away on its own in a few days.

Successful treatment (therapy) usually takes several weeks or months, especially if the nails are also affected.

Causes of the appearance of the fungus (Tinea pedis)

The English designation of the fungus “athlete’s foot” literally means “athlete’s foot”, which already indicates the fact that primarily athletes suffer from this disease, since they often resort to the use of cabins for dressing, sharing showers or public pools, and wearing airtight shoes that only encourage perspiration.In a humid, warm environment, pathogens of the fungus (Tinea pedis) develop much faster. The risk group also includes people who often wear rubber shoes, suffering from weak immunity, diabetes mellitus, poor circulation or deformity of the feet.

Preventive measures are essential. Dermatologists recommend thoroughly drying your feet after washing, especially your toes. In public pools, shared showers and saunas, you should not walk barefoot, only in slippers.

People with fungal disease of the feet (Tinea pedis), when walking, lose skin scales, which are infected and imperceptibly distributed on the floor. If another person walks barefoot on this floor, the infected skin scales will firmly settle on his legs. Thus, infection with the fungus (Tinea pedis) occurs from person to person. In rare cases, infection occurs through direct contact. Damage to the nail bed and cracks can only facilitate the penetration of microbes into the skin or nails.

What you can do in case of fungal disease

In order to achieve the early success of the therapy (treatment) carried out by a dermatologist, you should adhere to the following hygiene recommendations:

Keep your feet dry at all times.
Thoroughly towel dry your feet and especially the spaces between your toes after showering or bathing.
Use the towel only once.
Wear only breathable and comfortable socks and shoes.
Change socks or tights daily and do not wear the same shoes for several days in a row.
Wash socks or tights at a high temperature.
Wear light home shoes and flip-flops in public pools, saunas, hotels and gyms.

Help from specialists

Depending on the symptomatology, in addition to consulting your attending physician, detailed diagnostics from various specialists may follow. These include:

Dermatologists
Pediatricians

What to expect at your dermatologist appointment?

Before your doctor starts examinations, he will start with a conversation (history) about your current complaints.In addition, he will also ask you about past complaints, as well as the presence of possible diseases.

The following questions may await you:

How long ago did the symptoms appear?
Could you describe the symptoms more accurately and localize them?
Did you notice any changes in the symptomatology process?
Do you experience additional symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pains, dizziness?
Have you experienced this before? Have similar symptoms appeared in the family?
Do you currently have any diseases or hereditary predisposition to the disease and are you on treatment in this regard?
Are you currently taking any medications?
Do you have any allergies?
How often do you find yourself in a state of stress at home?

What medications do you take regularly?

The dermatologist needs an overview of the medications you are taking regularly.Please prepare a chart of the medications you are taking in the form of a table before your first appointment with a dermatologist. A sample of such a table can be found at the link: Medication Scheme.

Examinations (diagnostics) carried out by dermatologists

Based on the characteristics of the symptoms identified in the course of the anamnesis and your current condition, the dermatologist may resort to the following examinations:

Skin examination
Scraping skin flakes
Microscope
Removal technique: with a transparent adhesive strip, the dermatologist removes skin scales
Applying the fungal medium on a special soil

Treatment (therapy)

For the treatment (therapy) of a fungal disease (Tinea pedis), a dermatologist uses the so-called antifungal funds.They contain active substances such as terbinafine , itraconazole , clotrimazole , miconazole and bifonazole , thanks to which pathogens will be destroyed. In the case of the initial stage of the disease, external use will be sufficient. You can choose between sprays, tinctures, creams, gels, or powders. Your dermatologist will advise you in finding the right product for you.

For patients suffering from excessive sweating on the legs, it is recommended to use a gel or powder, for dry skin creams and lotions are ideal.Antifungal agents must be used for at least 3-4 weeks. The treatment of the fungus (Tinea pedis) lasts a long time: the symptoms often pass quickly, but the causative agents of the disease remain in the deep layers of the skin. If the patient interrupts treatment (therapy), the fungus (Tinea pedis) does not heal completely, a secondary infection or onychomycosis (fungal nail disease) may appear. In particularly difficult cases, a dermatologist prescribes antifungal tablets in the form of tablets.

Preventive measures

To avoid fungal infections (Tinea pedis), you should keep your feet dry at all times. Therefore, dermatologists recommend wearing breathable and comfortable shoes, preferably made of leather rather than artificial material, since leather shoes do not impede the penetration of air to the feet and help to wick away sweat quickly. Keep track of the choice of material from which socks, tights and stockings are made: it is advisable to use those made of cotton.Change your shoes more often and disinfect them regularly. Dry your feet thoroughly after showering or bathing. It is not recommended to wear socks or tights while your feet are still wet.

Wear slippers or flip flops in public pools, saunas, gyms or hotels. You can also spray your feet with disinfectant in public pools.

Prognosis

Fungal disease (Tinea pedis) should not be triggered. For treatment, you need to contact a specialist in dermatology.Typically, fungus (Tinea pedis) and onychomycosis can be treated with antifungal agents.

Can the shape of your foot tell you where you are?

Human interest in genetics and origins has long stimulated the development of science and the emergence of various theories. One of them is that by the shape of the foot, you can understand to which of the ancient populations your ancestors belonged. Atlas decided to find out if this is so.

What types of feet exist

According to the theory, there are five main types, which differ in the length of the fingers and the line they form.

Foot type	Description
Greek	The second finger protrudes forward relative to all others, including the thumb.
Roman	The first three toes are the same length, while the two are usually shorter.
Celtic	The thumb is short, the second is longer than the rest, the others decrease in size down to the little finger.
German	Large thumb and the rest of the same size.
Egyptian	Toes decrease evenly (ladder) from thumb to little finger.

It is assumed that people with a Greek foot had Greek ancestors, with an Egyptian foot, Egyptians, and so on. The theory emerged in the 19th century, when the idea of belonging to “Germanic” or “Egyptian” populations, associated with ethnic homogeneity, came into vogue.

Greek foot – the standard for sculptors

If you saw antique statues, you might have noticed their legs. Most of them have a second toe longer than the rest.This is the ideal form for the ancient Greeks. It was used in architecture and art.

In medicine, the longest second toe is called Morton’s Finger. It can be painful when walking because it affects the distribution of body weight and pressure on the foot. A 2004 study showed that this anatomical feature is inherent in professional athletes and can positively influence athletic performance. This is probably why the Greek foot is also called the “burning foot”.

Scientists agree that the shape of the foot is a trait that is inherited. Men are more likely to inherit it than women.

The Greek foot is not unique to the Greeks – in the world about 30% of people have this type of foot. For example, for the Ainu people living in Japan, this is a characteristic feature.

Roman foot – measure of length

The Romans left their traces throughout Europe and North Africa during the conquests. They invented the “foot” – a measure of length that is still used today in Great Britain.

Roman feet can be recognized by three toes of the same length, starting with the first. It is believed that this trait is characteristic of a quarter of the world’s population. It is often found in Roman art, although a Greek foot can also be seen on many of the statues. The Romans often copied the works of Greek sculptors.

People with this foot shape find it more difficult to find comfortable shoes. Shoes with a narrow toe, stiletto heels and high heels cause particular problems: when they are worn, the ball of the foot is under pressure.

Bones of the foot make up 25% of all bones in the human body. Each foot has 26 bones and 33 joints.

Celtic foot – crop mix

Celts are associated with Western Europe, especially Britain, but their exact origins are uncertain. The shape of their feet and toes also speaks of a mixture of different cultures.

Celtic foot – a combination of the shape of the Germanic and Greek toes. In this type, the second toe is longer than the others, and the first and third are almost the same length.Genetic research has shed light on the reasons for this combination.

The Romans left their mark throughout Europe and North Africa during the conquests. They invented the “foot” – a measure of length that is still used today in Great Britain.

A study of DNA samples from more than 6 thousand Europeans confirms this theory. According to the results, European populations have migrated to the territory of the modern United Kingdom over the past 10 thousand years.

The shape of the Celtic foot may be the result of the mixing of several peoples.

Egyptian foot – artificial toes

The Egyptian foot looks neat: the toes are reduced evenly. If you draw an imaginary line from the tip of your first finger to your little finger, you get a straight line at a 45-degree angle.

Artificial fingers were found on one of the ancient Egyptian mummies. Researchers from the University of Manchester have found two prostheses, one made of papier-mâché and the other made of wood and leather.

Scientists decided to conduct an experiment and made their own version of the finger prosthesis.The results showed that they could help people who lost their thumb to walk in sandals typical of ancient Egyptian times.

For a long time, it has been thought that people with Egyptian feet have a higher risk of ingrown toenails than others. The Japanese Nippon School of Medicine conducted a comparative study of Egyptian, Greek and Celtic feet and found that people with Egyptian toes were less likely to experience this problem.

In Japan, 70–80% of the population has an Egyptian type of foot, so shoes there are made with this feature in mind.Some shoe manufacturers sometimes draw the attention of buyers to the fact that their products are designed for the Egyptian foot.

Relationship between feet and origin

Now you know about the five most common types of feet, as well as their medical and orthopedic features and some myths. I would like to believe that the shape of the leg can keep secrets about where your distant ancestors lived, but there is still no scientific justification for this.

Despite the fact that, according to statistics, the Greek foot really predominates among the modern population of Greece, it is also present among the aborigines of Australia, who are hardly descendants of the ancient Greeks.The elongated toe might just be an evolutionary device that helps with running.

In ancient times, some forms of the foot were the standard of beauty. This can be traced in the art of the ancient Greeks, Egyptians and Romans, which was especially popular in the 19th century, and could have influenced the development of the theory.

Venus de Milo and the Statue of Liberty have Greek feet.

How to find out about your origin

Genetic test Atlas will shed light on the origins of your origin and tell:

How your ancestors migrated over 100,000 years.
Which haplogroup do you belong to
Which famous person do you have a common ancestor with.
How many Neanderthal genes are in your DNA.
What is your population composition.

In addition, the results include information on the risks of developing multifactorial diseases and the status of hereditary carriage, sports injuries, metabolic characteristics, and individual traits, for example, a tendency to insomnia.

To find out more about where your ancestors come from, order the Atlas Genetic Test on our website.

Aigbogun, E, O et al. Morton’s Toe: Prevalence and Inheritance Pattern among Nigerians, 2019
Callaway, E. UK Mapped Out By Genetic Ancestry, 2015
NHS. Ingrown Toenail, 2018
Ogawa, R and Hyakusoku, H. Does Egyptian Foot Present an Increased Risk of Ingrown Toenail, 2006.
Pilikian, H, I. Why We Should Remember the Armenians, 2014
Science Daily. Egyptian Toe Tests Show They’re Likely to Be the World’s Oldest Prosthetics, 2012
Vounotrypidis, P and Noutsou, P.The Greek Foot: Is It a Myth or Reality? An Epidemiological Study in Greece and Connections to Past and Modern Global History, 2015
Kulthanan T et al., A study of footprints in athletes and non-athletic people, 2005
MIT Technology Review, 2019

Athlete’s foot – treatment, symptoms, causes, diagnosis

This is often called a fungal infection of the feet, which is more common in people involved in sports. Fungal lesions (mycoses) are caused by several types of fungi, affecting different parts of the foot and different visual manifestations.Mycosis of the feet is a contagious disease, and you can get infected by contact with the patient or his shoes. More often, infection occurs through contact with a surface contaminated with fungi (floors in a shower or changing room). The risk of getting infected in humans depends on the individual susceptibility of the organism. The older the person is, the more likely it is to become infected. If a person has suffered mycosis, then the risk of recurrence is quite high. People not susceptible to mycosis can be carriers of the disease and infect other people.

Risk factors

MaleMen are more susceptible to foot mycoses than women.
Previous fungal diseases
The presence of reduced immunity (in diseases such as diabetes or cancer).
Living in a warm, humid climate.
Old age. Mycosis is more common in the older age group. Children rarely get sick with an athlete’s foot.
Prolonged exposure of the feet to moisture.
Wearing tight, poorly ventilated shoes.
Walking barefoot in public changing rooms or showers
Performance of work related to prolonged contact with water.

Causes of mycosis

Mycosis is caused by a fungus that develops on or in the upper layer of the skin. Fungus grows best in warm, humid areas, such as the area between the toes.

Mycosis is very easily transmitted. You can get infected by touching the toes of a person who has this disease. More often than not, people become infected by walking barefoot on contaminated surfaces near swimming pools or in changing rooms.Fungi begin to grow actively in shoes, especially tight ones, without air ventilation. In some cases, you may not get sick (in the absence of susceptibility), but become a carrier of the fungus and infect other people. As a rule, the transferred mycosis does not guarantee that there will be no re-infection (rather the opposite).

Symptoms

Mycosis (athlete’s foot) can cause burning in the foot or between the toes and itching. The skin may macerate and crack. Symptoms depend on the location of the fungal infection (type of fungus).

A fungal infection of the toe tissue usually occurs between the fourth and fifth toes. The skin becomes scaly, thinner, and cracked. In some people, a fungal infection is accompanied by a secondary bacterial infection, which leads to further damage to the skin tissue.
A fungal infection (such as a moccasin) may start with mild soreness in the foot. The skin at the base or sole of the foot thickens and cracks. In severe cases, the toenails may be affected (nail thickening, crumbling and sometimes falling nails).Mycosis of the nails requires separate treatment.
Fungal infection of the vesicular type. It is usually manifested by the sudden appearance of small blisters filled with fluid under the skin. Bubbles are usually found at the base of the foot. But they can appear anywhere on the foot. A combination of a fungal infection with a bacterial

is also possible

Athlete’s foot diagnostics

The basis of diagnostics is a visual examination of the foot by a doctor. The doctor may be interested in the presence of concomitant pathology and possible ways of infection with the fungus.In addition, the doctor needs to take a scraping for microscopic examination

Treatment of mycosis

Treatment of mycosis depends on the type of fungus and the severity of the infection. In most cases, treatment is carried out at home with over-the-counter drugs available in pharmacies.

Over-the-counter drugs are used first. These are drugs such as lamisil, mycatin, clotrimazole. These drugs are applied topically in the form of ointments.

With severe mycosis, it is possible to use drugs that are stronger (as prescribed by a doctor), such as naphtin or mentaxa.

Oral drugs are prescribed only in severe cases and for a short period of time (due to the presence of pronounced side effects). For example, this is Diflucan or Sporanox.

In case of nail damage, the affected nails are removed using special applications.

In combination with a bacterial infection, antibiotics may be prescribed.

Athlete’s foot prophylaxis

Foot dry
Wipe the spaces between the fingers dry after swimming or showering
Wearing shoes with normal ventilation
Wearing shoes with socks
Wearing cotton socks
Use talcum powder or antifungal powder if perspiring
Shoes must be ventilated for at least 24 hours after being worn again
Wearing flip flops in public areas (pool, changing room, shower).

Anatomy of the foot. An interesting presentation of anatomy

In the process of evolution, man got on his feet and turned into a bipedal creature. In nature, there are many limbs for walking and running on land, therefore, they distinguish between walking on the foot, on the toes (paws) and phalanges (hooves).

The number of bones in all limbs is the same, but their location and shape are different. Human feet and bear feet are also different. The person has developed an individual, vaulted, structure of the feet.So, the human foot is a complex articulation of many bones, ligaments and muscles. It is similar to the hand, but since it has different functions, it is less mobile, but stronger: the bones are denser, the ligaments are thicker and shorter, the fat layer and the skin on the sole are rather thick.

On the soles of the feet, as well as on the palms, there are many sensitive receptors and sweat glands, there are papillary patterns. On the feet, they have their own characteristics – in the area of the toes and metatarsus, they are more complex than under the arch and at the heel.Special pads under the toes and heels are made up of fat and collagen, which tend to thin out with age, which makes it painful for older people to walk.

Although the foot is strong enough, it can still change shape slightly when the load is distributed. The foot performs three main functions: support, depreciation and balance (setting the position of the body in space). The foot has, by virtue of its structure, three points of support: the heel and two points in front, forming three support arches.This allows the smallest irregularities to be taken into account while maintaining balance.

When moving, the weight first falls on the heel, then smoothly passes along the outer edge of the foot, and then the metatarsal bones touch the surface. The toes are not used when standing, they are turned on when weight is transferred, when a person stands on the toes and when the foot breaks off the surface when moving forward. If a person’s thumb is noticeably longer than the rest, then when lifting to the toes, the weight is unevenly distributed.According to the length of the fingers, the Greek foot is distinguished – when the second toe is the longest, the Egyptian – when the fingers become shorter from the thumb to the little finger, the German – when the thumb is long, and the rest are approximately equal, and the Roman – when all fingers are approximately the same.

The foot consists of 26 bones and is divided into several sections: toes, metatarsus and tarsus.

The tarsus consists of five bones and forms two sections.The middle section is represented by large bones: the talus and calcaneus, and the distal one is wedge-shaped, scaphoid and cuboid.

The talus is the tallest, connecting the foot to the lower leg. This bone has as many as five articular joints covered with cartilage, but has no muscles attached to it. The talus forms an angle of rotation for the foot up to 90 degrees and serves to raise and lower it. Moving to the left and right of the foot can be very limited, therefore, among the injuries, sprains or ruptures of the ankle ligaments are more common.

Calcaneus has six articulations and is anchored by many ligaments, including the Achilles tendon.

The so-called instep of the foot forms navicular bone . The scaphoid, cuboid and sphenoid bones, firmly connected by tendons, form a very inactive joint.

Metatarsus consists of five bones, the first being the strongest and the second being the longest.Outwardly, they look like tubes with three edges and rounded ends. The metatarsal bone at the point of articulation with the phalanx of the thumb often suffers from salt deposits.

The phalanges of the toes have 14 bones (not three, but two bones in the thumb), and they are not as long as on the hands. But, as in the hands, there are no muscles in the fingers, only ligaments, so the bones are well felt. Often on the little fingers, the second and third phalanges grow together, this does not affect health and functionality in any way.

Sometimes a person has two additional bones that give their owners certain problems. In the first case, this is the accessory scaphoid bone (external tibia), it occurs in one in ten people and is located in the thickness of the tendon extending from the scaphoid bone. In women, it occurs twice as often as in men. If the bone grows large, then the instep of the foot becomes high and the shoes begin to rub the foot from above.

In 7% of people, there is a triangular bone located at the outer protrusion of the posterior process of the talus.It is difficult for such people to lower the foot (stand on the toes), since the triangular bone rests on the heel.

When running in an adult, the load on the foot increases fourfold from its weight, so the tendons of the feet are very strong. The ankle joints are tightly braided with tendons, providing the weight of the talus, while at the same time they protect the joint from incorrect movement. Ligaments located between the metatarsal bones and extending from the heel to the metatarsus provide cushioning in both arches of the foot.When they are weakened, flat feet develop.

Muscles also help maintain weight. Short extensors are responsible for extension of the fingers, short flexors located below, under the bones of the metatarsus, for flexion. The flexors are much stronger than the extensors, as they are involved in maintaining weight and balance. When a person walks, half of the body weight falls on the toes when raising the heel. The plantar muscle, which covers the top of the flexors, is responsible for maintaining the arch of the foot and stretches from the heel to the metatarsus and can be felt.Interestingly, it is easier for babies and adolescents to raise their feet, and for adults with developed calf muscles, it is easier to lower them.

The toenails are thicker and grow more slowly than the nails. With age, they become even thicker, as metabolism worsens and the nail plate simply does not have time to leave the growth zone. Often, on the big toe, the nail begins to grow into soft tissues, this is a fairly common phenomenon. In most cases, the reason is too tight shoes or overheating of the feet in hot weather in closed shoes.Poor pedicure, fungal infections, thumb injuries and flat feet can also lead to ingrown toenails. In the latter case, everything again comes down to uncomfortable shoes. An ingrown nail is treated both orthopedically and surgically (in advanced cases).

Blood in the foot comes from the superior gluteal, posterior tibial and dorsal arteries, in the knee area they are divided into smaller ducts, and at the foot they are completely divided into a network of small vessels. The vein that provides the outflow of blood (large saphenous) begins at the thumb.Since the feet are the lowest part of the body, it is not uncommon for them to experience nutritional deficiencies due to poor circulation. All legs suffer, but if there are no obvious diseases, a person may simply suffer from ice feet syndrome. In this case, you should check the cardiovascular system or simply make more body movements.

Diseases of the feet, as a rule, are associated with a host of additional problems. The position of the foot affects posture, the position of the bones of the limbs and the pelvis.In people with deformed feet, asymmetry of the whole body is observed, and curvature of the spine is common. Among the most common pathologies of the foot is its deformity. It can be both a consequence of trauma and congenital. The most famous, of course, is flat feet.

Flat feet can be longitudinal, when the plantar ligament and muscle are weakened, or transverse, when the metatarsal bone of the big toe is deflected due to a stretching of the intermetatarsal ligaments. In any case, the foot loses its cushioning properties.

Check the leg for longitudinal flat feet using the foot print: if there is a print on the inner side of the foot, then the foot is flat, if not, then the arch is raised and there is no flat feet. With such a deformation of the foot, the legs quickly get tired, pain occurs in the metatarsus, women cannot walk in high heels. The disease develops at the age of 7-9, during the period of bone growth, that is, before the age of 18, it may worsen. With age, the elasticity of the ligaments and muscles decreases, so that the load on the foot increases even more.In adults, flat feet are more common in women due to improper shoes, during pregnancy and hormonal changes, and in men – from overweight. All people with a lot of weight sooner or later begin to suffer from flat feet.

Throughout a person’s life, it is important to monitor the condition of the feet; the first time you pay attention to the foot should be in early childhood, when a person begins to walk. If there are congenital pathologies that are not immediately noticed, then they will manifest themselves here, since there will be a load on the feet.The next stage is admission to school: the load on the legs increases again. Next is adolescence, when bones grow most rapidly. At the age of 30, changes occur due to improper lifestyle and wearing bad shoes. And with age, of course, bones, ligaments, and blood flow begin to weaken, which can lead to a worsening of the disease. Flat feet are treated with gymnastics, orthopedic insoles, special shoes and promptly. If a person has congenital hyperelastic ligaments, then flat feet are nothing new to him, but muscle training can rectify the situation.

Hollow foot – a situation opposite to flat feet, when the longitudinal arch is too high and the leg looks like a semicircular arch. At the same time, the foot itself becomes shorter, and it is problematic to walk on it. It is treated with gymnastics and special shoe inserts.

Another pathology – clubfoot . Sometimes it is congenital, sometimes it develops due to improper positioning of the legs when starting to walk or muscle weakness.

Equine foot – deformity of the limb when the foot is at an obtuse angle to the lower leg. The reason is the weakness of the leg muscles. At the same time, the mobility of the feet also decreases.

Heel foot – The opposite of the equine foot. It is treated with plaster casts. It occurs in newborns due to improper position of the legs in the womb or after paralysis of the muscles of the lower leg.

Bursitis – an occupational disease in the form of inflammation of the heel bag, arises from injuries.It develops quickly, as the foot is under constant stress, and can develop into heel bursitis. Bursitis is less common as a result of polyarthritis, tuberculosis, salt metabolism disorders or infection of wounds in the heel area; symptoms are most pronounced when walking and at night. Bursitis is treated, depending on the causes, with anti-inflammatory drugs, warming procedures and promptly (in severe cases). Whatever treatment is used, the foot must be relieved of the load.

Calcaneal spur – A growth on the calcaneus in the form of a thorn or hook.Although it does not exceed 1 cm, it can still cause inconvenience. There are a lot of reasons for the appearance: from excess weight and joint diseases to diabetes and the wrong shoes. The spur usually appears in older people. Unpleasant sensations occur when walking, especially in the morning. A person has to “walk around”. Pain may also occur after exercise. It is treated with medication, with the help of gymnastics and physiotherapy.

Inflammation of the Achilles tendon occurs due to excessive stress, it is often an occupational disease in dancers, athletes, and on foot couriers.Sometimes inflammation can accompany the heel spur or be the result of other diseases of the bones and ligaments. Pain occurs in the heel or under the calf muscle. When the load is applied after rest, the skin may turn red, the calves may warm up and swell. In this case, apply cooling compresses and wear an elastic bandage to help reduce stress. If the cause was an infection, then antibiotics are taken.

Burning feet syndrome is often seen in men. This is due to the fact that the body gets rid of the most difficult toxins through the sweat glands on the soles.Under the influence of gravity, they go down and are excreted through the only possible exit – the skin. This does not happen as quickly as through the lymph, so toxins irritate the tissues, inflammation and fever occur. Another signal that harmful substances are released through sweat is an unpleasant odor. It is a fact, but people who lead a healthy lifestyle, who practice cleansing techniques, do not exude an odor even with profuse sweating. If the feet are cold and pale, the blood vessels and heart should be checked.

Fractures of the foot bones take a long time to heal, since the bones are numerous, small and close together, and the foot is subject to stress. Determining the location of the fracture is quite problematic, since pain can extend not only to the fracture site itself. Fractures of the arch of the foot, where the bones are motionless and firmly fastened by ligaments, a person may not even suspect, since the pain is not so pronounced. The metatarsal bones and scaphoid bone are more often broken when something heavy is dropped on the foot.

A fatigue fracture of the calcaneus is also distinguished, when this bone is under too much stress, there is an anatomical defect or degenerative bone diseases. They are found in athletes or the military who are forced to travel long distances with additional weight.

The digital phalanges (especially in the little finger) also break often, but they grow together the fastest. The talus is the slowest to recover, it is mostly inside, does not have a sufficiently good blood supply and takes on the weight of the body.It is difficult to injure the talus in everyday life, but it is possible in case of serious accidents, in which, as a rule, the entire foot is injured.

To maintain the health of your feet, you should first of all train them – do gymnastics, massage and the choice of comfortable shoes are also useful. Hygiene is important, as our feet are in shoes for most of the day and our skin needs to breathe. It is very harmful to sleep in socks, since during sleep, various substances that can cause irritation continue to be secreted through the sweat glands on the feet.

A useful procedure is steaming feet using hygiene products, oils or creams. Such procedures help to maintain healthy nails and prevent corns. Baths with a decoction of wormwood, for example, eliminate fungal diseases. Warm baths allow you to relax deep muscles, relieve tension, and cleanse the pores of the skin. But even this useful procedure has contraindications, such as hypertension, varicose veins, high fever in infectious diseases, pregnancy and critical days in women.Various agents are used as additives:

Herbs. Many of them have an antiseptic, sedative effect. In addition, the steam from herbal baths creates an inhalation effect.
Mustard has a warming effect.
Salt relieves swelling and helps fight infections. Cannot be used for injuries and skin irritations.
Apple cider vinegar. Eliminates fungus and unpleasant odors.
Soda softens calluses and alkalizes the skin.Soda baths are used not only to heal the legs, but also to restore the acid-base balance of the body.
Peroxide heals skin wounds, removes fungus and odor.

After the procedure, you should put on warm socks (made of breathable fabric, not synthetics) and do not go outside so as not to cool your feet.

Hardening is another useful procedure. It is known that a person’s face tolerates cold better than the rest of the body, wrapped in clothes for most of its life.Hardened feet, when cooled, begin to warm up by 1-2 degrees, not hardened, on the contrary – they lose heat, and a person gets cold.

The foot is the support of the whole body, therefore, with injuries and diseases of the feet, a person loses the ability to move. In nature, animals that are unable to walk or run do not survive, but people continue to live, although they experience a lot of restrictions. In the modern world, a person is more concerned with the state of his heart or back and thinks little about his feet.Ancient people and those who grew up in the countryside walked barefoot on the ground, grass, stones and other natural surfaces for a long time. Their feet are better developed, healthier and stronger than those of those who wear shoes almost from birth and step only on flat floors. The feet, like the hands, are an organ of touch, only the legs are still responsible for maintaining balance, that is, the motor skills of the feet are associated with the vestibular apparatus. If a person moves over rough terrain, learns to climb, walk on a tightrope, receive different tactile signals from his feet, then his brain will develop better.Experiments have shown that surfaces such as hot asphalt, gravel, mowed grass, snow or any other uneven surface with extreme temperature excite the nervous system, and fine sand, soft grass, warm water soothe. Neutral surfaces, such as a room floor or mildly heated asphalt, act neutral, meaning that when walking on them, the brain receives almost no data and does not exercise. So aside from exercise and the right shoes, remember to just walk barefoot.

Fun Facts:

Heels have a detrimental effect on the condition of the feet. Every two centimeters of heel lift increases pressure on the toes by 25%. The 7 cm heel increases the load on the metatarsus and toes by 75%.
In China, in 1911, the ancient law of the 7th century that women must wear wooden blocks to stop the growth of their feet was abolished. Tiny feet among the aristocracy were considered the standard of beauty, but they literally crippled their owner.
In India, women wear a ring on their toes during marriage. Rings are made of silver (traditionally gold cannot be worn below the waist) and are worn on both legs.
During the day, when the legs are loaded, the size of the feet increases, and during sleep it decreases. By the evening, the leg can grow as much as two sizes.
The longest toes were found in a representative of Taiwan, only 151 cm tall.The middle toe on her foot reaches a length of 5 cm.

Tendovaginitis of tendons: causes, symptoms, treatment

Views: 66 069

Date of last update: 26.08.2021

Average Read Time: 5 minutes

Contents:

Which joints are most often affected
What provokes the development of tendovaginitis
How does tendovaginitis manifest
Motrin® with tendovaginitis
Comprehensive approach to the treatment of tendovaginitis

Tendovaginitis is accompanied by prolonged pain syndrome, which interferes with a full life, sports and other active activities.The disease is based on an inflammatory process that covers the tendons, tendon sheaths and surrounding tissues.

Classic tendovaginitis of the joint develops as a result of prolonged movements of the same type, characteristic not only of athletes, but also of people of ordinary professions (machinists, pianists, seamstresses, etc.). The pain occurs every time after overwork, prolonged exertion, and if you do not pay attention to it, it will only intensify, which will lead to the need for complex and expensive surgical treatment.Timely anti-inflammatory therapy and the elimination of the influence of risk factors make it possible to take control of the condition long before the transition of the disease to a chronic form.

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Which joints are most often affected

A tendon connects bones or bones and muscles. From above it is covered with connective tissue, and from the inside – with a synovial membrane, which secretes lubricant for better sliding and movement of the limbs. The inflammatory process leads to a violation of this process.Gliding slows down, pain occurs.

Most often, inflammation affects the tendons of the forearm, hand, wrist joint, ankle and foot. Tenosynovitis can be acute or chronic. If, when the first signs of the disease appear, a person does not conduct effective treatment, does not fight inflammation and pain, and after the clinical manifestations subside, continues to load the tendon, then the disease often begins to recur. Dystrophy of the tendon membranes occurs, motor activity drops sharply.

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What provokes the development of tendovaginitis

Experts refer to provoking factors:

tendon microtrauma;
heavy physical work associated with overloading of the joints;
bruises in case of an accidental fall on a sharply bent or unbent limb;
spread of infection to tendons and their vaginas with osteomyelitis, infectious arthritis, phlegmon;
toxic reactive tendon inflammation in rheumatic joint disease;
entry of pathogens into the structures of the joint with blood flow in tuberculosis, gonorrhea or other infectious diseases.

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How is tenosynovitis manifested

Acute tendovaginitis develops as a result of sprains, bruises, overloading of the joints. The affected area swells greatly, pain appears along the tendon and in the rest of the limb, a slight crunch is possible during movement. Painful sensations persist for 1-2 weeks and require high-quality pain relief.

In chronic tendovaginitis, pain occurs periodically, intensifying after physical exertion.Over time, the sensitivity of the fingers decreases, the limb loses muscle strength. This is especially noticeable in case of damage to the tendons of the wrist joint, in which the sick person loses the ability to make fine and precise movements with his hands.

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Motrin® for tenosynovitis

Motrin ^® is a modern non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug that helps relieve pain and inflammation, including tendovaginitis.Motrin ^® is clinically proven to provide pain relief for up to 12 hours ¹. At the same time, the active substance of the drug (naproxen) helps to cope with inflammation by reducing the activity of cyclooxygenase and blocking the synthesis of prostaglandins, which is important in the treatment of diseases such as tendovaginitis.

Read the instructions before use.

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An integrated approach to the treatment of tendovaginitis

Treatment of tendovaginitis should be comprehensive, including both symptomatic and etiotropic therapy.It is important to establish the causes of the development of the disease in order to minimize the effect of provoking factors. In the acute period, it is necessary to provide the inflamed tendon with rest. If necessary, an immobilization of a limb or a joint is carried out, blockades are performed using glucocorticosteroid drugs. The infectious nature of tendovaginitis requires the use of antibiotic therapy.

From physiotherapy procedures are shown water procedures, laser therapy, UHF. The recovery period lasts several weeks.Throughout the entire period of rehabilitation, the loads should be dosed. For the prevention of contractures and other complications, therapeutic exercises are indicated. In an advanced stage, surgical methods of treatment are used.

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The information in this article is for reference only and does not replace the professional advice of a physician. Consult a qualified professional for diagnosis and treatment.

1 – Frick et al.Efficacy and safety of naproxen sodium and ibuprofen for pain relief after oral surgery. Ongoing Therapeutic Research. 1993; 54 (6): 619-27.
2 – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed
3 – Karateev AE. Naproxen: a versatile analgesic with minimal risk of cardiovascular complications. Modern rheumatology. 2016; 10 (2): 70–77.
4 – in oral form. Based on these instructions for use and clinical studies registered in the Russian Federation, OTC pain relievers.

90,000 Pronation of the foot. How to determine?

R When running, the human body is subjected to excessive stress, so it is imperative that an appropriate balance of shock absorption and stability is maintained to reduce the risk of injury.

C Special Wave midsole provides superior cushioning by distributing shock across the entire surface. The stability of the technology is achieved by the difference in level between the outer and inner surfaces of the shoe.This technology prevents the outsole from compressing in high pressure areas. The key cushioning and stability parameters of Wave Technology allow you to find the optimal fit for any type of running. The result is a lightweight, state-of-the-art sports shoe for professional sports.

X The nature of the pronation of the foot is the main parameter when choosing a shoe. It is recommended to determine which arch you have, as this is directly related to the way you run and can be a good starting point for choosing the right shoe model.

If you have a normal deflection of the foot, you are most likely a neutral pronator and a SUPPORT shoe with medium pronation control will suit you. Runners prone to flat feet are usually hyper-pronated and should look to CONTROL running shoes for more control over pronation. Athletes with a high arch, in turn, are hypopronatics and are advised to use NEUTRAL shoes that promote more natural foot movement.

Once again, we draw your attention to the fact that stabilizing (SUPPORT) shoes are suitable for normal (neutral) pronators, and not neutral, (NEUTRAL), as one might easily think.

How to determine your pronation?

C The simplest and most affordable way is the “wet test”. In order to complete it, you need to take a sheet of thick paper, put it on the floor and, wet your bare feet, stand on the sheet for about half a minute.After that, get off the sheet and trace with a pencil the boundaries of the wet spots remaining on the paper. After a few tries, you should end up with something that resembles one of the images below.

Neutral pronator (SUPPORT)

When running, the outside of the heel comes into contact with the surface. The foot pivots inward by about 15% and reaches full contact with the ground, supporting the weight of the body without any problem.The deflection of the foot ensures optimal distribution of the load from the impact on the surface. This movement is called “pronation” and is very important for proper cushioning. At the end of the running cycle, the repulsion occurs evenly across the entire forefoot.

Hypopronator (NEUTRAL)

Again, contact with the ground is with the outside of the heel. But the deflection of the foot inward is accomplished by less than 15%, i.e.That is, this movement is less than that of runners with low or normal arches. Thus, the impact forces are concentrated on a smaller area of the foot (mainly the outer part) and are not distributed efficiently enough. During the take-off phase, the small toes on the outside of the foot work.

Hyperpronator (CONTROL)

As with “normal pronation”, the stride begins with the outside of the heel touching the ground.However, the leg flexes inward by more than the ideal 15%. This phenomenon is called hyperpronation. This means that the foot and ankle have some problems in stabilizing the body, and shock absorption is less effective. The takeoff from the ground in the final phase of the running cycle occurs mainly at the expense of the big and second toes, which have to do all the main work.

If you have hypopronation or neutral pronation , and the weight is normal or less than normal, then your models are in the shock absorption category.

With hyperpronation, as well as neutral pronation and a lot of weight, you should choose the type of running shoes with support.

And in the presence of flat feet , – the choice becomes not very great. Running shoe type – control.

Just follow this link and use the filter to select your type of sneaker.

Have you identified pronation? Find out how to choose a running shoe…

Bone on the leg: why does it appear, can it be prevented and how to treat it :: Health :: RBC Style

The author of the article is Evgenia Zaitseva – an orthopedic surgeon with 20 years of experience in treating diseases of the musculoskeletal system, a full member of the Society of the Order of Italian Physicians.

What is hallux valgus?

Everyone knows what such a deformation looks like – the metatarsal bone protrudes outward due to a change in the position of the big toe.These changes can both remain only aesthetic imperfections and cause the development of arthrosis and severe joint pain.

The medical name of the disease sounds like “alus valgus” (Latin hallux – big toe, valgus – curved).

Deformation of the metatarsal bone occurs with the aggravation of flat feet. More pressure is exerted on the forefoot due to the uneven load, as a result, changes occur in the articular apparatus itself.

The shape of the foot, the ligamentous apparatus are inherited, so we can say that 90% of this is a hereditary pathology. You can look at your mothers, grandmothers and see if you are prone to the appearance of such a lump.

According to the statistics of the N.M. A.V. Vishnevsky, of the total number of patients with a bump on the foot, only 30% are men, the remaining 70% are women [1].

What changes occur in the joints during hallux valgus?

The bone on the leg appears due to the unevenly distributed load on the feet.In people with such a problem, the center of gravity is usually shifted to the forefoot, resulting in deformation of the joint, and the big toe, and after it, the neighboring ones go to the side. Orthopedists diagnose the severity of the disease by x-ray, calculating how many degrees the thumb has deviated.

Due to the resulting curvature, the sole flattens, and calluses and blisters form on the protruding bone. All these changes cause pain and circulatory disorders.

A person adapts to flat feet, the support and amortization functions of the foot are disturbed, and the load is transferred to other joints, which can cause pain in the knee, hip joints, in the lumbar spine and even in the neck.

If suddenly you have pain in the knee or hip joints, you should rush to the orthopedist. He will prescribe healing insoles that will balance the load.

Causes of the bone on the leg

The bone appears as a “complication” of flat feet.Who is at risk and what triggers the development of the problem?

Heredity . This is the main and most common reason, emphasize the specialists of the Clinic of High Medical Technologies. N.I. Pirogov St. Petersburg State University [2]. If your next of kin have problems with joints and feet, then you are at risk and you need to pay increased attention to leg health.
Hormonal changes . With age, hormonal changes occur, a person loses collagen, and the amount of shock-absorbing fluid decreases.We are already talking about secondary flat feet, which occurs in the process of life.
Heavy foot load . Some professions – teacher, sportsman, construction worker, salesman, and many others – involve long periods of being on your feet. As a result of professional activity, the legs experience excessive stress, and if you do not engage in prevention (wearing the right shoes, doing massages, etc.), then the risk of developing hallux valgus will increase, even if there are no hereditary indicators.
Excess weight . If a person is overweight, and especially if it appeared in a short time, for example, during pregnancy, then the feet will experience excessive stress. Therefore, pregnant women are always advised to wear comfortable shoes and limit or exclude wearing heels and shoes on a completely flat run.

Prevention and non-surgical treatment of the bone

If a problem has just appeared or there is a high risk of getting it, then certain preventive measures will help slow down the changes that have begun or delay their appearance.

Observation
First of all, you need to carefully monitor whether changes are occurring, and periodically take x-rays.

Change of footwear
This is not about completely abandoning fashionable shoes with heels or flat shoes like sneakers, but minimizing their wearing and giving preference to, for example, comfortable sneakers or birken stocks. And model shoes should be worn with individual insoles.

Selection of insoles
Deformation in the foot occurs due to unevenly distributed load, and insoles can solve this problem.The orthopedist, depending on the shape of the foot, selects insoles for high-heeled shoes, for flat soles, for sports shoes – in this case, everything will be balanced and it will be possible to significantly slow down the growth of the bone.

Activity correction
If hallux valgus causes pain, it is worth reviewing the activity regimen (at least sports) and giving the legs a sufficient amount of rest.

Ice packs
If the bone swells and hurts after prolonged exertion, then applying an ice pack will help relieve pain symptoms, as recommended by experts from one of the leading clinics in the United States [3].

Injections
This method is suitable in the fight against pain, but scientists at Harvard Medical School emphasize that although cortisone injections relieve pain and temporarily reduce inflammation, they have quite a few side effects when used frequently [4]. Therefore, it is better to resort to their use in exceptional cases.

Massage
After an active day, foot massage or rolling the foot on a roller can help relieve leg fatigue.In addition to relieving fatigue, both methods help to normalize muscle tone and restore blood circulation.

Silicone inlays
Some orthopedic surgeons immediately suggest wearing a splint to correct the curvature of the thumb. However, most doctors agree that this does nothing. The separator provokes an overcorrection of the toe, but does not heal the joint itself. That is, we simply move the finger to the other side, and at some point the aesthetic effect may be noticeable, but in fact we forcefully stretch the joint, and pain occurs.In the fight against discomfort, silicone pads between the fingers help much better, but not rigid orthoses.

What shoes to choose if there is already a bump or just a bump on the leg?

According to experts at Harvard Medical School, patients with hallux valgus should wear shoes with a wide, flexible sole to support the foot. The toe should be free so that nothing presses on the bone. For example, shoes made of soft leather are perfect. The insole should wrap around the heel to keep it in place.The main thing when choosing special shoes: the foot must be fixed for correct load distribution.

However, special orthopedic boots or shoes are not a panacea – it is quite possible to make individual insoles and wear them in combination with your usual shoes.

Surgical methods of treating bones on the leg

There is a well-known and rather traumatic method of bone correction, there is also a more modern method without painful rehabilitation.

Quite often, a classical operation is proposed with displacement of a curved bone and subsequent fixation of its correct position using plates, screws and other fixators. After such an operation, the patient is usually restricted in movement for several weeks. It is also important to understand that after such an intervention, a scar will remain on the foot.

One of the modern methods is microinvasive correction. Such an operation is performed through point cuts (after them there are no scars and stitches).Then a fixation bandage is applied to the patient, which fixes the foot in the correct position. One of the most important differences of this method is that a person can walk independently from the first day.

To prevent relapse, you need to wear the right shoes and monitor the load on the feet.

Briefly about hallux valgus, or bone on the foot

Most often, the main cause of the appearance of the bone is heredity and the development of flat feet.

The development of deformity is influenced by improper footwear, excessive stress on the feet and physiological changes in the body (hormones, excess weight).

Hallux valgus can lead to complications in the form of arthrosis and other joint diseases, so it is necessary to carefully monitor the feet.