Skin Health Fungal, Bacterial & Viral Infections Athlete's Foot Types and Treatments By Heather L. Brannon, MD Heather L. Brannon, MD, is a family practice physician in Mauldin, South Carolina. She has been in practice for over 20 years. Learn about our editorial process Heather L. Brannon, MD Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Casey Gallagher, MD on September 25, 2019 Casey Gallagher, MD, is board-certified in dermatology. He is a clinical professor at the University of Colorado in Denver, and co-founder and practicing dermatologist at the Boulder Valley Center for Dermatology in Colorado. His research has been published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Learn about our Medical Review Board Casey Gallagher, MD Updated on August 24, 2020 Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Risk Factors Types Diagnosis Treatment The feet are the parts of the body that are most commonly infected by certain fungi called dermatophytes. When this happens, the result is called tinea pedis or athlete’s foot. Athlete’s foot, from acute vesicular to chronic, is a very common problem that's experienced by up to 70% of the population at some point in life. robertprzybysz / Getty Images Who Is Most at Risk? Athlete’s foot is common in adult males and uncommon in women. Athlete’s foot can also affect children before puberty, regardless of sex. Athlete’s foot seems to occur most often in people who have immune systems that predispose them to infection, no matter how many precautions they take. Once an athlete's foot infection is established, the person becomes a carrier and is more susceptible to recurrences and complications. Types Athlete’s foot is divided into three categories: Chronic interdigital athlete’s foot Chronic scaly athlete’s foot (moccasin-type) Acute vesicular athlete’s foot Chronic Interdigital Athlete’s Foot This is the most common type of athlete’s foot. It is characterized by scaling, maceration, and fissures most commonly in the webbed space between the fourth and fifth toes. Tight-fitting, non-porous shoes compress the toes, creating a warm, moist environment in the webbed spaces. Many times, the infecting fungus interacts with bacteria, causing a more severe infection that extends onto the foot. In chronic interdigital athlete’s foot, itching is typically most intense when the socks and shoes are removed. Chronic Scaly (Moccasin-Type) Athlete’s Foot This type of athlete’s foot is caused by Trichophyton rubrum. This dermatophyte causes dry, scaling skin on the sole of the foot. The scale is very fine and silvery, and the skin underneath is usually pink and tender. The hands may also be infected, although the usual pattern of infection is two feet and one hand, or one foot and two hands. Chronic scaly athlete’s foot is often seen in people who have eczema or asthma and is associated with fungal nail infections which may lead to recurrent skin infections. Acute Vesicular Athlete’s Foot This is the least common type of athlete’s foot, caused by Trichophyton mentagrophytes. It often originates in people who have a chronic interdigital toe web infection. Acute vesicular athlete’s foot is characterized by the sudden onset of painful blisters on the sole or top of the foot. Another wave of blisters may follow the first and may also involve other sites of the body such as the arms, chest, or sides of the fingers. These blisters are caused by an allergic reaction to the fungus on the foot—it's called an id reaction. This type of athlete’s foot is also known as “jungle rot,” a historically disabling problem for servicemen fighting in warm, humid conditions. Diagnosing the Infection Athlete’s foot is diagnosed by a clinical exam. A doctor usually performs something called a KOH test. A positive KOH test confirms the diagnosis, but a negative KOH test does not mean that a person does not have athlete’s foot. Fungal elements can be difficult to isolate in interdigital and moccasin-type athlete’s foot. KOH Prep Test to Diagnose Fungal Skin Infections Treatment Mild cases of athlete’s foot, especially interdigital toe web infections, can be treated with topical antifungal creams or sprays such as tolnaftate or Lotrimin. Topical medications should be applied twice a day until the rash is completely resolved. More serious infections and moccasin-type athlete’s foot should be treated with oral antifungal medications such as terbinafine or itraconazole for two to six months. All oral antifungal medications can affect the liver; therefore, blood tests should be performed monthly to evaluate liver function. The 7 Best Athlete's Foot Treatments of 2021 Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Abd Elmegeed AS, Ouf SA, Moussa TA, Eltahlawi SM. Dermatophytes and other associated fungi in patients attending to some hospitals in Egypt. Braz J Microbiol. 2015;46(3):799–805. doi:10.1590/S1517-838246320140615 Homei A, Worboys M. Fungal Disease in Britain and the United States 1850–2000: Mycoses and Modernity. Basingstoke (UK): Palgrave Macmillan; 2013. Chapter 2, Athlete’s Foot: A Disease of Fitness and Hygiene. 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