Athletes Foot

Also known as Tinea Pedis. This is a fungal infection beneath and between the toes, but can occur anywhere on the foot and can spread to the toenails. The average person sweats up to a ¼ of a cup of perspiration a day, this is then trapped in the shoe. The sweat is trapped between skin surfaces and a perfect warm moist breeding ground is created for fungus. It enters the body through open cracks or sores and remains there to cause infection and spreads quickly. It manifests itself in the form of itching, dryness, redness, cracking of the skin, and blistering.

Particular attention to prevention and prompt treatment should be paid by people with diabetes or immune disorders as athlete’s foot can lead to serious secondary infections or problems such as foot ulcers in these cases.