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What is tinea pedis?
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Don't let the clinical name scare you. Tinea pedis is the medical term for athlete's foot, an extremely common fungal skin infection that affects athletes and non-athletes alike. Just how common is it? Researchers say athlete's foot affects an estimated 70 percent of the human population. Men and teenage boys are the ones most likely to suffer from it.
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Athlete's foot is caused by fungi that like to grow in moist, damp places, such as between the toes. Periods of excessive heat and humidity bring excess moisture to our bodies and make us sweat, creating the perfect environment for fungi to grow and fungal infections to develop.
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Contrary to popular belief, walking barefoot in places like public showers, around swimming pools and locker rooms is not the primary way you can catch athlete's foot, although it can be a contributing factor. Tight shoes or socks, sweaty or damp feet and a warm climate produce ideal conditions to grow the fungi. While it's not easy to prevent athlete's foot, making sure your feet stay dry is one way of lessening your chance of infection.
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Athlete's foot can affect different people in different ways. The most familiar signs and symptoms include:
- cracked, blistered and peeling areas between the toes
- redness and scaling on the soles of the feet
- intense itching and burning
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Scratching the affected area and then touching other parts of your body can spread the infection.
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If you suspect you have athlete's foot, don't suffer with the discomfort. There are excellent ways to treat and beat this condition. Left unchecked, athlete's foot can worsen and lead to more serious skin problems.
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Proper treatment depends on a correct diagnosis. Talk to your doctor or dermatologist about treating your athlete's foot today. There are several treatment options, including prescription ERTACZO, an antifungal cream that significantly clears infected areas fast.
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©2004-2008 OrthoNeutrogena, a division of Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Capitalized product names are trademarks of OrthoNeutrogena.
This site intended for U.S. residents only. Site last updated: 30 April 2008
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