What is Athlete's Foot? - causes, info, etc

by Webmaster, All4NaturalHealth.com

What is athlete's foot?

Athlete's foot is a name given to a condition whereby one's foot or feet are superficially infected by fungi.

Causes of Athlete's Foot

What causes athlete's foot? A number of different types of skin fungi could be responsible for such infections, and common ones which could cause athlete's foot include Trichophyton rubrum, T. mentagrophytes, as well as Epidermophyton floccosum.

Of course, in considering the cause of athlete's foot, the fungus involved is only one side of the story. To be able to thrive, fungi favor warm, dark and moist conditions; one's immune system or blood circulation may also have been compromised or not functioning optimally, thus allowing these organisms to take root.

Being small, dark, warm and often damp, the spaces and areas between one's toes are usually the most vulnerable to this ailment, as the fungi favor such conditions.

General Athlete's Foot Info

What is athlete's foot officially referred to? Athlete's foot is scientifically known as "tinea pedis". When the fungi affect other parts of the body, the name commonly used is "ringworm", also known as "tinea corporis". When it infects the thighs or groins, it is called jock itch.

Broadly speaking, athlete's foot is not a serious condition and does not cause significant problems for most sufferers. Generally, infections which affect the toenails are more problematic than infections which only hit the skin of the feet. If the infection affects the area under the toenails, it becomes a very difficult situation to address; this condition is called "onychomycosis".

The fungi which are responsible for athlete's foot can cause the skin on one's feet to crack, and when the fungi penetrate the skin, the condition becomes harder to clear up, as topical anti-fungal agents may not go deep enough to destroy the offending organisms, whereas ingested substances may not be able to effectively mop up from the inside out, either.

Further, those with impaired blood circulation to the feet, for example persons suffering from diabetes and older persons, may experience more serious infections.

Symptoms

What is athlete's foot signs and symptoms? The symptoms of athlete's foot include a constant and burning itch. The affected foot may feel damp and soft, while the skin could be cracked, peeling, flaking as well as hot and red. Small blisters on the affected foot may also form. Another possible symptom is the presence of a strong smell.

Chronic athlete's foot is a problem for some. Often, one may think the condition has been settled, only for athlete's foot to resurface again in weeks or even months. If you are prone, you need to take good care of your feet!

For more information on what is athlete's foot and how to prevent and treat it, read the other related athlete's foot pages.

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Some Related Athlete's Foot Pages

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