Why Do People Develop Athlete’s Foot?

Aug 11, 2022 Source: Cainiu Health

Dr. Liu Wan

Introduction

The primary cause of athlete’s foot is a fungal infection of the skin on the feet, often resulting from cross-contamination. The fungi responsible are predominantly dermatophytes, such as *Microsporum canis*, *Trichophyton mentagrophytes*, and *Trichophyton rubrum*. These fungal infections may be triggered by certain unhealthy personal habits—for instance, sharing everyday items (especially slippers and towels) with individuals who have a fungal infection.

Many people suffer from athlete’s foot (tinea pedis) during the summer. If left untreated, this condition can adversely affect both daily life and overall health. To effectively manage and prevent athlete’s foot, it is essential to understand its underlying causes. So, what causes athlete’s foot?

What Causes Athlete’s Foot?

The primary cause of athlete’s foot is a fungal infection of the skin on the feet—often resulting from cross-contamination. The causative fungi are predominantly dermatophytes, including *Microsporum canis*, *Trichophyton mentagrophytes*, and *Trichophyton rubrum*. Such infections may be triggered by certain unhealthy personal habits—for instance, sharing everyday items (especially slippers and towels) with individuals who already have a fungal infection.

From the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), athlete’s foot primarily arises from excessive foot perspiration combined with infrequent changing and washing of shoes and socks. This creates a warm, moist environment highly conducive to fungal growth. Under these conditions, fungi readily invade the skin of the feet, causing a fungal skin infection—i.e., athlete’s foot.

Patients are advised to maintain good personal hygiene in daily life—avoid wearing other people’s footwear—to reduce the risk of developing athlete’s foot. We hope this information proves helpful to you.

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Can people with athlete’s foot eat honeydew melon?

If you develop beriberi (vitamin B1 deficiency), you may consume some Hami melon. Hami melon is a common food rich in sugars, trace elements, and various vitamins, which may help improve beriberi. However, you should not eat large quantities of Hami melon frequently, as this may impair spleen and stomach function—particularly because Hami melon contains substantial amounts of sugar. Excessive consumption of Hami melon is likely to elevate blood glucose levels.

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Causes of Athlete’s Foot

Athlete’s foot is caused by fungi that infect the skin of the feet. After invading the foot skin, these fungi multiply within the skin and damage the stratum corneum (the outermost layer of the skin). During an outbreak of athlete’s foot, the skin on the feet thickens and produces excess keratin and scale-like flakes. The fungi rapidly proliferate by feeding on the proteins present in this keratin. Because the fungal infection penetrates deep into the skin, the surface scales act as a barrier, preventing antifungal medications from penetrating into the infected tissue.

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What type of fungus causes athlete’s foot?

Athlete’s foot, also known as tinea pedis, is a superficial fungal skin infection primarily caused by dermatophytes invading the skin of the feet—including the toes, heels, lateral margins of the feet, and the soles. The most common causative fungi are *Trichophyton rubrum*, *Trichophyton mentagrophytes*, and *Microsporum gypseum*. Infection typically occurs through direct contact or by scratching the affected area with the hands.

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How to Treat Athlete’s Foot

Foot fungus (tinea pedis) can be alleviated and treated through foot soaking. Prepare a foot soak using pepper-infused vinegar: open seven vinegar sachets and pour the contents into a basin. Add one spoonful of ground black pepper, then gently heat the mixture over low heat. Once the temperature has cooled slightly, immerse your feet and soak for 30 minutes. After soaking, pat your feet dry thoroughly. This treatment may be repeated daily for several consecutive days. Note that the pepper-vinegar solution in the basin remains effective for multiple uses over several days.