Causes of Athlete’s Foot

Aug 24, 2022 Source: Cainiu Health

Dr. Liu Wan

Introduction

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.

Currently, medicine recognizes a wide variety of diseases. Athlete’s foot (tinea pedis) is one such condition—yet many people suffer from it. In fact, symptoms can vary significantly, primarily because athlete’s foot has several distinct clinical subtypes. To ensure effective treatment, it is essential first to understand its characteristic symptoms. So, what causes athlete’s foot?

Causes of Athlete’s Foot

Athlete’s foot is caused by fungal infection of the skin on the feet. Once fungi invade the foot skin, they proliferate within the epidermis, damaging the stratum corneum (the outermost layer of skin). As the infection progresses, the skin on the feet thickens and begins to produce excess keratin and flaking scales. Fungi rapidly multiply by feeding on the proteins present in this keratinized tissue. Because the fungal hyphae penetrate deep into the skin layers, the superficial scales act as a physical barrier, preventing topical antifungal medications from reaching the infection site—making athlete’s foot notoriously difficult to eradicate and prone to recurrence.

To alleviate athlete’s foot quickly, soak your feet in fresh Chinese chive (Allium tuberosum) water for 15–20 minutes daily. Continue this regimen for one week, and symptoms should begin to improve. Alternatively, soaking feet in boiled white radish water may help relieve itching and foot odor associated with athlete’s foot. Additionally, wiping the affected area with alcohol or soaking feet in beer may also help suppress the fungal infection.

We recommend that patients maintain good personal hygiene—washing feet regularly—and avoid spicy or irritating foods. We hope this information proves helpful.

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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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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.

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Causes of Athlete’s Foot

Those with athlete’s foot should pay attention to how they store their shoes. If someone in the household has athlete’s foot, shoes contaminated with fungi placed inside a dark, poorly ventilated shoe cabinet create ideal conditions for rapid fungal proliferation. Moreover, skin flakes (squames) scattered inside the shoe cabinet also harbor large numbers of fungi. Even initially clean shoes stored in such an environment may become contaminated—either by fungal-laden skin flakes or by adjacent “dirty” shoes.