What Does Athlete’s Foot Look Like?

Aug 24, 2022 Source: Cainiu Health

Dr. Liu Wan

Introduction

Common symptoms of tinea pedis (athlete’s foot) include desquamation, vesicles, rough or dry skin, moist erosions, and pruritus. Based on the morphology of the skin lesions, tinea pedis can be classified into three types: vesicular, intertriginous (macerated-erosive), and squamous-hyperkeratotic. Clinical manifestations differ among these types. The vesicular type typically occurs between the toes or on the central sole; its characteristic skin lesions are clusters of small, thick-walled vesicles.

Since our feet are enclosed in socks and shoes for nearly the entire day, various discomforts frequently occur. Some individuals experience excessive foot sweating accompanied by unpleasant foot odor. This condition can be particularly embarrassing when outdoors, and some people may develop athlete’s foot (tinea pedis). So, what does athlete’s foot look like?

What Does Athlete’s Foot Look Like?

Common symptoms of athlete’s foot include skin peeling, blisters, rough or dry skin—or conversely, moist, macerated, and eroded skin—as well as itching. Based on the morphology of the skin lesions, athlete’s foot is classified into three types: vesicular, intertriginous (macerated), and squamous-hyperkeratotic. Clinical manifestations differ among these subtypes. The vesicular type typically occurs between the toes or on the mid-sole. Its characteristic feature is clusters of small, thick-walled blisters filled with clear fluid.

Athlete’s foot is a superficial fungal infection of the foot caused primarily by dermatophytes such as *Trichophyton rubrum* or *Trichophyton mentagrophytes*. It is moderately contagious and may result from direct or indirect contact with these fungi in daily life. If the infection is extensive at onset, topical treatment alone may prove insufficient; systemic antifungal therapy may then be required. Generally, oral antifungal agents are prescribed alongside topical medications.

Patients are advised to maintain good daily hygiene—washing feet regularly—and to consume ample fruits and vegetables. 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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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.