Foot fungus is also known as ‘athlete’s foot’ and is an infection on the feet. This infection is caused by scaling, redness, itching, burning, and sometimes blisters and sores can appear on the feet. A fungal foot infection is very common because this type of fungus grows very quickly and grows even more when it is in a warm and humid environment such as inside shoes, socks, when you are in swimming pools, changing rooms or showers.
Foot fungus is very common, especially in summer because people use community bathrooms and swimming pools -they spread quickly- or because they wear tight shoes.
Symptoms of foot fungus
This type of infection caused by a microscopic fungus occurs because this fungus lives in the dead tissues of the hair, nails, and outer layers of the skin. There are four types of fungi that can cause this type of infection, although the most common is the Trichophyton rubrum fungus.
Although infections can vary depending on the type of fungus, the symptoms are usually the same in all cases, at least early in the outbreak, so the signs and symptoms of a fungus infection on the feet can include these common symptoms:
- Skin cracking. When the skin cracks, humid areas can be created between these areas and although it seems that it is dry, fungus can really be forming. They are like dry cracks in the feet.
- Desquamation of the skin of the feet. The desquamation of the feet is as if the skin is lifted from the feet, as if the feet were peeling.
- Redness and swelling of the feet. It is easy to detect since the feet turn red, itch and swell quite a bit. They won’t look like your feet!
- The blisters are like bubbles on the feet, you can feel itchy and stinging.
- Skin breakdown. The skin may appear to break down as if it were falling off along with discomfort, itchiness and stinging.
- Softening of the skin. In this case the skin may appear to be too soft, like watery.
- Other symptoms: Other symptoms that skin fungus can present is that it itches, stings and even a burning sensation.
The best way to diagnose a fungal foot infection is to see your doctor, who will scrape your skin a little and examine the evidence. If you really have fungus, it will tell you what is the best way to cure it with a specific treatment, but if it is a very serious infection, you may need medication.
The best thing you can do is prevent it from happening by taking precautions on your feet when you go to public places, washing your feet daily and wearing breathable shoes to allow your feet to breathe at all times.
