Athlete's foot and jock itch

Definition: properly known as tinea pedis, this is fungal infection of the skin of the feet. Jock itch is known as tinea cruris.

Causes: fungal infection of the skin

Signs and symptoms: The first symptom is usually itching, usually between the toes. The skin may be scaly, with occasional thickening and cracking of the skin, with sometimes redness and peeling of the skin. If inflammation is involved, there may be damp vesicular lesions. At times the nails may become involved. Jock itch involves the groin area, and the affected area spreads with a centrally clearing red lesion.

Treatment:

Medically there are many different topical anti-fungal creams that can be used. In severe cases, an oral antifungal may be used. Recently, for infection that has spread to the nails (which is notoriously difficult to treat), a combination of two different anti-fungals has been shown to be effective.

Alternatively, tea tree oil can be used topically to heal the lesions.

Prevention:

Go barefoot for athlete’s foot, and wear cotton socks and underwear, and change them often. Keep the affected areas dry, and dry thoroughly after showering or getting the areas wet. Wash used clothing in hot water with detergent. Keep shoes dry, and in public showers, wear flip-flops or other water-resistant footwear.