Athlete’s Foot (Tinea Pedis): Symptoms

Athlete’s foot causes typical symptoms in affected individuals. The fungal infestation initially occurs between the toes and causes itching, scales and redness. How to recognize an infestation of athlete’s foot, you will learn below.

Recognize symptoms of athlete’s foot

Almost always, the infestation with athlete’s foot first appears in the spaces between the toes (interdigital mycosis), especially between the little toe and the fourth toe. There, the climate is comfortable for fungi – dark, narrow, sweaty and warm.

The affected skin softens (maceration), is reddened, itches or burns and scales. It often tears painfully (rhagade). Particularly critical is that bacteria can now easily penetrate through the altered skin and cause erysipelas, for example.

Foot fungus recognize and treat – so it goes!

Spread of the fungus on the foot

From the space between the toes, the fungus often spreads towards the sole and edge of the foot, and less frequently towards the back of the foot. There, redness and scaling of the skin occur, and in some cases small itchy blisters also form.

In addition, athlete’s foot can also affect the toenails and cause a nail fungus.

Athlete’s foot: not only on the feet.

Sometimes athlete’s foot spreads to other areas of the body, such as the groin or armpits. Unlike the yeast Candida albicans, however, it remains on the surface of the body and does not grow in the intestines.

Incidentally, the fungus can also cause the same symptoms on the hands (tinea manum), for example in people who have to wear gloves frequently due to their job.