Signs and Symptoms
The most common locations for athlete's foot include:
- Spaces (webs) between the toes, especially between the 4th and 5th toes and between the 3rd and 4th toes
- Soles of the feet
- Tops of the feet
Athlete's foot may affect one or both feet. It can vary in appearance, depending on which part of the foot (or feet) is involved and which dermatophyte has caused the infection:
- On the top of the foot, athlete's foot appears as a red scaly patch or patches, ranging in size from 1 to 5 cm. The border of the affected skin may be raised, with bumps, blisters, or scabs. Often, the central portion of the lesion is clear, leading to a ring-like shape and the descriptive (but inaccurate) name "ringworm."
- Between the toes (the interdigital spaces), athlete's foot may appear as inflamed, scaly, and soggy tissue. Splitting of the skin (fissures) may be present between or under the toes. This form of athlete's foot tends to be quite itchy.
- On the sole of the foot (the plantar surface), athlete's foot may appear as pink-to-red skin with scales ranging in size from a small area affected to widespread (diffuse).
- Another type of infection, called bullous tinea pedis, appears as painful and itchy blisters on the arch (instep) and/or the ball of the foot.
- The most severe form of the infection, called ulcerative tinea pedis, appears as painful blisters, pus-filled bumps (pustules), and shallow ulcers. These lesions are especially common between the toes but may involve the entire sole. Because of the numerous breaks in the skin, lesions commonly become infected with bacteria. Ulcerative tinea pedis occurs most frequently in people with diabetes and in others with weak immune systems.
Who's At Risk
