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What is Athlete’s Foot?
Athlete’s foot is a fungal infection that affects the skin of the feet.
The fungus grows best on warm, damp skin, especially between the toes.
It is more common in teens, but can affect children and adults of any age.
It is seen more often in hot, humid, or urban environments.
Who Gets Athlete’s Foot?
Anyone can get it, but it is more common in:
Teens and young adults.
People who wear tight or occlusive shoes.
People who sweat heavily.
People who walk barefoot in locker rooms, pools, or showers.
People with diabetes, weakened immune systems, or poor circulation.
People who share towels, socks, or shoes.
Up to 1 in 4 people in the United States are affected by this condition.
What Does Athlete’s Foot Look and Feel Like?
Athlete’s foot can appear in different ways:
Red, scaly, cracked skin
Cracks may be painful and bleed.
Moist, peeling skin.
Itching or burning.
Scratching can cause raw skin, open wounds, and drainage.
Between the toes (especially between the 4th and 5th toes)
The most common form
Red, scaly, cracked skin
Moist, peeling skin
Bottom and sides of the foot (“moccasin pattern”):
Thick and flaky skin
Dry, scaly skin with redness
Blisters on the inner foot (vesicular type)
In darker skin tones, the rash may look purple or violet with silvery scales
Sometimes the infection spreads to the toenails, groin, or hands
Athlete’s foot is usually mild, but very red or painful skin may mean a bacterial infection is also present.
How is Athlete’s Foot Diagnosed?
Most of the time, a clinician can diagnose it by looking at the skin. If the rash does not improve, your clinician may check:
Wood Lamp
Skin scrapings for fungus.
Swabs for bacteria.
A Wood lamp exam to look for other infections.
In some cases, the clinician may recommend your child see dermatology.
How Is Athlete’s Foot Treated?
1. Keep the Feet Dry
Dry between the toes carefully after bathing.
Rinse and dry feet twice a day before applying medicine.
Go barefoot or wear sandals when possible.
Wear synthetic (man‑made) fiber socks and change them if they get wet.
Dry shoes completely before wearing them again.
2. Use Antifungal Cream
Available over the counter options include: terbinafine (brane name: Lamisil), miconazole (brand name: Monistat), clotrimazole (brand name: Lotrimin)
How to apply the cream:
Use twice a day.
Apply to the rash and 1 inch beyond the edges.
Continue treatment for up to 4 weeks. If the rash clears up before 4 weeks, continue the treatment for at least 7 days after the rash is gone.
For thick, scaly skin, your clinician may also recommend a cream that contains urea or salicylic acid.
3. Avoid Scratching
Scratching slows healing.
Rinse itchy feet in cool water for relief.
4. When Stronger Treatment Is Needed
If the rash does not improve with creams, your clinician might prescribe an oral antifungal or consider other diagnoses.
What Other Conditions Look Like Athlete’s Foot?
Other causes of peeling or itchy skin between the toes might include:
Yeast infections
Bacterial infections
Eczema or contact dermatitis
Psoriasis
Soft corns - build-up of thick skin due the repetitive trauma of the toes pressing against each other
Over‑scrubbing or skin injury
If the rash does not improve with treatment, another diagnosis may be the cause.
How to Prevent Athlete’s Foot From Coming Back?
Hygiene
Keep feet clean and dry.
Dry between toes after every bath or shower.
If your child is prone to athlete’s foot, you can apply antifungal powder to their feet and shoes.
Avoid walking barefoot in communal areas.
Footwear
Change socks daily, or more often if they get wet. Consider using moisture-wicking socks made of synthetic fibers or wool.
Alternate shoes daily to allow them to dry completely.
Wear shoes that allow air to circulate - make sure they are not too tight and consider open-toed shoes when appropriate.
Wear shoes like sandals or flip-flops in locker rooms, public showers, pool areas.
Other infections
People with athlete’s foot may have similar fungal infections on other parts of their body including their nails.
If these other areas of infection are not treated, the Athlete’s Foot may return.
Call Your Doctor If:
Rash is not starting to get better after 1 week on treatment.
Rash is not gone after 4 weeks on treatment.
The rash is painful, or there is pus draining.
You think your child needs to be seen.
Your child otherwise becomes worse.
📚 References
This content was adapted from American Academy of Pediatrics HealthyChildren.org, Rady Children’s Health Library. Images from American Academy of Pediatrics HealthyChildren.org, The Full Spectrum of Dermatology: A Diverse and Inclusive Atlas, DermNet, Rady Children’s Health Library and KidsHealth.
Reviewed by AR DO, JW MD, Patient Education Committee.