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Many of us have either had or seen a red, scaly, rash between someone's toes. It may have been very itchy. While this rash could have been a number of different things, one of the most common is tinea pedis which is also known as athlete's foot. Tinea pedis is a skin condition found on the foot caused by a fungal infection. It is contagious which means it can be caught from someone else.

A person with tinea pedis may have a dry, red sole of the foot with scaling. There may be blistering and splitting between the toes, and itching is common. If tinea pedis is not treated or is particularly bad, sometimes the nails can also become infected. This causes them to become chalky and thickened.

People often catch tinea pedis by walking barefoot where there are fragments of skin or nail shed by an infected person. This most commonly occurs around swimming pools and public showers. It can also be picked up in showers at home.

The fungus causing tinea pedis needs certain conditions to grow. These include warmth and humidity or moisture. The fungus will grow very well in footwear such as sneakers or runners, where the feet become hot and damp. As a result, tinea pedis can be quite a problem for sporting clubs where members wear this type of footwear and also share shower facilities. This is where the term "athlete's foot" came from.

There are a number of ways that tinea pedis can be prevented, but the most important thing to do is reduce the warm, sweaty environment around the feet.

This can be done by:

Tinea pedis can be treated by applying an anti-fungal cream, paint or powder to the affected area. Treatments can be purchased over-the-counter from the pharmacy (chemist).

If the nails are affected, then medical attention should be sought. In this case, oral medication is required which must be prescribed by a medical practitioner.

Tinea can also be found on other parts of the body. Many people have heard the term ringworm. Ringworm is not a worm but rather a type of tinea called tinea corporis. It occurs on the body, such as on the trunk and limbs. Ringworm of the scalp is called tinea capitis. Ringworm may be caught by cuddling infected pets or it may be spread from tinea pedis that has not been treated. It can be transmitted from child to child.

© 2002, Department of Dermatology, St. Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne, Victoria Parade, Fitzroy, Victoria 3065 Australia.