Can Athlete's foot harm you? (2023)

What will happen if athlete's foot is left untreated?

If left untreated, it can spread to a nail and cause a fungal nail infection. The infection can spread to other areas of skin, such as the hands, but that rarely happens. Very rarely, and only in severe cases of athlete's foot, it can also lead to a bacterial infection.

Athlete's foot can cause dry, scaly skin on the bottom and sides of the foot. If you have a rash on your foot that doesn't improve within two weeks of beginning self-treatment with an over-the-counter antifungal product, see your doctor.

They're usually not dangerous, but sometimes can cause disease. When they infect the skin, they cause mild but annoying rashes. Fungal skin infections are also known as tinea infections. When fungus grows on the feet, it is called athlete's foot (or tinea pedis).

Athlete's foot complications

Left on its own, fungi can spread to other parts of the body, including the hands, legs, toenails and fingernails, as well as other people. Fungi does not typically spread too deeply within the body (i.e. it is not likely to affect the body's internal organs or bloodstream).

How Long Does Athlete's Foot Last? Most mild cases of athlete's foot clear up within 2 weeks. But treatment can go for several weeks or longer if the infection is more serious or affects the toenails.

If athlete's foot does not get better in 2 to 4 weeks with self-care, or frequently returns, see your provider. Your provider may prescribe: Antifungal medicines to take by mouth. Antibiotics to treat bacterial infections that occur from scratching.

Most cases of athlete's foot can be cured with over-the-counter antifungal products and basic good hygiene.

Should I Wear Socks to Bed with Athlete's Foot?: Athlete's foot is very contagious and it's a good idea to wear socks to bed, especially if you share your bed with another person. This can help prevent transmitting the fungus to others.

“One of the most common misconceptions about athlete's foot is that people think that it will go away on its own,” explained Dr. D'Angelantonio. Unfortunately, athlete's foot does not usually heal on its own. If left untreated, large, painful fissures can also develop.

One of the main symptoms of Athlete's foot is itchy white patches between your toes. It can also cause sore and flaky patches on your feet. The skin can look red, but this may be less noticeable on brown or black skin. Sometimes the skin on your feet may become cracked or bleed.

What happens physically to a person who gets athlete's foot?

Symptoms of Athlete's Foot

The athlete's foot often manifests as fissures or patches between the toes. As the condition progresses, it may cause the skin to become itchy, turn red, and appear moist. Blisters may spread from the toes to the soles of the feet, swelling and breaking to expose painful raw fissures.

Athlete's foot can result in problems for your skin, but it does not spread internally through the body. Athlete's foot is highly contagious, though, and it spreads easily through contact with the infected area. Scratching at the infection can spread it to the hands and other areas.

If you have an immune system disorder or are HIV positive, you're also at risk for complications from athlete's foot. The fungus can break down your skin, causing sores, ulcers, and cellulitis. The infection from untreated cellulitis can travel to your lymph nodes and cause life-threatening conditions such as sepsis.

If you have a fungal (i.e. Athlete's foot or fungal toenails), a bacterial (which causes smelly feet), or viral (i.e. warts) infection, try to reschedule your appointment. If you cannot, let one of the pedicurists know so that they can take appropriate steps to protect other people's feet.

Best-overall product for athlete's foot

Across the board, Lamisil was recommended by almost all the experts we spoke to as the best topical product for treating athlete's foot. Available in cream and gel form, it's a powerful, broad-spectrum antifungal that Maral K.

Certain conditions, such as eczema and psoriasis, among other things, can also look very much like Athlete's foot. Sometimes, if the skin barrier is compromised, a secondary bacterial infection can occur.

Hydrogen peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide can effectively kill the fungus on the surface level of the foot, as well as any surface bacteria that could cause an infection. Pour hydrogen peroxide directly onto the affected area.

If you haven't seen any improvement or the infection appears to be getting worse, call your doctor. It's important to seek treatment before the infection spreads to the rest of your foot or other parts of your body, such as your groin or toenails.

What Causes Athlete's Foot? The majority of athlete's foot cases are caused by a variety of fungi all belonging to a group called dermatophytes, which also causes jock itch and ringworm. The fungi thrive in closed, warm, moist environments and feed on keratin, a protein found in hair, nails, and skin.

Tea tree oil has long been used as an antibacterial and antifungal home remedy. Its properties make it a great choice when treating athlete's foot at home. Rub the oil into the skin at least twice a day to reduce scaling, itching, and burning. For best results, apply daily for up to a month.

Can I use rubbing alcohol for athlete's foot?

Soak Your Feet in Rubbing Alcohol and Water

Rubbing alcohol also has the potential to kill fungus, even the type that causes athlete's foot.

If you have athlete's foot, it's a good idea to wear socks to bed, especially if you share your bed with another person. This can help prevent transmitting the fungus to others. Athlete's foot (tinea pedis) is a fungal infection caused by a ringworm.

Having athlete's foot once doesn't mean you're immune. If you have an infection, make sure to disinfect or treat any areas that the fungus may be on. This includes your towels, sheets and bathroom or shower floors. Don't forget your shoes either, especially the ones you wear barefoot, like sandals.

This product meets AOAC Germicidal Spray efficacy standards for hospital disinfects and/or is a broad-spectrum disinfectant. Kills Athlete's Foot Fungus in the bathroom.

And once these infections are in the shower they make themselves right at home. “The organisms then continue to live in the warm, moist, dark environment,” said McKenzie. “Then you pick them up when you shower.” Athlete's foot is a common infection picked up from the shower floor.

Diabetics often develop athlete's foot. A diabetic person has a higher concentration of blood sugar, which makes their perspiration sweeter. This encourages the growth of fungus, leading to athlete's foot. Neuropathy is a severe complication of diabetes.

A simple and easy fix at home is to “sanitize shower bases with a potential disinfectant like bleach. It kills spores of fungi,” Tierno says. Try a diluted bleach solution to kill off any potential threats.

Athlete's foot is a fungal infection of the skin on the feet. It is characterized by an itchy, red rash and dry, peeling skin on the feet. Athlete's foot is highly contagious. Many people catch it by walking barefoot in public areas such as swimming pools, locker rooms, and showers.

Wash your feet twice a day and gently towel-dry between the toes. Use an antifungal product. After washing and drying your feet, apply an antifungal product. The antifungal terbinafine (Lamisil AT) has been shown to be very effective.

Of the 3 types, toe web is the most common, while vesicular is the least common type of athlete's foot. Moccasin-type is often a chronic condition that should be evaluated by a podiatrist.

What are the stages of athlete's foot?

The early signs of athlete's foot are patches or fissures (deep breaks or slits), especially between the toes. As the infection progresses, the skin may turn red, become itchy, and appear moist. Small blisters may spread out across the foot, breaking to expose raw fissures that are painful and may swell.

In short, no. Foot fungus evolved to colonize on skin and nails, not in the lungs.

For most people, a fungal infection like athlete's foot means a simple trip to the drugstore and a reminder to bring shower shoes to the gym. But in very rare cases, fungal infections can spread below the skin's surface and onto the lymph nodes, bones, digestive tract or even the brain.

To prevent or mitigate the spread of the fungal infection, an individual might consider being particularly careful with how they handle their laundry. This is because spores can often spread from clothes to clothes.

Widespread infection.

This may cause cellulitis, a condition that produces swollen, red, tender skin and must be treated with antibiotics, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. In severe cases of cellulitis, the infection can enter the bloodstream and be deadly.

Toenail fungus, after all, is hardly life-threatening. “It feeds on the skin; it doesn't go into the bloodstream, doesn't spread to other parts of the body,” says Dr. Richard Scher, nail specialist and professor of dermatology at Columbia University.

Unfortunately, athlete's foot does not usually heal on its own. If left untreated, large, painful fissures can also develop. These cracks can expose your feet to bacterial infections, which can make healing more complicated.

Athlete's foot isn't typically dangerous, but it will stay around forever unless it's treated with an antifungal medication. It will not go away on its own or simply fall off. We can treat this condition and get rid of the fungus.

The early signs of athlete's foot are patches or fissures (deep breaks or slits), especially between the toes. As the infection progresses, the skin may turn red, become itchy, and appear moist. Small blisters may spread out across the foot, breaking to expose raw fissures that are painful and may swell.

Do I need to throw away my shoes if I have athlete's foot?

You do not have to throw away your shoes if you have athlete's foot unless they were worn without socks, have dirt in them, or you have another skin reaction to the material or color dyes.

Most cases of athlete's foot can be cured with over-the-counter antifungal products and basic good hygiene.

Sea salt is known to have strong antifungal and antibacterial properties, making it another ideal home remedy for treating athlete's foot. Treating athlete's foot with sea salt involves either soaking your feet in a sea salt bath or making a paste out of sea salt and vinegar and applying it to the feet.