Just like everywhere else on our bodies, the feet are taken for granted until we have a problem with them. When you think about it, they have a tough old time of it: supporting our weight, taking us from a to b and squeezing into all sorts of weird and wonderful shapes, often simply in the name of fashion. Something not widely known is that in the region of 70% of the population will have the medical condition of athletes foot at some time during their lives. Athletes foot is a generally harmless, but persistent infection of the foot; caused by the microscopic ringworm fungus that lives on dead tissue of the hair, toenails, and outer skin layers. The fungus thrives in warm, moist environments such as shoes, stockings, and the floors of public showers, changing rooms and swimming pools. It is transmitted through contact with a cut or abrasion on the bottom of the foot.

One of the most common athletes foot symptoms is itching and burning feet; blisters will often occur, together with pungent smells caused by bacteria invading the skin. Chronic Inter-digital athletes foot is the most common of the three main types. By and large itching is most intense with this form when the shoes and socks are removed. It is typified by crevices most commonly in the web space between the 4th and 5th toes. Tight-fitting, non-porous shoes compress the toes, creating a warm, moist environment in the web spaces.

Moccasin athletes foot manifests as scaling skin on the sole of the foot, which is very fine, and silvery, and the skin underneath is usually pink and tender. The hands may also be infected, although the usual pattern of infection is two feet and one hand, or one foot and two hands and is often seen in people with eczema or asthma. The third type is called Vesicular and is the least frequent of the three main variations of athletes foot. It is characterised by the sudden onset of painful blisters on the sole or top of the foot. Another wave of blisters may follow the first and may also involve remote sites of the body such as the arms, chest, or sides of the fingers. These blisters are caused by an allergic reaction to the fungus on the foot. This form of athletes foot is also known as "jungle rot", a historically disabling problem for servicemen fighting in warm, moist, humid conditions. This all goes to show that it not just athletes and sportsmen and women who suffer; it can materialise on anybody anytime, but sensible precautions can reduce the likelihood.

Mick Burrows writes for http://www.athletes-foot-facts.info

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