MedlinePlus: Athlete's Foot

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National Institutes of Health
- The primary NIH organization for research on Athlete's Foot is the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

Athlete's Foot

Also called: Tinea pedis

Athlete's foot is a common infection caused by the tinea fungus. It is not serious. Symptoms include itching, burning and cracked, scaly skin between your toes. Tinea grows best in damp, dark and warm places, which is why it often develops between your toes. It can spread to your toenails, as well, making them thick and crumbly.

You can get athlete's foot from damp surfaces, such as locker room floors. To prevent it

Wash your feet every day
Dry your feet well, especially between your toes
Wear clean socks
Don't walk barefoot in public areas
Wear flip-flops in locker room showers

Treatments include over-the-counter antifungal creams for most cases and prescription medicines for more serious infections.

Start Here

Tinea Infections: Athlete's Foot, Jock Itch and Ringworm(American Academy of Family Physicians)
Also available in Spanish

Basics	Learn More	Multimedia & Cool Tools
Overviews Prevention/Screening	No links available	Pictures & Photographs
Research	Reference Shelf	For You
Clinical Trials Journal Articles	Medical Encyclopedia Directories Organizations	Children Teenagers

Overviews
- Athlete's Foot(American Podiatric Medical Association)
- Athlete's Foot(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
Prevention/Screening
- Fungus Infections: Preventing Recurrence(American Osteopathic College of Dermatology)
Pictures & Photographs
- Athlete's Foot (Tinea Pedis)(Logical Images)
Clinical Trials
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Tinea Pedis(National Institutes of Health)
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Journal Articles
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
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Medical Encyclopedia
- Athlete's Foot
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Directories
- Find a Dermatologist(American Academy of Dermatology)
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Organizations
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Children
- Athlete’s Foot(Nemours Foundation)
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Teenagers
- Athlete's Foot(Nemours Foundation)
- Athlete's Foot(Nemours Foundation)
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