Athlete's Foot is a skin infection on the foot caused by the ringworm fungus known as trichophyton.
The medical name for athlete's foot is tinea pedis.
Affecting up to 70% of people during their lifetime, athlete's foot is definitely a condition that can cause incredible irritation that can lead you to believe you are going to go stark raving mad from the itching, stinging and burning of athlete's foot attacking the soles of the feet.
Typically athlete's foot grows along the soles of the feet, in the area between the toes, and can often be found spreading to the toenails.
Unfortunately, athlete's foot can also spread to the palms of the hands, the under the arms or even the groin area if you are crazy enough to touch your feet and then touch another area of your body.
Don't even think about it! Unlike its name suggests athlete's foot does not just affect athletes.
No, athlete's foot can affect any one at any time with the right conditions.
Those particularly susceptible are the people whose feet tend to be damp or sweaty.
The fungus associated with athlete's foot particularly loves the warm moist environments such as the kind found on the floor, in socks and shoes, around the swimming pool or in the shower, especially in those areas shared by a group of people.
The ringworm fungus can be spread from person to person by contact with the objects which are hosting the fungus in the first place.
But unless the fungus has the appropriate environment that promotes growth, such as a warm and moist environment, the fungus will simply lie dormant and not invade the skin.
If the fungus does invade the skin, then it can lead to blistering, peeling, cracking and flaking of the affected skin.
Athlete's foot is an irritating and frustrating fungal infection of the feet.
Trying to avoid the warm and moist environment that is conducive to fungal growth is a smart move.
Don't let the itch of athlete's foot control your life.
Get and appropriate diagnosis and then take action!