Are your feet, blistered, cracked, or peeling between your toes? Do they itch? Do the soles of your feet show signs of redness or scaling? If you said yes to any of these questions, you may have athlete's foot. Athlete's foot is a fungus that thrives in warm, moist, and enclosed environments. The fungus breeds in places like snug, poorly ventilated shoes, damp sweaty socks, locker rooms, and gym shower floors.

Athlete's foot is usually a harmless infection that is often treated successfully with an over-the-counter anti-fungal medicine such as Micatin, Tinactin or Desenex. If it is not treated, your skin may develop blisters and cracks that can lead to a secondary bacterial infection. Athlete's foot should clear up within a week or two of beginning treatment. If it does not, you should seek medical care. It is important to use all of the anti-fungal cream that is prescribed for you. While your skin may look better with treatment, the infection can remain for some time afterwards and could recur.

Athlete's foot is not very contagious. One family member may have it without infecting others living in the same house. The fungus will not grow on dry, normal skin. Follow these tips to prevent athlete's foot:
* Keep your feet clean.
* Dry feet well after bathing.
* Apply powder between the toes.
* Go barefoot or wear sandals often.
* Wear socks that wick moisture away and keep the feet dry.

Cotton and wool socks absorb sweat and keep the feet dry.Avoid socks made of synthetic material. Other tips to help keep your feet dry include:
* Change socks daily or more frequently if they become damp.
* Choose shoes such as sandals, canvas, or those made with leather uppers to allow your feet to breathe,
* Air-out shoes between wearings or alternate shoes daily.

While common and recurring in adults, athlete's foot rarely affects children before puberty. The basic rule to follow to avoid athlete's foot is to keep your feet clean and dry, especially in hot weather.

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