Embarrassing Illnesses

Athlete's foot is caused by a fungal infection of either one, or both, of your feet. We all have bacteria and fungi on our skin, most of which are harmless. However, in some conditions, these organisms can multiply and cause your skin to become infected.

Athlete's foot is caused by a group of fungi known as dermatophytes. These fungi are parasitic, which means they feed off other organisms to stay alive. Your feet provide a warm, dark and humid environment, which are the ideal conditions needed for dermatophytes to grow.

Is athlete's foot contagious?

Athlete's foot is a contagious condition, but there are steps that you can take to help prevent the spread of infection (see 'prevention' section).

Athlete's foot can spread through both direct and indirect contact. Direct contact involves skin to skin contact. For example, someone may develop the infection if they were to directly touch your affected skin, and not wash their hands afterwards. The infection can also spread through indirect contact. For example, the fungi can be passed on through contaminated towels, bed sheets, and clothing.

Showers, swimming pools, and locker rooms are also common places where the infection can be passed on. This is because, like your feet, these places are usually warm and humid, which encourages bacteria and fungi to multiply.

Who gets athlete's foot?

Athlete's foot is most common in men and teenagers. It is relatively rare in children under the age of 12, and is less common in women. It is not yet understood why some people are more prone to developing athlete's foot than others.

As its name suggests, athlete's foot is common among people who play lots of sport. This is because they often use the places which help spread the infection (such as shower and locker rooms). Sport and exercise also tends to make your feet warmer and more moist than normal, again helping the fungi to grow. Tight-fitting trainers can also encourage the growth of fungi.