Have you noticed changes to the appearance of your feet and are not sure what it might be? One of the most common foot ailments is athlete’s foot. What does athlete’s foot look like? Can you diagnose athlete’s foot just by looking at it? Allow us to explain!
What Is Athlete’s Foot?
Athlete’s foot, or tinea pedis, is an infection of the skin caused by fungi. It can affect anyone but it most commonly affects people who wear shoes that are not ventilated enough and participate in activities like swimming or exercising. Some other risk factors include having sweaty feet or repetitive exposure to moisture due to living conditions such as staying inside all year round with no ventilation systems running for heating & cooling purposes.
What Does Athlete’s Foot Look Like?
In some cases, there are no visual changes with athlete’s foot. When there are, it tends to present with a red, scaly rash on the soles of your feet and between your toes. If you notice white or yellow spots in this area, it is usually caused by dead skin cells. The affected area might also be flaking or peeling off.
If these symptoms are paired with pain when there is pressure around that part of the foot, then you may have an infection under toenails which can lead to more issues like ingrown nails (this requires immediate medical attention, which mean you need to find a podiatrist right away)!
How Can You Diagnose Athlete’s Foot?
Athlete’s foot cannot be diagnosed by visual inspection of the feet alone. There are other methods that need to be utilized for an accurate diagnosis. A doctor can take a fungal culture from the affected area and examine it under a microscope to determine if the fungus is present. There are also tests that can be done on the skin cells in order to find traces of fungi.
What Other Conditions Look Like Athlete’s Foot?
Athlete’s foot can often be confused with other skin conditions like psoriasis, eczema, or contact dermatitis (an allergic reaction). If you’re not sure whether or not what you’re seeing is athlete’s foot, it is best to consult with the doctors at the Advanced Foot and Ankle Institute of Georgia! They will be able to properly diagnose the condition and provide you with appropriate treatment options for athlete’s foot in Marietta.
Learn more about foot conditions; read What to Know About Painful Bunions.
