Athlete's foot

One of the main symptoms of athlete's foot is itchy white patches between your toes. Credit: Kitraveler https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/using-hands-expose-chronic-interdigital-athletes-1885656472 Credit: RICHARD WAREHAM FOTOGRAFIE/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY https://www.sciencephoto.com/media/754761/view It can also cause sore and flaky patches on your feet. The skin can look red, but this may be less noticeable on brown or black skin. Credit: DR H.C.ROBINSON / SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY https://www.sciencephoto.com/media/262798/view Credit: Kitraveler https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/curing-clear-chronic-interdigital-athletes-foot-1885656484 Sometimes the skin on your feet may become cracked or bleed. Credit: DR P. MARAZZI/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY https://www.sciencephoto.com/media/262846/view Other symptoms Athlete's foot can also affect your soles or sides of your feet. It sometimes causes fluid-filled blisters. If it's not treated, the infection can spread to your toenails and cause a fungal nail infection .

Athlete's foot is unlikely to get better on its own, but you can buy antifungal medicines for it from a pharmacy. They usually take a few weeks to work. Athlete's foot treatments are available as: creams sprays powders They're not all suitable for everyone – for example, some are only for adults. Always check the packet or ask a pharmacist. You might need to try a few treatments to find one that works best for you. Find a pharmacy Things you can do if you have athlete's foot You can keep using some pharmacy treatments to stop athlete's foot coming back. It's also important to keep your feet clean and dry. You do not need to stay off work or school. Do dry your feet after washing them, particularly between your toes – dab them dry rather than rubbing them use a separate towel for your feet and wash it regularly wear clean socks every day – cotton socks are best Don’t do not scratch affected skin – this can spread it to other parts of your body do not walk around barefoot – wear flip-flops in places like changing rooms and showers do not share towels, socks or shoes with other people do not wear the same pair of shoes for more than 2 to 3 days in a row do not wear shoes that make your feet hot and sweaty Important Keep following this advice after finishing treatment to help stop athlete's foot coming back.

If you have athlete's foot and treatments from a pharmacy have not worked, a GP may: send a small scraping of skin from your feet to a laboratory to check you have athlete's foot prescribe a steroid cream to use alongside antifungal cream prescribe antifungal tablets – you might need to take these for several weeks refer you to a skin specialist (dermatologist) for more tests and treatment if needed

You can catch athlete's foot from other people with the infection. You can get it by: walking barefoot in places where someone else has athlete's foot – especially changing rooms and showers touching the affected skin of someone with athlete's foot You're more likely to get it if you have wet or sweaty feet, or if the skin on your feet is damaged.