Athlete's Foot: Symptoms, Treatment, and Contamination Risks

Regarding athlete's foot?

Dear Dr.
Wu,
Today, I noticed an itchy sensation between my right toes, and upon closer inspection, I found that the skin between my toes is broken.
This may be due to frequent washing of my feet, leading to excessive moisture.
I would like to ask you:
1.
Is this symptom indicative of tinea pedis (athlete's foot)?
2.
After noticing this, I applied medication by using my left hand to separate my toes while holding a cotton swab with my right hand.
However, I was careless and touched the following items in sequence without washing my left hand: the medication container, the cotton swab bag, my laptop power supply, the laptop power cord, my phone charger, and the cap of my water bottle.
Dr.
Wu, could these items retain the fungi from my athlete's foot?
3.
Following up on the previous question, if these items do retain the fungi from my athlete's foot, I wiped the non-water-contact items with tissue and cleaned the water-contact items with soap.
Dr.
Wu, will this method thoroughly eliminate the residual tinea fungi from these items?
4.
Continuing from the previous question, if the tinea fungi can remain on these non-living items, how long can they survive on them?
5.
If there are residual tinea fungi on utensils and I use them to eat, could I potentially ingest the fungi? Dr.
Wu, can the fungi from athlete's foot reproduce inside the body, or could they cause any diseases?
Thank you for your guidance on these matters.

Niming, 20~29 year old female. Ask Date: 2015/05/29

Dr. Wu Yuxin reply Dermatology

1.
It is possible.

2.
It is possible.

3.
Mold is present in the environment and in the air, and it cannot be completely eliminated.

4.
Not necessarily; there are other conditions such as humidity and temperature.

5.
No, as long as the immune system is functioning normally, there is no need to worry.

Reply Date: 2015/05/29

More Info

Athlete's foot, medically known as tinea pedis, is a fungal infection that primarily affects the skin between the toes and on the soles of the feet. It is characterized by symptoms such as itching, burning, redness, and peeling skin. In your case, the symptoms you described—itching between the toes and broken skin—are indeed indicative of athlete's foot. This condition often arises from excessive moisture, which can be exacerbated by frequent washing without proper drying, leading to an environment conducive to fungal growth.

1. Is this symptom athlete's foot?
Yes, the symptoms you are experiencing are consistent with athlete's foot. The broken skin and itching are common signs of this fungal infection. It is essential to treat it promptly to prevent it from worsening or spreading.

2. Contamination Risks
Regarding your concern about contamination, it is possible for the fungus responsible for athlete's foot to transfer to objects you touch after applying the medication. Fungi can survive on surfaces, and if you touched items like your laptop charger or water bottle without washing your hands, there is a risk of transferring the fungus to those surfaces.

3. Cleaning Methods
To address your cleaning concerns, using soap and water is effective for removing fungi from surfaces. For non-waterproof items, wiping them down with a disinfectant or using a sanitary wipe can help reduce the risk of contamination. However, simply using a tissue may not be sufficient to eliminate all traces of the fungus. It’s best to use a disinfectant that is known to kill fungi.

4. Survival of Fungi on Surfaces
Fungi can survive on non-living surfaces for varying lengths of time, depending on environmental conditions. Generally, tinea pedis can survive for several days to weeks on surfaces like shoes, towels, and other items. This is why maintaining good hygiene and regularly cleaning surfaces is crucial, especially if you are dealing with a fungal infection.

5. Ingestion Concerns
As for your concern about the potential for ingesting the fungus through contaminated utensils, it is highly unlikely that the fungi will cause an infection if ingested. Athlete's foot fungi typically do not thrive in the gastrointestinal tract. However, if the fungi were to enter through broken skin or mucous membranes, they could potentially cause an infection. It is essential to maintain good hygiene practices, especially when dealing with any fungal infections.

Additional Recommendations
To effectively manage and prevent athlete's foot, consider the following steps:
- Keep your feet dry: After washing your feet, ensure they are thoroughly dried, especially between the toes.

- Use antifungal treatments: Over-the-counter antifungal creams or powders can be effective in treating athlete's foot. Follow the instructions on the packaging for best results.

- Wear breathable footwear: Choose shoes made of materials that allow your feet to breathe, and avoid wearing the same pair of shoes every day.

- Change socks regularly: Opt for moisture-wicking socks and change them if they become damp.

- Avoid walking barefoot in public areas: Fungi thrive in warm, moist environments, so wearing flip-flops in communal showers or pools can help prevent infection.

If your symptoms persist or worsen despite treatment, it is advisable to consult a healthcare professional for further evaluation and management.

Similar Q&A

How to Identify and Treat Athlete's Foot and Fungal Infections

How can one determine if they have athlete's foot or a fungal infection on the soles of their feet? How is it diagnosed during a medical visit? Is it possible to completely cure it?

Dr. Zheng Lizhen reply Dermatology
Athlete's foot, also known as tinea pedis, is a fungal infection of the feet. Most experienced dermatologists can diagnose it based on appearance alone. In some uncertain cases, the doctor may scrape some skin flakes for microscopic examination to check for the presence of f...

Managing Athlete's Foot: Tips for Teens and Common Concerns

Hello Doctor: I am a first-year high school student and have been troubled by athlete's foot in recent years (it should be athlete's foot, right?). What should I do for care? What should I do if a hole has developed? Is it possible to avoid using my health insurance car...

Dr. Ke Zhengchang reply Internal Medicine
Reply to Mr. A-ya: The patient has athlete's foot (also known as tinea pedis), which is a fungal infection of the feet. It typically occurs in warm, humid conditions and is contracted through contact with contaminated surfaces. Treatment usually requires a sustained period, ...

Effective Treatments for Athlete's Foot and Managing Exudate

Hello Doctor: I have a tendency to sweat excessively from my hands and feet. I previously had a history of atopic dermatitis over ten years ago, which resolved on its own as I aged. I also had a history of athlete's foot due to prolonged shoe wear, which was treated successf...

Dr. Li Yufen reply Dermatology
Hello: For a detailed introduction to athlete's foot, you can refer to the article by Med's Good Friend at https://www.medpartner.club/tinea-pedis-treatment-prevention/. In summer, it is recommended to apply a thin layer of ointment. If the lesions continue to expand an...

Understanding the Risk of Athlete's Foot Transmission at Home

Hello, doctor. A few days ago, a technician came to my house to install a surveillance camera, and one of the rooms is a tatami room. I had already asked him not to take off his shoes, but he did so anyway and walked on the tatami. Although he was wearing socks, there were notice...

Dr. Li Yufen reply Dermatology
Hello: For a detailed introduction to athlete's foot, you can refer to the article by Med's Good Friend at https://www.medpartner.club/tinea-pedis-treatment-prevention/. Athlete's foot is caused by a fungal infection (dermatophytes), which thrive in warm and humid ...