Athletes Foot is a very common condition and in no real way associated with running. A friend of mine confided the other day that he has been having a never-ending battle with Athlete’s Foot. This is one of the most common conditions in the world, and you certainly do not have to be athletic to get it (my friend most certainly isn’t) – but it helps!
The connection between the condition and athletes is well known. The reason is the fact that athletes, like so many sporting groups tend to stand around shower/changing areas in their bare feet, spreading the little organism that causes the condition.
So let’s talk about the condition. The correct name is Tinea, and we have several types depending upon the area of the body that is affected. If it is in your scalp we call it Tinea capitis, on the body – Tinea corporis, on the hands – Tinea manum, on the feet – Tinea pedis and in the groin we call it Tinea cruris, otherwise known as Dhobie itch or Crotch Rot! What a wonderful grab bag of conditions to say the least. None of them are conditions you’d like to have.
The organisms which cause all these are called Dermatophytes, and they have the ability to live in skin and so can invade hair and even nails. Think of the dermatophytes are like cabbages planted in the garden and growing in the soil, with roots growing downwards. The most common has the exciting name of Trichophyton rubrum, a noble name for an organism that can live in the soggy bits between your toes, I’m sure you’ll agree. And you know it is there, because of the intense itch.
The symptoms generally consist of a spreading “rash” with reddened edges that becomes itchy and eventually quite painful as the infection goes into the deeper layers of the skin. This is the result of the organism putting out roots which extend deeper.
Unfortunately from the point of view of diagnosis, there are a number of other conditions that can manifest themselves in a similar fashion, including Psoriasis, eczema and some forms of dermatitis. This is the most usual reason for “Athletes Foot” preparations that are not working – it wasn’t “Athlete’s Foot” to begin with!
There are various methods of clinching the diagnosis, including examination with a special Wood’s Light, which allows you to look at the affected region with UV light. The most accurate way, however, is to take scrapings and examine under the microscope for the telltale “roots”.
So what can you do if it really is our friend Trichophyton that is cropping up between your toes and other unmentionable places? The first thing to do is not to use high powered steroid creams bought over the counter at the local pharmacy, but use a topical anti-dermatophyte preparation like Canesten cream. You can alternate with a weak steroid, but remember that the steroid does not “cure” the problem – it only masks it. And if it does not settle quickly with the cream, go and see your doctor.
With some very stubborn cases it may be necessary to use medication by mouth to attack the organism through the blood stream, but these can have some fairly unpleasant and nasty side effects, especially on your liver. If your liver is already having problems straining the blood out of the beer stream then you need to use extreme caution.
To prevent re-occurrence it is necessary to be very careful where you put your toes, never share towels, and jump over communal bath mats – but even then you may find it comes back. Remnants of the organism start putting out their roots and the cycle is on again. And stop scratching!
Some dermatologists also believe that you should put your socks on before you put on your jocks. This way Dermatophyton spores can’t fall off your feet and get carried up to the groin to continue their interesting work in that warm, moist area, which is just great for growing fungus. If nothing else, it’s an interesting theory.
