Athlete's foot is a common fungal infection worldwide.
The causative agent under the Trichophyton family is responsible for the infection.
It is also popular as the ringworm or tinea pedis.
Although it often affects the feet, it can spread to other body areas, like the groin.
If you wonder whether what you are experiencing is athlete's foot, here are the things you can do to know if you have it.
Look for the Symptoms If you have ringworm, you can become observant with the symptoms of the infection.
It often starts with itching on the area affected.
The itch can lead to stinging and burning sensations.
When the feet start to sweat and accumulate moisture, the itching worsens and becomes irritating.
Because of the urge to scratch the area, the fungus becomes dislodged and it starts to infect other parts of the body.
Observe the Signs Compared to symptoms, signs are more observable.
If you want to know whether you have athlete's foot, look for flaking and scaling of the skin, especially on the toes and the soles.
The whitish feet turn reddish if you keep on scratching it.
In due time, the redness becomes more severe, leading to blister formation.
For other patients, athlete's foot presents itself as extremely dry skin.
The toenails become thick, crumbly, discolored and they pull away from the nail bed.
Go to Health Professionals If you are still unsure of your condition despite the visible and observable signs and symptoms, you can go to a health care provider for a more objective assessment.
Consult your physician about it.
He can even recommend the appropriate medication to relieve you from the itching and treat the athlete's foot.
Laboratory Diagnosis If your physician is still doubtful of your condition, laboratory tests are good predictive ways to diagnose the problem.
For the initial diagnosis, skin scarping is sufficient.
The laboratory technologist prepares a specimen and mixes it with a drop of potassium hydroxide.
When viewed under the microscope, the preparation will reveal the presence of fungi.
If the KOH test is not enough, you can have the biopsy to assess the skin scrapings histologically.
Although the condition is not a life-threatening situation, it still warrants prompt treatment due to the discomfort and inconveniences associated with it.
By knowing what to look for in athlete's foot, you can have the prompt treatment and free yourself from the fungi.