What Happens if Athlete’s Foot Is Left Untreated?

Tinea pedis, otherwise known as athlete’s foot, is a common viral infection caused by fungus. Between 15-25% of people suffer from athlete’s foot — but don’t let its name fool you. You don’t have to be a major jock to get athlete’s foot. All you need is to expose your feet to a hospitable warm, dark, and moist place for fungus to grow. 

Whether you’ve been plagued by athlete’s foot or not, it’s important to know what symptoms to look for and to get them treated promptly.

Our caring podiatry team at Premier Foot & Ankle, with five convenient Texas locations, offers customized treatment for your athlete’s foot, so you can be rid of the itching, flaking, and other aggravating symptoms as soon as possible. 

No matter what podiatric problem you have, from athlete’s foot to bunions or ingrown toenails, your feet are in the best hands at Premier Foot & Ankle.

The telltale signs of athlete’s foot

Athlete’s foot could be considered a bit of a misnomer, since the problem typically settles in and affects the areas between your toes, with the fungus causing them to become:

• Red
• Raw
• Swollen
• Itchy 
• Blistered
• Flaky
• Cracked 

You’re more likely to get athlete’s foot if you’ve had it previously, the problem runs in your family, you have open sores anywhere on your feet, or you’re immunocompromised. Pool areas and locker rooms are notorious for being linked to athlete’s foot. 

Touching your feet with your hands can even cause the fungal infection to spread to your hands. 

Why you shouldn’t ignore athlete’s foot

Although athlete’s foot is usually referred to as a nuisance, letting it go untreated can lead to serious problems that impact more of your body than just your feet. At an advanced stage, athlete’s foot may cause you to experience:

• Blisters that spread to your toenails and across your soles
• Pus oozing from affected spots 
• A foul smell 
• Onychomycosis, where your nails become thick, yellow, and separate from the nailbed 
• Cellulitis, a bacterial infection that causes redness, swelling, and pain

Cellulitis is particularly worrisome because it can lead to a bone infection or blood poisoning. 

Ultimately, severe athlete’s foot symptoms can even cause mobility problems and put other people’s health at risk, since it’s contagious through both direct and indirect contact. 

As with any foot problem, if you live with diabetes, it’s critical for you to get athlete’s foot symptoms checked out and treated ASAP. 

These serious consequences of putting off professional treatment for athlete’s foot should be enough to convince anyone not to procrastinate, especially when the treatments themselves are simple and effective.

Treatment approaches for athlete’s foot 

Fortunately, your Premier Foot & Ankle provider offers effective treatments when you come in with a case of athlete’s foot. They may take skin scrape samples for lab testing to confirm your diagnosis.

Then, your doctor may recommend antifungal medications you can apply topically or take orally, or foot powders designed specifically to treat the condition. They may also prescribe steroidal or bacterial topical medicine. 

Once your athlete’s foot is cleared up, we give you tips on things you can do to ensure you never get it again. These include always wearing shoes around pools and other places where groups gather, thoroughly cleaning and drying your feet daily, wearing shoes that fit well, and allowing your shoes to air out when you’re not wearing them. 

Call the Premier Foot & Ankle location closest to you and schedule an appointment today, or book one online anytime.