What Is Tinea Pedis?
Article Sources
- 1. Gupta, AK et al. 'Optimal Management of Fungal Infections of the Skin, Hair, and Nail.' External American Journal of Clinical Dermatology vol. 5,4 (2004): 225-37. doi:10.2165/00128071-200405040-00003.
- 2. Crawford, F. and S. Hollis. Topical Treatments for Fungal Infections of the Skin and Nails of the Foot. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews vol. 18,3 (2007): CD001434. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD001434.pub2.
- 3. Gupta, A.K. and E.A. Cooper. Update in Antifungal Therapy of Dermatophytosis. Mycopathologia vol. 166,5-6 (2008): 353. doi:10.1007/s11046-008-9109-0.
3. Transmission
Tinea pedis is easily transmissible in the right environments. It can spread through direct contact with the affected skin of a person who is infected. It can also spread via contact with wet or moist surfaces where the fungus survives. This often occurs in public or shared spaces such as swimming pools, showers and locker rooms. The fungi can also survive on towels, bed linens, mats or clothing.
When infected person’s walk barefoot on a moist surface, some of the fungal spores shed onto the area. The fungi spores persist there until they find a new host in the next uncovered foot that passes over the contaminated surface. The same process applies when an infected person uses or wears an item that is then used by someone else.
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