5-Minute Clinical Consult
Tinea Pedis
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Basics
Description
- Superficial infection of the feet caused by dermatophytes
- Most common dermatophyte infection encountered in clinical practice; contagious
- Often accompanied by tinea manuum, tinea unguium, and tinea cruris
- Clinical forms: interdigital (most common), hyperkeratotic (moccasin type), vesiculobullous (inflammatory), and rarely ulcerative
- System(s) affected: skin/exocrine
- Synonym(s): athlete’s foot
Epidemiology
- Predominant age: 20 to 50 years, although can occur at any age (1)
- Predominant gender: male > female
Prevalence
4% of population
Pediatric Considerations
Rare in younger children; common in adolescents
Geriatric Considerations
Elderly are more susceptible to outbreaks because of immunocompromised and impaired perfusion of distal extremities.
Etiology and Pathophysiology
Superficial infection caused by dermatophytes that thrive only in nonviable keratinized tissue
- Trichophyton interdigitale (previously Trichophyton mentagrophytes) (acute)
- Trichophyton rubrum (chronic)
- Trichophyton tonsurans
- Epidermophyton floccosum
Genetics
No known genetic pattern
Risk Factors
- Hot, humid weather
- Sweating
- Occlusive/tight-fitting footwear
- Immunosuppression
- Prolonged application of topical steroids
General Prevention
- Good personal hygiene
- Wearing rubber or wooden sandals in community showers, bathing places, locker rooms
- Careful drying between toes after showering or bathing; blow-drying feet with hair dryer may be more effective than drying with towel.
- Changing socks and shoes frequently
- Applying drying or dusting powder
- Applying topical antiperspirants
- Putting on socks before underwear to prevent infection from spreading to groin
Commonly Associated Conditions
- Hyperhidrosis
- Onychomycosis
- Tinea manuum/unguium/cruris/corporis
-- To view the remaining sections of this topic, please log in or purchase a subscription --
Basics
Description
- Superficial infection of the feet caused by dermatophytes
- Most common dermatophyte infection encountered in clinical practice; contagious
- Often accompanied by tinea manuum, tinea unguium, and tinea cruris
- Clinical forms: interdigital (most common), hyperkeratotic (moccasin type), vesiculobullous (inflammatory), and rarely ulcerative
- System(s) affected: skin/exocrine
- Synonym(s): athlete’s foot
Epidemiology
- Predominant age: 20 to 50 years, although can occur at any age (1)
- Predominant gender: male > female
Prevalence
4% of population
Pediatric Considerations
Rare in younger children; common in adolescents
Geriatric Considerations
Elderly are more susceptible to outbreaks because of immunocompromised and impaired perfusion of distal extremities.
Etiology and Pathophysiology
Superficial infection caused by dermatophytes that thrive only in nonviable keratinized tissue
- Trichophyton interdigitale (previously Trichophyton mentagrophytes) (acute)
- Trichophyton rubrum (chronic)
- Trichophyton tonsurans
- Epidermophyton floccosum
Genetics
No known genetic pattern
Risk Factors
- Hot, humid weather
- Sweating
- Occlusive/tight-fitting footwear
- Immunosuppression
- Prolonged application of topical steroids
General Prevention
- Good personal hygiene
- Wearing rubber or wooden sandals in community showers, bathing places, locker rooms
- Careful drying between toes after showering or bathing; blow-drying feet with hair dryer may be more effective than drying with towel.
- Changing socks and shoes frequently
- Applying drying or dusting powder
- Applying topical antiperspirants
- Putting on socks before underwear to prevent infection from spreading to groin
Commonly Associated Conditions
- Hyperhidrosis
- Onychomycosis
- Tinea manuum/unguium/cruris/corporis
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