Tinea Pedis
Basics
Description
- Superficial fungal infection of the skin 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, foot ringworm
Epidemiology
- Predominant age: 20 to 50 years, although can occur at any age
- Predominant gender: males infected about 4 times as frequently as females
Prevalence
- 4–10% of the population
- >70% of population will experience during a lifetime.
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 release enzymes called keratinases to invade and thrive only in nonviable keratinized tissue
- Trichophyton interdigitale (acute)
- Trichophyton rubrum (chronic): most common
- 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
Commonly Associated Conditions
- Hyperhidrosis
- Onychomycosis
- Tinea manuum/unguium/cruris/corporis
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Citation
Domino, Frank J., et al., editors. "Tinea Pedis." 5-Minute Clinical Consult, 33rd ed., Wolters Kluwer, 2025. Medicine Central, im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/116605/all/Tinea_Pedis.
Tinea Pedis. In: Domino FJF, Baldor RAR, Golding JJ, et al, eds. 5-Minute Clinical Consult. Wolters Kluwer; 2025. https://im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/116605/all/Tinea_Pedis. Accessed October 12, 2024.
Tinea Pedis. (2025). In Domino, F. J., Baldor, R. A., Golding, J., & Stephens, M. B. (Eds.), 5-Minute Clinical Consult (33rd ed.). Wolters Kluwer. https://im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/116605/all/Tinea_Pedis
Tinea Pedis [Internet]. In: Domino FJF, Baldor RAR, Golding JJ, Stephens MBM, editors. 5-Minute Clinical Consult. Wolters Kluwer; 2025. [cited 2024 October 12]. Available from: https://im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/116605/all/Tinea_Pedis.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
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T1 - Tinea Pedis
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ED - Baldor,Robert A,
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ED - Stephens,Mark B,
BT - 5-Minute Clinical Consult, Updating
UR - https://im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/116605/all/Tinea_Pedis
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