What is athlete's foot?

Written by Hu Xiao Cui
Nutrition Science
Updated on February 01, 2025
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Beri-beri, also known as vitamin B1 deficiency disease. Vitamin B1 is an essential nutrient required by the human body, involved in several important biochemical reactions and crucial for energy metabolism within the body. Deficiency in vitamin B1 can lead to a range of abnormal symptoms in the nervous system and muscles. In adults, early symptoms of vitamin B1 deficiency include weakness and a heavy feeling in the lower limbs, muscle soreness, particularly noticeable in the calf muscles. These are also important early signs for the detection of beri-beri, which are typical manifestations. Additionally, beri-beri may also present with loss of appetite, weight loss, digestive disorders, and constipation. There are generally two types of beri-beri: dry beri-beri and wet beri-beri. Dry beri-beri primarily involves neurological symptoms, chiefly abnormal sensations, numbness, and a burning pain in the hands and feet. Wet beri-beri, on the other hand, is mainly characterized by edema and cardiac symptoms.

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Written by Liu Gang
Dermatology
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Is there a relationship between tinea cruris and athlete's foot?

Jock itch and athlete's foot are both caused by fungal infections, and the fungi in these two areas are essentially the same. Most cases of jock itch are related to athlete's foot. Some people have athlete's foot and are careless in their daily lives, washing their socks together with their underwear, which can lead to cross-infection and the transfer of athlete's foot to form jock itch. Others may not have athlete's foot but develop jock itch due to poor hygiene habits, such as frequent visits to public baths for swimming or working in humid and hot environments, and bathing infrequently. Keeping small animals and not cleaning the fungi or molds from the animals in a timely manner can also lead to jock itch. Therefore, there is a certain relationship between these two conditions, but the correlation is not absolute. Once discovered, proper treatment in the early stages can cure it in a very short time.

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Written by Liu Gang
Dermatology
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The difference between tinea manuum (hand fungus) and athlete's foot (foot fungus)

Athlete's foot belongs to diseases caused by fungal infections. Athlete's foot, also commonly known as foot odor, is the same thing, so there is no difference between the two; both are caused by fungal infections. Locally, there will be peeling, blisters, and severe itching. In serious cases, there may be dryness, cracking, and bleeding. Once this disease occurs, it must be treated formally. It can be cured by applying antifungal cream topically, but the treatment course will be relatively long. After cure, it is also important to regulate one's diet and lifestyle habits, try to avoid contact with dirty water, sand, small animals, etc., do not wear slippers randomly, and avoid going to public baths and swimming to prevent the recurrence of the disease.

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Written by Xia Min
Traditional Chinese Medicine
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The difference between pitted keratolysis and athlete's foot

Palmoplantar pustulosis, corresponding to hand fungus in Western medicine, typically affects adults, but can be contracted by individuals of any age, both male and female. It often affects one hand, but can also spread to both. Symptoms are more severe with blistering in the summer, while in winter, dryness and pain are more pronounced. The characteristic lesions begin with blisters on the palms and between the fingers, with the skin on the palm becoming keratinized, flaky, and blistered. After repeated outbreaks, the skin on the palm thickens, becomes dry and cracked, painful, and hindered in flexibility, resembling a goose's foot, hence the name "goose's foot wind." Athlete's foot, equivalent to tinea pedis in Western medicine, is named for its symptoms of maceration and itchiness of the soles, accompanied by a distinctive odor. It primarily affects the spaces between the toes but can also appear on the soles of the feet. The main features are blisters between the toes, maceration, oozing, excessive keratinization, flaking, and itching. There are clear differences between these two conditions.

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Written by Liu Gang
Dermatology
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How to stop itching from athlete's foot?

Athlete's foot is a disease caused by fungal infection, which is contagious and recurrent. The main symptoms usually are blisters and sores appearing on the soles of the feet or between the toes, and the condition is quite itchy. Most people tend to scratch the blisters until they break open, leading to infection. Once occurrence is observed, it is essential to apply an official antifungal cream, which can help relieve the itchiness. If the itching is severe in a short period, hot water can be used to scald the affected area, but after scalding, it is still necessary to continue applying the cream. After recovery, it is important to regulate one's diet and lifestyle habits, avoid public baths and swimming, and refrain from consuming spicy and stimulating foods.

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Written by Li Ya Ping
Dermatology Department
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How to determine if it's athlete's foot on the hand

Athlete's foot, medically known as tinea pedis, is a fungal infection. If someone with tinea pedis scratches their feet with their hands, they can transfer the fungus to their hands, resulting in tinea manuum, which is characterized by peeling skin on the hands. However, there are two common conditions that lead to hand peeling. One is tinea manuum, a fungal infection of the hands, often spread from tinea pedis. The other condition is eczema, so it is necessary to differentiate whether the symptoms are due to tinea manuum or eczema. Patients with tinea manuum typically have the infection on two feet and one hand; usually, only one hand is affected initially, not both hands symmetrically. If it is difficult to differentiate, it is advisable for patients to undergo a fungal examination at a hospital, which can confirm the diagnosis if the result is positive for fungus.