Athlete's foot is a common condition of peeling skin on the feet caused by a fungal infection that results in the skin becoming itchy, sore, cracked, and peeling. Athlete's foot (also known as foot ringworm) is so common that most people will have at least one episode during their lifetime. The disease can be treated, but it can be tenacious and difficult to clear up completely.

Athlete's foot is caused by a the fungi Trichophyton rubrum, T. mentagrophytes, and Epidermophyton floccosum. These fungi live exclusively on dead body tissue (hair, the outer layer of skin, and nails), and grow best in moist, damp, dark places with poor ventilation. The infection occurs most often between the fourth and fifth toes.

Symptoms of athlete's foot include itchy, sore skin on the toes, with scaling, cracking, inflammation, and blisters. Blisters that break, exposing raw patches of tissue, can cause...