Athlete's foot

Athlete's foot is a contagious fungal infection of the feet, most often affecting the skin between the toes and causing itching, scaling, or cracks.

Dermatophyte: A fungus that infects keratin-rich tissues such as skin, hair, and nails. Dermatophytes cause most cases by digesting keratin in the outer skin.
Topical antifungal: A medicine applied to skin to inhibit or kill fungi. Creams, sprays, and powders are common treatments for localized infection.
Contact dermatitis: Skin inflammation caused by direct exposure to an irritant or allergen. It can cause itchy, scaly feet without a fungal infection.
Onychomycosis: A fungal infection of one or more nails. Foot fungus can spread to toenails, where treatment is often longer.
Trichophyton rubrum: A dermatophyte fungus that commonly infects human skin and nails. This species is a frequent cause of persistent athlete's foot.
Terbinafine: An antifungal medicine that blocks fungal squalene epoxidase. Applied to the skin, it often clears athlete's foot.
Dyshidrotic eczema: An eczema subtype marked by recurrent small, itchy blisters on the hands or feet. Its blisters can be mistaken for a fungal foot rash.
Cellulitis: A bacterial infection of deeper skin and underlying tissue. Bacteria can enter through fissures created by severe or scratched infection.
Tinea pedis: The medical name for a fungal infection of the feet. It is the clinical term used for athlete's foot.
Clotrimazole: An antifungal medicine that disrupts fungal cell-membrane formation. It is a widely used topical option for foot infections.