Signs and Symptoms of Athlete’s Foot

Athlete’s foot can occur on one or both of your child’s feet. It usually starts as cracked and peeling skin between the toes. Athlete’s foot may also appear as dry, scaly skin on the soles of the feet that spreads to the sides of the feet.

Other common athlete’s foot symptoms in kids include:

• Blisters
• Burning
• Itching
• Peeling
• Redness in lighter skin tones and purple in darker skin tones
• Stinging

If the fungal infection spreads to the toenails, they may appear:

• Brittle
• Thick
• White or Yellow

Complications of Athlete’s Foot

The most significant complication of athlete’s foot is spreading it to other body locations. This can happen from scratching the feet and touching different body parts. Athlete’s foot can also spread by your child’s towel when they dry their feet and then dry other parts of their body after bathing.

Some common locations where the fungal skin infection can spread include:

• Face – tinea faciei
• Groin, inner thighs, and buttocks – tinea cruris, aka jock itch
• Hands – tinea manuum
• Other body surfaces – tinea corporis

Another possible complication of athlete’s foot is a bacterial skin infection. Bacteria can enter through the cracks in your child’s feet and cause a bacterial infection. Call your doctor if your child has:

• Fever
• Pus draining from the rash site
• Swelling

Treatment for Athlete’s Foot

Athlete’s foot treatments range from at-home to medical.

At-Home Treatment

The good news is that most cases can be treated at home with over-the-counter (OTC) antifungal creams, lotions, powders, or sprays. Some common brand names include Desenex®, Lamisil®, Lotrimin®, and Tinactin®, but generic versions of these products work just as effectively.

When treating athlete’s foot at home, follow the instructions on the OTC antifungal product you choose. Most will advise that you apply the antifungal twice a day for two to six weeks. For the best results, keep using the product for as long as recommended.

Here are our best at-home tips:

• Wash and dry your kiddo’s feet before applying the antifungal treatment.
• Wash and dry your hands before and after applying the antifungal treatment to prevent spreading the skin infection to your fingers and fingernails. (Remember, athlete’s foot is contagious!)
• Cover your kiddo’s feet loosely with cotton or other moisture-wicking socks.

Some household items like apple cider vinegar, baking soda, and sea salt have antifungal properties. None of these products has been shown to cure athlete’s foot, but they can help relieve discomfort and possibly even prevent future infection.

• Apple cider vinegar – mix one part vinegar with two parts warm water
• Baking soda – add ½ cup of baking soda to a large bucket of warm water
• Sea salt – dissolve one cup of sea salt into a warm buck of water

After a foot soak, dry your child’s feet thoroughly, especially between the toes, with a clean towel.

Medical Treatment

If your child’s athlete’s foot does not clear up after two to four weeks or the symptoms worsen, they may need prescription treatment. KidsStreeet Urgent Care can help! Register online for an appointment and our friendly healthcare providers will help your kiddo heal and feel better fast!

Your healthcare provider will ask about your child’s medical history, foot care practices, and symptoms. They will examine your kiddo’s feet and often can make a diagnosis based on the symptoms and appearance. Some healthcare providers will perform a potassium hydroxide (KOH) test using small flakes of peeling skin to confirm your child has athlete’s foot rather than another type of rash.

They will also ask about any rashes in other body locations. Athlete’s foot is contagious, and it is common for kids to spread the rash to other parts of their body with their hands or towels. It is important to treat all the sites of fungal infection and prevent further spread.

The first line of treatment is a prescription-strength topical antifungal cream, lotion, powder, or spray. If the topical treatment does not work, your healthcare provider will talk to you about oral antifungal medications for your child.

Prevention of Athlete’s Foot

We have some pro tips to prevent athlete’s foot from occurring or recurring and keep your child’s feet healthy!

• Air them out. Encourage your child to wear flip-flops, sandals, or shoes with breathable fabrics whenever possible rather than closed-in shoes that could make their feet sweat.
• An ounce of prevention. If your kiddo has sweaty feet, use an OTC topical antifungal cream, lotion, powder, or spray on their feet when they wear closed-in shoes like tennis shoes.
• Change is good. Your kiddo should change their socks regularly (at least once daily or more often if they have sweaty feet). They should also try moisture-wicking socks and alternate their tennis shoes to avoid wearing yesterday’s sweaty shoes.
• Clean and dry. Your child should use warm soap and water to clean their feet at least once a day and then dry them thoroughly, especially between the toes, with a clean towel.
• Don’t share. Remind your child not to share socks, shoes, towels, or other linens with others.
• Stop the spread. Teach your kiddo to wear flip-flops or shower shoes rather than walking barefoot in public areas such as locker rooms, public showers, and public pools.