Athlete’s foot has a reputation for causing itchy, peeling skin between your toes, but, unfortunately, that’s not the only way it can show up.
In some cases, athlete’s foot can cause small, fluid-filled blisters on your feet. They may itch, burn, sting, or make walking uncomfortable, especially when shoes rub against them.
Below, our team of experts at Momentum Foot & Ankle Clinic explains how fungal infections can cause blisters and what you can do about them.
Did you know ringworm and athlete’s foot are the same thing? Ringworm is a fungal infection caused by a family of fungi (dermatophytes). When it develops on your feet, it’s called tinea pedis. “Tinea” refers to the fungal infection, and “pedis” refers to your foot.
The fungus thrives in warm, damp environments, which is why it often develops after exposure to sweaty socks, tight shoes, locker rooms, public showers, or pool areas. Hence, its more common name: athlete’s foot.
You might suspect that you have athlete’s foot if your foot is itchy, red, or burns. Your skin can also look scaly, peel, and crack. Some people also develop blisters, especially along the soles, sides of the feet, or between the toes.
Certain forms of athlete’s foot trigger more inflammation than others. Specifically, a type of fungus called Trichophyton mentagrophytes causes an inflammatory athlete’s foot. When your skin reacts strongly to this fungal infection, fluid can collect under the surface and form blisters.
These blisters may appear in clusters and can feel intensely itchy or tender.
If they break open, the skin underneath becomes more vulnerable to irritation and secondary bacterial infection. That’s why it’s important not to pop or pick at them.
Blisters from athlete’s foot often come with other skin changes. You may notice itching, burning, peeling, cracking, redness, or a rash that worsens when your feet are sweaty or when you wear tight shoes.
Athlete’s foot can also spread from one area of the foot to another and even to your toenails or hands if you scratch the infected area and touch other skin.
Not every blister on your foot is athlete’s foot. Blisters can also result from friction, new shoes, burns, dyshidrotic eczema, or viral infections (such as coxsackie virus).
The location of your blisters and the presence of other symptoms can help you determine what’s causing your blisters. For example, a blister on your heel after wearing new shoes may be friction-related, while itchy blisters on your feet and hands may point toward hand, foot, and mouth disease.
If you’re not sure what’s causing your blisters, a podiatry exam at one of our Chicagoland offices can help you avoid using the wrong treatment.
Athlete’s foot treatment usually starts with antifungal medication. Depending on the severity of your symptoms, Dr. Mahmood or Dr. Wilson may recommend:
More stubborn or widespread infections may require prescription-strength treatment.
You’ll also need to keep your feet as dry as possible. Change out of sweaty socks quickly, rotate your shoes, wear moisture-wicking socks, and avoid walking barefoot in public locker rooms, showers, and pool areas.
Athlete’s foot can cause blisters, and those blisters are more than annoying; they can make the infection easier to spread and harder to ignore.
If your feet are itchy, blistered, peeling, or irritated, don’t keep guessing in the dark. Get the right diagnosis and treatment so your skin can heal and your feet can feel comfortable again.
Click here to schedule an appointment with Dr. Mahmood or Dr. Wilson. Or, call us at 219-214-2047 to schedule an appointment in Michigan City, Chesterton, Indiana, or Lombard, Illinois.
