Dear Reader,

Athlete's foot (also known as tinea pedis by docs and jocks) can be tricky to diagnose because it can range in severity and symptoms. Most often, in mild cases, affected skin thickens and becomes scaly and itchy. As the infection progresses, blisters can form, and skin, especially between the toes, can become cracked and peel. Such cracked skin can be prone to infections.

Feet are especially vulnerable to fungal infections because they lack oil producing glands that can inhibit the growth of fungus, and because they tend to be moist and warm — the perfect environment for funky foot fungi. If you do have athlete's foot, you are right in thinking that petroleum jelly or other moisturizers are doing more harm than good. Maintaining dry, clean feet and wearing fresh, dry socks (made of 100 percent cotton or with a synthetic material that wicks away moisture) or open toe shoes will help slow the growth of fungus. An over-the-counter athlete's foot treatment, used as directed, should clear up the problem if it is a fungal infection — and not make matters worse if it isn't. If that fails to do the trick, the next step is to trot your toes to your health care provider or dermatologist so that s/he can get to the foot of your problem. If it's not athlete's foot, a correct diagnosis is key to taking care of the cracked, dry skin on your feet with the appropriate treatment. Cracked, dry skin can be caused by various conditions, such as general dry skin, allergic reactions, eczema, and other forms of dermatitis.

Alice

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