Getting To The Root Cause of Athlete's Foot

Itching and scaling between the toes are classic signs of athlete’s foot or tinea pedis. This common fungal infection is easily contagious and often thrives in damp, sweaty conditions. Since it can spread by skin-to-skin contact or contact with a flake of skin or infected surface, Athlete’s foot often spreads in shared spaces like locker rooms, swimming pools, and saunas.

Athlete’s foot is one common type of tinea fungal infection, along with other types of ringworm. Many people experience athlete’s foot, with 70% of the population having athlete’s foot at some time in their lives. 

Antifungal medications are commonly used to treat athlete’s foot and clear up the infection. In addition, an integrative dermatology approach can help resolve underlying factors contributing to susceptibility and use herbal options to treat the infection.

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What is Athlete’s Foot?

When the skin stays damp and sweaty for periods of time, such as in closed sneakers during sports, or you come into contact with fungal spores on infected surfaces, you can develop athlete’s foot. This fungal infection is known as tinea pedis, meaning ringworm of the foot.

The rash of athlete’s foot most commonly occurs between your toes or on other parts of the feet like the soles, heels, sides of the feet, and tops of the feet. It causes the skin to become scaly and cracked and can itch, sting, and burn. There may also be a heightened smell to the feet.

Toe web infections are most common, causing scaly and itchy between the toes, especially between the fourth and fifth toes. Athlete’s foot can also occur in a moccasin-type pattern where it affects the bottoms of the feet, heels, and edges of the feet, causing them to be sore for a few days, then experience thickening and cracking of the bottoms of the feet and occasional infection of the toenails as well. Other types of athlete’s foot are the vesicular type, which causes bumps or fluid-filled blisters (vesicles), especially on the bottoms of the feet, and ulcerative infections where open sores (ulcers) appear between the toes and/or bottom of the foot. 

Athlete’s foot is very common since it can spread easily, especially in those who frequently play sports or visit shared spaces like swimming pools, saunas, and locker rooms where the fungus can spread on contaminated damp surfaces. It is most common in people assigned male at birth and those over the age of 60. Those with a weakened immune system, tissue damage or wounds on the feet, and underlying conditions like diabetes and obesity are at an increased risk of fungal infections like athlete’s foot.

What Are The Possible Causes of Athlete’s Foot?

Athlete’s foot is caused by an infection with fungi called dermatophytes. Like other types of ringworm, athlete’s foot is caused by several different species of fungi belonging to the Trichophyton, Microsporum, and Epidermophyton groups. These fungi are normally found on skin in small amounts but thrive in hot and damp environments where they can overgrow. 

The fungi that cause athlete’s foot are contagious and can spread by direct contact with someone who has an infection, by sharing contaminated items such as towels, razors, and hair brushes, or from contaminated surfaces such as damp shower and locker room floors, mats, or saunas.

Some people are more susceptible to fungal infections like tinea pedis. Those with a compromised skin barrier are more likely to develop an infection. Allergies that affect the skin or other conditions that cause skin dryness, like dermatitis and eczema, can weaken the skin barrier and make it easier for fungi to overgrow. 

Those with a weakened immune system due to an autoimmune disorder or medications, such as steroids, or from dysbiosis in the skin and/or gut are also at a greater risk. In addition, having poor circulation due to conditions like diabetes and neuropathy can make skin infections of the feet more likely.

Functional Medicine Labs to Test for Root Cause of Athlete’s Foot

Functional medicine laboratory testing can help uncover root causes increasing your susceptibility to athlete’s foot.

Blood Sugar and Metabolism Markers

Since elevated blood sugar levels and abnormal insulin function can increase the risk of developing fungal infections like athlete’s foot, several tests can be used to evaluate how the body is processing sugars. Fasting glucose looks at glucose levels when you have not eaten for several hours, while hemoglobin A1c measures the average blood sugar level over the previous six weeks. Insulin function can be assessed with fasting insulin and C-peptide, a marker that the body is producing insulin. 

Looking at these markers together can help identify insulin resistance, a condition where sugars remain too high in the blood, causing inflammation and damage to blood vessels and nerves, which leads to diabetic neuropathy and elevates the risk of athlete’s foot.

Another test that looks at many of these metabolic markers of glucose balance and insulin function together is the Metabolomic Profile. 

A NutrEval FMV is another functional medicine laboratory test option to look at overall cellular health, toxin exposure, and how the body handles oxidative stress, which can all impact general nerve health and the risk of fungal infections.

Comprehensive Stool Test

To look at balance within the gut, which can impact overall inflammation and immune system function that contributes to susceptibility to fungal infections like tinea pedis, a comprehensive test like the GI-MAP can provide an overall picture of gut health. This test looks at the balance of gut microbes, along with markers of dysbiosis, inflammation, and intestinal permeability, via measuring zonulin, a protein that impacts the permeability of the gut lining. 

Looking at the composition of the gut microbiome can allow for an assessment of pathogenic and commensal yeasts, bacteria, and parasites that allows for the identification of any imbalances in the gut microbiota, known as dysbiosis, which may be contributing to skin inflammation and make it more likely that fungal skin infections could take hold.

Heavy Metal Testing

Heavy metals can overburden the immune system and contribute to inflammation, which makes you more susceptible to fungal infections. A heavy metals profile measures any heavy metals that may have accumulated in the body and contribute to immune dysfunction. 

Additional Labs To Test 

While a physical exam is usually sufficient for diagnosing tinea pedis, the diagnosis can be confirmed by scraping the rash, culturing it, and examining it under a microscope to look for fungi.

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Conventional Treatment for Athlete’s Foot

Athlete’s foot is typically treated with antifungal creams. Products like clotrimazole, miconazole, tolnaftate, or terbinafine are available over the counter to address the fungal infection. 

In more severe cases or when an underlying immunodeficiency is present, prescription oral antifungal medications may be used for athlete’s foot, such as fluconazole, itraconazole, or terbinafine.

Functional Medicine Treatment for Athlete’s Foot

A functional medicine approach to athlete’s foot incorporates dietary, herbal, and lifestyle approaches to bring the body back into balance and clear the fungal infection. 

Nutritional Recommendations

Since fungal overgrowth is more likely when the body is out of balance, and the immune system is not working optimally, an anti-inflammatory diet like the Candida diet can help reduce fungal overgrowth. This type of dietary approach focuses on low-sugar fruits, non-starchy vegetables, non-glutinous grains, some fermented foods, and dairy products. 

Blood sugar dysregulation can make fungal infections like tinea pedis more likely. High carbohydrate diets can dysregulate inflammation and immune system function, especially in those with certain underlying diseases or conditions such as diabetes and metabolic syndrome. To address this, a diet that avoids sugars, including honey and artificial sweeteners, high fructose corn syrup, alcohol, and starchy carbohydrates like potatoes, may help to tame inflammation and reduce the risk of fungal infections like tinea.

Supplements & Herbs for Athlete’s Foot

Herbal remedies offer a natural approach to addressing fungal infections like athlete’s foot. 

Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil contains the substance melaleuca, which has natural antifungal and antimicrobial properties. It has been used for centuries by the aboriginal people of Australia as an herbal antiseptic. Studies show that a variety of dermatophytes, yeasts, and other filamentous fungi are killed by tea tree oil, making it a useful treatment for athlete’s foot. 

A randomized, double-blind study of over 100 patients with clinically diagnosed tinea pedis showed that 25% tea tree oil solution applied to the feet twice daily for four weeks resulted in significant improvement and cure of the infection in the majority of patients. 

Oregano Oil

Oil of oregano (Origanum vulgare) contains antiseptic phenols, including thymol and carvacrol, that can kill fungus on contact. 

Coconut oil

These essential oils can be combined and used in a base of coconut oil to apply to skin infected with fungus several times per day. Coconut oil has antioxidant, antibacterial, and antifungal properties. 

A study showed that coconut oil can be used as a topical emollient and antifungal treatment to treat athlete’s foot, with virgin coconut oil being just as effective as the conventional antifungal clotrimazole in reducing symptoms of ringworm.

Garlic 

Garlic can inhibit the growth of fungi, yeasts, viruses, and bacteria, as well as having potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. An extract from garlic (ajoene) has been shown to successfully treat athlete’s foot. Participants were treated with a topical solution containing either 0.6% ajoene, 1% ajoene, or the conventional treatment of 1% terbinafine twice daily for one week. Fungal infection resolved for 72% of the 0.6% ajoene group and 100% for the 1% ajoene group, showing great success with this herbal approach.

Topical probiotics

Like the skin on the rest of the body, the foot has a unique skin microbiome inhabited by various bacteria and fungi. If this microbial balance is disrupted, it can lead to fungal infections like tinea pedis.

Topical probiotics are preparations that apply beneficial organisms to the surface of the skin to help prevent the overgrowth of pathogenic fungi or bacteria, balance the immune response, and soothe inflammation. These topical treatments are under study for treating athlete’s foot by rebalancing the skin microbiome.

Complementary and Integrative Medicine for Athlete’s Foot

An integrative approach to athlete’s foot addresses the fungal infection and incorporates lifestyle approaches to prevent future infection.

Keep Feet Dry 

To prevent an overgrowth of fungus, it is important to keep your feet dry, clean, and cool. Dry your feet and the spaces between your toes well after getting wet from swimming or bathing. Avoid wearing rubber or synthetic shoes for long periods and change your socks and footwear after exercising, frequently washing them with hot water. 

Opt for natural cotton or wool socks that absorb moisture without synthetic fragrances or powders that can irritate the skin. Avoid walking barefoot in damp public spaces like locker rooms and shared showers. If an infection occurs, avoid scratching your feet to prevent spreading the infection.

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Summary

Athlete’s foot is a common fungal infection that causes itchy, burning, and scaling skin on the feet, especially between the toes. It is easily spread in damp, crowded areas like locker rooms, gyms, and saunas. Sweating frequently while wearing tight, closed shoes can also allow fungi to overgrow on the feet.

Functional medicine testing can help elucidate root causes that make you more susceptible to fungal infections like athlete’s foot and guide treatment with diet, supplements, and lifestyle approaches.