National Institutes of Health
- The primary NIH organization for research on Athlete's Foot is the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Athlete's foot is a common infection caused by the tinea fungus. It is not serious. Symptoms include itching, burning and cracked, scaly skin between your toes. Tinea grows best in damp, dark and warm places, which is why it often develops between your toes. It can spread to your toenails, as well, making them thick and crumbly.
You can get athlete's foot from damp surfaces, such as locker room floors. To prevent it
Treatments include over-the-counter antifungal creams for most cases and prescription medicines for more serious infections.
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)