Fungal infections are very common. Fungi grow well in dark, moist environments, making shoes excellent breeding ground for fungus. Two of the most commonly seen fungal infections are athlete's foot and toenail fungus.

Athlete's foot occurs most often between the toes. The warm, moist environments around swimming pools and locker rooms are excellent breeding grounds for fungus. Because these infections are common among athletes that use these facilities, fungal infections of the foot became known as athlete's foot. The symptoms of athlete's foot are itching, dry skin, scaling, and inflammation. Itching and burning increase as the infection spreads. The infection can cause the skin to break leading to pain and swelling. The infection can be spread to other parts of the body by scratching or by contact with clothing or bed sheets. Regular use of public swimming pools and showers increase the risk of contracting the infection. Prevention includes daily washing of feet with soap and water, drying carefully especially between toes, and changing shoes and hosiery regularly to decrease moisture. In very moist conditions, absorbent foot powder may also be advised. Other preventative tips include wearing light, airy shoes, avoiding walking barefoot (use shower shoes) and wearing absorbent socks. Treatment includes the use of antifungal creams, solutions or foot powders. There are a variety of good antifungal preparations available without a prescription. Ask your pharmacist for a recommendation.

Toenail fungus, onychomycosis, often disfigures and sometimes destroys the nails. Onychomycosis affects 3-5% of the population of the US. The likelihood of having toenail fungus increases with age. Almost half of people age 70 or older have at least one nail infected by toenail fungus. The problem is caused by a variety of fungi. Tight-fitting shoes and stockings increase the risk of onychomycosis. Nail polish increases the risk of fungal infection. Fungal infections of the toenails are especially common among military personnel, athletes and miners, in part because fungi are spread in moist, public areas such as showers and locker rooms. People with diabetes, HIV, and circulatory problems are also more likely to develop toenail fungus. However, many cases have no clear risk factors. The nails on the big toe and little toe are most likely to be infected, possibly because of the constant irritation from friction. Infected nails typically turn yellow or brown and become thick and overgrown. Nails may begin to crumble and eventually fall off. They may become painful when they are thick and overgrown.

Toenail fungus rarely heals on its own. Even when the nail falls off on its own, the nail that grows is usually infected by fungus. Treatment may begin with removing as much of the nail as possible. This can be done by trimming, filing, or dissolving the nail. Milder cases may be treated with a medicated nail lacquer containing ciclopirox. More severe cases are treated with oral antifungal medication. Oral antifungal medications may cause side effects including liver damage. Over-the-counter treatment solutions contain antifungal chemicals that are applied daily to infected nails or nail margins.

All treatments require up to 12 weeks of therapy. Treatment must continue until the nail bed has grown out completely.

References: http://www.apma.org/s_apma/doc.asp?CID=371&DID=9386, http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/9339/24471.html

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