How to tell if it’s athlete’s foot or eczema

If you want to differentiate between athlete’s foot and eczema , you should judge based on their causes and symptoms. Tinea pedis is mainly caused by fungal infection, while eczema is caused by allergies. Tinea pedis mostly occurs between the toes and soles of the feet, while eczema can occur in any part of the body.

1. Cause

1. Eczema: It is mainly caused by allergic factors, such as allergies to dust mites, seafood, pollen and other substances, which may induce eczema and then cause skin damage. It is not contagious.

2. Tinea pedis: It is mainly caused by fungal infection. If you share a footbath or shoes and socks with someone with athlete’s foot, it is contagious. The pathogenic bacteria are usually Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Microsporum canis, Candida albicans, etc., which can be detected through fungal culture.

2. Symptoms

1. Eczema: It can occur in various parts of the body. It is also common on the back of the feet, and the boundaries of the lesions are unclear. In the early stages of the disease, red papules may appear in the lesion. In severe cases, it may be accompanied by symptoms such as skin itching and dryness. Sometimes blisters, erosion and exudation may occur. In the chronic stage of the disease, the skin may be rough and hypertrophic, and lichen-like changes may occur.

2. Tinea pedis: It usually occurs between the toes and soles of the feet, and the boundaries of the lesions are relatively clear. The main symptoms are skin itching or peeling. If severe, it will cause erosion and exudation, as well as foot odor.

The treatments for athlete’s foot and eczema are also different. When eczema breaks out, calamine lotion can be used to treat it, which can relieve the symptoms of itching. You can also take some anti-allergic drugs under the guidance of a doctor, such as loratadine tablets and cetamol hydrochloride. Tirizine tablets, etc. Patients should also pay attention to avoiding allergic substances in their daily lives, otherwise eczema may recur.

Tinea pedis needs to be treated with antifungal drugs. Ketoconazole cream and imifurazole cream can be used topically under the guidance of a doctor. In severe cases, itraconazole capsules need to be taken orally. Patients should also pay attention to maintaining foot hygiene. Avoid wearing shoes and socks with poor ventilation to prevent recurrence of athlete’s foot.