It is a very common skin disease, especially amongst teenagers and adult males. It is less common in women and in children under 12. It is not known why some people are more likely than others to catch athlete's foot. Athlete's foot is usually caught where bare feet come into contact with the fungus. The warmth and dampness of changing rooms encourages fungal growth.
Infection can also spread through contaminated bed sheets and clothing.
Athlete's foot is quite infectious. A person with athlete's foot has an itchy, scaly, dry rash on the bottom and sides of his or her feet and between the toes. There can be inflammation and blisters on the bottom of the feet. The blisters can lead to the cracking of the skin exposing raw tissue causing pain and swelling. An infection of the toenails can occur at the same time.