Athlete's foot is a common condition

Athlete's foot is a very common condition, which affects many people at some point during their lives. It is caused by a fungal infection, which affects the skin on your feet. The infection is normally mild and is easy to treat. Athlete's foot usually affects the skin in between your toes, causing it to be red, flaky and itchy.

The medical name for athlete's foot is tinea pedis. Anyone can develop the condition, although men and teenagers tend to be most commonly affected.

If treated, an athlete's foot infection will normally only last for a few weeks. However, if left untreated, this skin condition can last for several months, or even years.

Although not all cases of athlete's foot can be prevented, practising good foot hygiene can greatly help to reduce the risk of you developing a fungal infection.

For more information on foot hygiene see the 'prevention' section.