“Do you have athlete’s foot?” It might seem like an easy question to answer. But, many people who have sore or cracked feet incorrectly assume they just need more lotion or thicker socks, when in fact they have a specific strain of athlete’s foot.

Our foot doctors in Phoenixville and Media often treat patients who have a moccasin-type foot infection. In these cases, the skin on the patient’s heels or soles becomes thickened or begins to crack and bleed. Sometimes their toenails also thicken and might even fall out. 

Identifying Moccasin-type Athlete's Foot

Moccasin-type infections can make treating athlete’s footmore challenging for several reasons, including: 

  • Thickened skin.Since the skin on the soles and heels becomes tough, it is difficult for topical treatments to penetrate the outer layer. Patients might require oral antifungal medications to effectively treat their infection.
  • Toenail infections. A moccasin-type infection will often spread to the toenails, causing onychomycosis, or ringworm of the nail. A fungal nail infection affects both the toenail and the skin underneath and can lead to discolored, streaked, thickened, or cracked nails. 
  • Chronic recurrence. Even after athlete’s foot has been treated, a fungal nail infection will not go away without a rigorous course of treatment that usually includes an antifungal medication. A topical or an oral medication is often prescribed to prevent the infection from spreading and further damaging the nail bed. In severe cases, sometimes the nail must be removed to clear the infection. In other cases, the infection recurs even after successful treatment.

Contact Our Podiatrists To Get Treatment for Moccasin Athlete's Foot

Don’t take chances with your health—including the health of your feet. The trusted Philadelphia podiatrists at Healthmark Foot & Ankle Associates can diagnose and treat your foot ailment and show you how to keep it from coming back. Call us today for an appointment in Media at 610-565-3668 or in Phoenixville at 610-933-8644.

To learn more about taking great care of your feet, click the View Details button on this page and request our FREE informational guide The Foot Is Not an Island: Recognizing Vitamin D Deficiency & How to Correct It.