Athlete’s Foot:
A Digital Perspective

Julie Sawyer

Computer Information Systems, CIS 116
Instructor: Jane Jarboe
October 7, 2004 Athlete’s Foot: A Digital Perspective

Athlete’s Foot is a common fungal infection of the keratinized superficial layers of the epidermis and can occur on feet, hands, hair and nails. Tinea Pedis, the medical term for this infection, is caused by Trichophyton rubrum, a fungal spore, commonly found on the skin (Morris). Special electron computerized microscopes are needed to properly identify any fungal organism growing on the skin because microorganisms can not be seen with the naked eye. The electron photograph above is a digital enhancement of a microorganism shown 10,000 times its actual size. Without computer technology, we would be unable to identify these microorganisms and consequently, unable to determine a medicinal approach for their eradication. Athlete’s Foot infection occurs when environmental conditions are optimal for fungal growth. Feet are the perfect host because of the warm, moist and dark environment created when wearing snug or plastic shoes or failing to remove damp socks. Athletes were first associated with this infection because of their regular use of tight- fitting running shoes (KidsHealth), locker rooms, and pools. However, everyone is susceptible to getting this type of skin infection because of increased usage of public pools, public locker rooms and public outdoor facilities, not to mention general exercise practices. Increased exposure to the exfoliated skin fragments of an infected person increases your chances of developing Athlete’s Foot.

The Superficial Layers of the Epidermis In order to understand how the Athlete’s Foot fungus grows, we need to understand a few basic anatomical facts about the skin. Again, computerized technology, together with electron-digital photography, is necessary for us to understand the cellular and structural components of skin. The outermost layers of our skin are called the epidermis and consist of five individual layers; the stratum basale, stratum spinosum, stratum granulosum, stratum lucidum and the stratum corneum (Marieb). All layers of the skin contain keratin, a fibrous protein which makes the skin tough. The stratum corneum, the outermost layer, consists of shingle-like cells, (dead keratinocytes), which are continuously exfoliated as the basal layer (stratum basale) produces new cells. The stratum basale of the epidermis consists of cells going through mitosis (cellular division). As the new keratinized cells are made, the older cells move upward into the next stratum, and so forth. Eventually, these cells reach the stratum corneum which is avascular, meaning, it has no blood supply. As the cells move further and further away from the blood supply, they become compromised and eventually die, sloughing off the body. It is on the furthest layer, the stratum corneum that the T. rubrum fungus thrives, especially upon thicker layers of stratum corneum. The soles of the feet and palms of the hands have more layers of stratum corneum than other areas of our body and, with a little help from us, become the perfect host for Athlete’s Foot fungi.

The Life of Fungi T. rubrum, the fungus responsible for Athlete’s Foot, feeds off of moist, necrotic (dead), keratinized tissue in which the keratin is utilized for their nutrient and nitrogen sources. They obtain their nutrients through the process of absorption which is why moisture is critical. T. rubrum fungi are classified as arthrospores and reproduce and grow by means of fragmentation, which produce more spores. These types of fungi require oxygen in order to grow and are classified as Eukaryotes because of their cell structure. Eukaryotic cells exhibit cell characteristics similar to humans, such as having a nucleus (or multinucleated), a cytoplasm of organelles and an outer cell wall. Other fungi are classified as prokaryotes and do not have a nucleus or cell wall making their division and growth very dissimilar to humans. The study of fungi; mycology, classifies all organisms into three specific categories; eukaryotes in which the cellular structure is similar to humans, prokaryotes which do not have similar cellular construction or similar divisible properties, and viruses, which require a host in order to grow. T. rubrum is a eukaryote and requires oxygen for replication and growth.

The Signs & Symptoms of Athlete’s Foot The signs and symptoms of Athlete’s Foot are typical of a eukaryotic fungal organism but are actually caused by our own cellular activity. Enzymes produced by the fungus cause the body to invoke the inflammatory response in an effort to destroy the fungus and this is what produces the signs and symptoms. Athlete’s Foot produces small bumps on the feet; especially inter-digitally, redness and scaling of the soles and cracked or blistered areas between and on the toes. Itching and burning are common symptoms and cases can be mild to severe. In an interview with Nolan Kisich, a 12 year old boy who frequently gets Athlete’s Foot, he states that “At first it’s kind of real itchy and then you scratch it and it feels way better. But then, the next day it feels real hard and burns.” This statement confirms that the inflammatory response can be so great as to create fluid pressure on the tissues, creating a sense of firmness when walking. The burning comes from the infection reaching the deeper layers of the epidermis and the pain receptors. Athlete’s Foot can be transferred to another person as well as the groin and armpit areas by scratching the infection and then touching other areas of the body (KidsHealth). If left untreated, severe Athlete’s Foot can lead to cellulitis, gangrenous infection or produce septic systemic infection and shock (medlineplus). Hair and nails can also be likely hosts for this type of fungus. Hair that is infected with the fungus will simply be destroyed and broken as there is no underlying stratum to initiate an inflammatory response.

Why are Men Digitally Compromised? Athlete’s Foot infestation is more common among men than women and less common in children for a variety of reasons. This is due to our lifestyle and fashion choice as well as cultural practices. Women often wear sandals more than men and pamper themselves with regular podiatry care. Boys often wear dirty socks more often than girls and tend to wear the same pair of shoes repeatedly compared to girls who have numerous pairs. Rotating shoe wear exposes the fungi to light and depletes moisture, killing or reducing the infestation to a point of atrophy. Men are also more likely to delay changing damp clothing, such as socks, during outdoor activities. Both men and women sweat more profusely than children simply due to physiology. Obviously, culture also plays a role. In arid countries where the absence of shoes is standard, Tinea Pedis is infrequent because the environmental factors are not present.

The Road to Prevention Finally, Athlete’s Foot can be prevented and we can all limit the transfer and infestation of T. rubrum by developing some precautionary habits. Washing feet regularly and drying them properly is vital as this eliminates the outermost exfoliating layers of the stratum corneum and reduces moisture retention. Wearing 100% cotton socks helps to absorb excess moisture and frequent changing of damp socks cuts down on fungal growth. Socks should be washed in hot water and dried thoroughly before wearing. The addition of a bleaching agent during the wash cycle will also kill fungicidal spores however, some people will present an allergic reaction to bleach and therefore it should be used with caution. Sprinkling the feet with an anti-fungal powder, wearing sandals, and wearing shoes made of natural materials all help with the prevention of Athlete’s Foot. The reasons for infestation of Tinea Pedis are numerous and vary greatly, but no one is immune. However, with proper prevention practices, we can all have pretty and pleasurable pods.
Works Cited
Kaiser, D. Doc Kaiser’s Microbiology Home Page Retrieved October 1, 2004 from the World Wide Web: http://www.cat.cc.md.us/courses/bio141/lecguide/unit2/fungi/mold.html
KidsHealth. October 9, 2004. (http://www.kidshealth.org)
Kisich, Nolan. Personal Interview. October 9, 2004
Marieb, E. (2003) Essentials of Human Anatomy & Physiology. 7th Ed. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Medlineplus. October 7, 2004 (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000855.htm
Morris, Brian. “Tinea Pedis” October 9, 2004 (http://www.podiatry.curtin.edu.au/encyclopedia/tinea/tinea.html)
Richardson, M & Edward, M. Model Systems for the study of a dermatophyte and non-dermatophyte invasion of human keratin Retrieved October 7, 2004 from the World Wide Web: http://www.dermatophytes.reviberoammicol.com/contents.php?115121