According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms of tinea pedis include an itching, stinging or burning sensation between the toes. This also occurs on the soles of the feet. Itchy blisters and peeling, cracking skin can also develop in these areas. It is sometimes accompanied by excessive dry skin on the bottoms or sides of the feet.

Tinea pedis also causes the toenails to become thick, ragged or discolored. The toenails may crumble or separate from the nail bed. You can also develop a toenail fungal infection called onychomycosis, another common disease of the nails that constitutes about a half of all nail abnormalities.

Over the counter (OTC) anti fungal treatments, such as miconazole, clotrimazole or tolnaftate, helps clear up the infection. Google Health recommends using it for up to two weeks after the infection disappears to ensure the infection does not return.

If it does not respond to OTC anti fungal treatments, prescription anti fungal treatments are used. Doctors typically prescribe ketoconazole or terbinafine. They may also prescribe antibiotics if there are infections on the foot caused by tinea pedis. Doctors can recommend the proper dosage and length of use.

Tinea pedis is prevented by limiting where the tinea pedis fungi can live. Preventative measures include wearing well ventilated shoes made out of leather, wearing sandals at a pool or public showering facility and completely drying both feet after it gets wet, including after swimming or taking a bath.

Other preventative measures include changing socks often, or once a day or more, to prevent moisture accumulation. Rubbing anti fungal or drying powder on both feet also helps keep them dry, preventing infection.