What athlete's foot is and how you catch it

Athlete's foot, medically called tinea pedis , is a skin infection caused by dermatophytes — fungi that live on dead skin and feed on keratin. It is one of the most common skin infections in the world and has nothing to do with being an athlete, except that sweaty sports shoes and changing-room floors give the fungus everything it needs.

You catch it by walking barefoot on damp surfaces where the fungus has been shed — showers, pool decks, gyms, hotel bathrooms and the floors of public bathhouses — or by sharing towels, socks and shoes. Once on the skin, it grows best where the foot stays warm and wet, which is why the narrow spaces between the fourth and fifth toes are usually affected first.

In Korea, two things raise the odds for visitors: hot, humid summers, and the culture of jjimjilbang bathhouses and saunas with shared slippers. Neither is a reason to avoid them; simple precautions are enough.

Symptoms: how to recognise it

There are three common patterns. The interdigital type causes itching, peeling, cracking and white, soggy skin between the toes. The moccasin type causes fine, dry scaling over the sole and sides of the foot, often mistaken for dry skin. The vesicular type produces small, itchy blisters, often on the instep. Many people have a mix.

Several other conditions look similar, including eczema, contact dermatitis from shoe materials, psoriasis and bacterial infections between the toes. If the rash does not behave like athlete's foot or does not respond to antifungal cream, a doctor should confirm what it is. Persistent foot odour can also be linked; see our guide to foot odour medical treatments in Korea.

Treating athlete's foot yourself

Most mild cases respond well to over-the-counter treatment. Wash and dry the feet thoroughly, then apply an antifungal cream to the rash and a margin of normal-looking skin around it. Terbinafine often clears infection in one to two weeks; azole creams such as clotrimazole or miconazole usually need two to four weeks. The most common mistake is stopping as soon as the itch goes; continue for a week or two after the skin looks normal.

Pharmacies (yakguk, 약국) around Jongno 3-ga station, Insadong and Myeongdong stock antifungal creams, sprays and powders. Showing the pharmacist a photo of the rash, or the generic name of the medicine you use at home, makes it easy to get the right product even without much Korean.

Do not use steroid creams on their own for a rash you suspect is fungal. They can calm the itch while letting the fungus spread, and combination products should only be used on a doctor's advice.

When to see a doctor near Jongno

See a doctor if the rash has not improved after two weeks of correct treatment, keeps returning, spreads to the nails, hands or groin, forms large blisters, or if cracks become red, swollen, hot or start to ooze. People with diabetes, poor circulation or a weakened immune system should see a doctor early, because broken skin between the toes can become a route for serious bacterial infection; our diabetic foot care guide explains why.

A doctor can confirm the diagnosis by scraping a little skin for a KOH microscopy test , which often gives an answer the same day, and may send a culture. Treatment may then be a stronger topical, an oral antifungal for widespread infection, or an antibiotic if bacteria have moved in. If the toenails are involved, read our guide to thick toenail treatment in Myeongdong, because untreated nail fungus constantly reinfects the skin.

Treatment options compared

Treatment choice depends on how widespread the infection is and whether the nails are involved. For a short trip, a topical antifungal started in Seoul can be finished at home without any follow-up for most people. Oral antifungals need a prescription and a doctor's review of your other medicines and liver health.

Special situations: children, pregnancy and sensitive skin

Athlete's foot is less common in young children, and a scaly, itchy rash on a child's foot is more often eczema or friction dermatitis, so it is worth a doctor's look before using antifungal creams. In pregnancy and while breastfeeding, most topical antifungals are considered low risk because very little is absorbed, but check with a pharmacist or doctor about the specific product, and avoid oral antifungals unless a doctor has prescribed them.

People with sensitive or eczema-prone skin may find some creams sting, especially on cracked skin. A gentler cream base, applying a thin layer to completely dry skin, and a bland moisturiser on the surrounding unaffected skin usually help. If the rash becomes redder, wetter or more itchy after starting a product, stop and get advice, because an allergic contact reaction to the cream or to shoe materials can look very similar to a fungal infection getting worse. Bring the product packaging to any appointment so the doctor can see exactly what you have used.

Preventing reinfection while travelling

Athlete's foot recurs easily because spores survive in shoes, socks and towels. Prevention is cheap and works well when done consistently, and it also protects travel companions who share a room.

If you plan to visit a jjimjilbang, bring or buy your own flip-flops, dry your feet carefully afterwards and put on clean socks. For hot summer sightseeing, a foot powder in the morning and a sock change at lunchtime make a noticeable difference.

• Dry between the toes with a separate towel after every shower, or use a hairdryer on a cool setting.
• Wear cotton or moisture-wicking socks and change them at least once a day.
• Rotate shoes so each pair dries for 24 hours, and use an antifungal powder or spray inside them.
• Wear sandals in hotel bathrooms, gyms, pools, saunas and bathhouses.
• Do not share towels, socks or shoes, and wash socks and towels hot where possible.

Getting around Jongno, and caring for the rest of your skin

Jongno is Seoul's historic heart: Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung palaces, Insadong's lanes, Ikseon-dong's hanok cafés and the Gwangjang Market food stalls are all within a short subway ride or walk of each other. That means long days on your feet, and warm, sweaty shoes are exactly what athlete's foot likes, so build in a mid-afternoon break to air your feet.

Our clinic sits between Myeongdong and Jongno, about a 6-minute walk from Jongno 3-ga and Euljiro 3-ga stations. Visitors often come to us for facial skin concerns during the same trip; our Jongno skin clinic guide explains directions and what we treat, and for sweat-related irritation on the face or body, our guide to redness and sensitive skin may help. If you are unsure where to start, the Obliv Skin Journal has more travel-focused guides.

Frequently asked questions

Related treatments and guides

Keep reading

• Foot Odor Medical Treatments in Korea
• Thick Toenail Treatment in Myeongdong
• Toenail Fungus Consultation Near Myeongdong
• Foot Skin Peeling Treatments
• Medical Foot Care Clinic in Myeongdong Seoul

Sources

1. Mayo Clinic – Athlete's foot: Symptoms and causes
2. Mayo Clinic – Athlete's foot: Diagnosis and treatment
3. Cleveland Clinic – Athlete's foot (tinea pedis)