It smells bad. It's itchy. It's persistent. It's contagious. And it attacks the skin between the toes (usually the third and fourth). What is it? Fungus of the foot, better known as athlete's foot.
People usually get athlete's foot from walking barefoot over wet floors around swimming pools, locker rooms, and public showers that are contaminated with the fungus, which feasts on moisture. Athlete's foot has these signs and symptoms:
Moist, soft red or gray-white scales on the feet, especially between the toes.
Cracked, peeling, dead skin areas.
Itching.
Sometimes small blisters on the feet.