🦵 Similar but different 'athlete's foot' and 'eczema' - the difference is 'this'

Difference in presence or absence of causative agent

[Dailyan = Reporter Lee Jeong-hee] Eczema and athlete's foot, whose main symptom is crazy itching, may look similar, but they are completely different diseases. The difference between the two diseases is Presence or absence of causative agent Athlete's foot has a causative agent, while eczema does not. Also, athlete's foot is an infectious skin disease, while eczema is not.

Athlete's foot is a fungal disease caused by dermatophytes (ringworm) infecting the stratum corneum. It can appear on various parts of the body, including the head, body, skin, feet, toenails, face, and hands.

The main symptoms of athlete's foot are a sore and white discoloration between the toes, cracked skin, and peeling skin. It may be itchy, but in some cases, the skin becomes thick and sheds without itching. It is contagious.

On the other hand, eczema is a chronic allergic skin disease that is mainly caused by external stimuli. It occurs when the body reacts inappropriately to various causes, including substances encountered in the environment, or when an abnormal immune response occurs within the body. The possibility of transmission is low.

The biggest difference between athlete's foot and eczema is the presence or absence of fungus and whether it is contagious. Nevertheless, the two diseases have similar symptoms. Itching, swelling, blisters, and skin may become crusty. This can be confirmed by a doctor's visual examination or microscopic examination to confirm the presence or absence of fungus.

There are currently a variety of medications developed and sold for athlete's foot and eczema, so they can be prescribed after examination, and the success rate of treatment is quite high. Folk remedies related to this are widely known, but they are dangerous to follow carelessly.

On the other hand, athlete's foot and eczema are diseases that can be easily treated with a doctor's diagnosis, as both oral and topical medications are sold. Nevertheless, there are cases where folk remedies such as soaking feet in vinegar are used, but in such cases, severe infections or allergies may occur, requiring long-term hospital treatment, so it is advisable to refrain from doing so.

Reporter Lee Jeong-hee (jh9999@dailian.co.kr)