Athlete’s foot is a skin disease caused by a fungus, usually occurring between the toes. The fungus most commonly attacks the feet because shoes create a warm, dark, and humid environment which encourages fungus growth. Not all fungus conditions are athlete’s foot. Other conditions, such as disturbances of the sweat mechanism, reaction to dyes or adhesives in shoes, eczema, and psoriasis, may mimic athlete’s foot.

The signs of athlete’s foot, singly or combined, include dry skin, itching and burning, scaling, inflammation, and sometimes blisters. When blisters break, small raw areas of tissue are exposed, causing pain and swelling.

It may spread to the soles of the feet and to the toenails. It can be spread to other parts of the body, notably the groin and underarms, by those who scratch the infection and then touch themselves elsewhere. The organisms causing athlete’s foot may persist for long periods. Consequently, the infection may be spread by contaminated bed sheets or clothing to other parts of the body.

Dr. Kretch is Board Certified by the American Board of Podiatric Medicine and is an Associate of the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery. He currently serves on the board of directors for the Institute of Podiatric Medicine and Development.

All of these experiences have prepared Dr. Kretch for a comprehensive podiatric practice, where he employs evidence-based protocols in the surgical and medical treatment of foot and ankle pathology. He takes pride in utilizing cutting edge surgical techniques as a last result in patients who fail or would not benefit from a more conservative approach and he strives to care for each of his patients as if they were members of his own family. Outside of medicine, he is a huge Cavs, Indians, Browns, and Buckeye football fan.

If you have athlete’s foot, we invite you to call our office to schedule an appointment. You’ll find a tab to request an appointment and the phone number for our clinic conveniently located at the top of this page to get you started.