Ask around any Sunday league changing room and someone will own up to it. Itchy gaps between the toes, skin that flakes and cracks, a bit of a smell that doesn't shift after a shower. Most players shrug it off, grab whatever cream is in the bathroom cabinet, and carry on. Then it comes back a month later.
That's athlete's foot, and footballers get it a lot. There are good reasons for that, and a few of them are fixable.
What athlete's foot actually is
It's a fungal infection of the skin, usually starting between the toes and sometimes spreading to the soles or sides of the feet. The fungus feeds on dead skin cells and loves warm, damp, dark places. Common signs are itching, red or peeling skin, cracks that can sting, and sometimes small blisters. It's contagious, but it's not a sign you're dirty. Plenty of very clean people get it.
Why footballers are so prone to it
Three things stack up against you.
Changing rooms and showers. The fungus spreads on damp floors, so barefoot walks between the shower and your bag give it a way in. Shared spaces mean you can pick it up from someone else without ever knowing they had it.
Damp boots. After a wet match or a muddy training session, your boots stay warm and moist inside for hours. Zip them into a bag and they stay that way. You then put your foot back into the same conditions a few days later.
Studs and heavy soles. Boots with thick soles and moulded studs hold moisture far longer than a thin canvas shoe would. Mud packs in around the sole unit, and the lining and insole soak up sweat. Dry on the outside doesn't mean dry where your foot sits.
Add in two or three sessions a week plus a match, and your boots might never fully dry from one week to the next.
Prevention that's actually realistic
None of this needs a big routine.
- Dry your feet properly after showering, especially between the toes. A quick rub with a towel isn't enough if the skin stays damp.
- Wear flip flops or sliders in the changing room and showers.
- Change your socks every session and wash them hot enough to do the job. Technical sports socks that move sweat away from the skin beat cotton.
- Take your boots out of the bag when you get home. Pull the insoles out and let them dry separately.
- Don't wear the same boots two days running if you can avoid it.
- Make sure your boots are properly dry before the next session. This is the one most people skip.
Where drying your boots helps (and where it doesn't)
Here's the honest bit. Drying your boots will not cure athlete's foot. If you've got an active infection, you need an antifungal treatment, and a pharmacist can point you to the right cream, spray or powder. It usually takes a couple of weeks of consistent use, and it's worth carrying on a bit after the symptoms disappear so it doesn't bounce straight back.
What drying does is take away the conditions the fungus needs. If you treat your feet but keep pulling on boots that are still damp from last week, you're putting a clean foot back into a warm, wet environment, and that's a big reason infections return.
This is where the Atacama fits in. You put the boots on it, switch it on, and warm air moves through the whole boot rather than just around the outside. A full cycle takes around 90 minutes, which is about the length of the match you just played. Leave them on after training, and they're properly dry well before you need them again. It's a preventative tool that works alongside treatment, not instead of it.
When to see someone
Most cases clear up with over-the-counter treatment. See your GP or a pharmacist if it hasn't improved after a couple of weeks, if it keeps coming back, if the skin is badly cracked, weeping or looks infected, or if it's spreading to your nails. If you have diabetes or a weakened immune system, don't wait. Get it checked early.
FAQs
What causes athlete's foot in footballers?
It's caused by a fungus that thrives in warm, damp conditions. Footballers get it from walking barefoot on wet changing room and shower floors, and from wearing boots that stay damp between sessions.
Can you get rid of athlete's foot by drying your boots?
No. Drying boots doesn't treat an infection that's already there. You need an antifungal cream, spray or powder for that. Drying your boots properly helps stop it coming back by removing the damp conditions the fungus needs.
How do you stop athlete's foot coming back?
Treat it fully, dry your feet thoroughly after showers, wear sliders in changing rooms, change socks every session, and make sure your boots are completely dry before you wear them again. Most recurrences come from going back into damp boots.
How long does it take to dry football boots properly?
With the Atacama, around 90 minutes. That's long enough for warm air to dry the inside of the boot, not just the surface.