Introduction

Fungal infections are common, affecting various parts of your body, such as your hands and feet. Tinea manuum and tinea pedis are two related infections that may cause discomfort when you become infected.

What is tinea manuum?

Tinea manuum is a fungal infection that usually appears on your palms or the skin between your fingers. The condition mostly appears on one hand (unilateral) but both hands may sometimes be affected.¹

What is tinea pedis?

Tinea pedis is another fungal infection also known as athlete’s foot. As the name suggests, this is an infection that affects your feet. When this happens, you will often feel itchy and see peeling and scaling, especially between your toes.²

Are they connected?

Yes, tinea pedis and tinea manuum are both caused by the same type of fungi. These fungi are collectively called dermatophytes and they thrive on your skin cells.

Understanding the relationship between these infections can help you prevent their spread and choose the right treatment. Keep reading to learn how they develop, how they spread, and the best ways to manage them.

Causes and how they spread

What causes these fungal infections?

As mentioned previously, both infections are caused by the same group of fungi called dermatophytes (Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Epidermophyton floccosum). These fungi feed on the keratin in your skin and thrive in warm, moist environments like sweaty shoes, shared showers, and swimming pools.³

Athlete’s foot (tinea pedis) is more common, while hand infections (tinea manuum) usually happen when you touch infected feet. 

Sometimes, the fungus comes from animals (zoophilic dermatophyte). If the infection is from an animal, it may cause red, swollen skin with pus-filled bumps or blisters. This can be itchy, painful, and in rare cases, lead to swelling in the lymph vessels. When this happens, it is called lymphangitis. 

How does tinea pedis spread to the hands?

There are three main ways you can get tinea manuum from tinea pedis:

• Self-contamination – You can transfer the fungus to your hands if you scratch or touch your infected feet with bare hands
• Fomites – These are infected surfaces and objects, like shoes, towels, or floors, that can carry the fungus and spread it to your hands when you come in contact
• Direct contact – You can also get it from touching an infected person’s skin

Risk factors: who is more likely to get infected?

Common risk factors for both infections

Risk factors for tinea pedis (athlete’s foot)

You are more likely to get tinea pedis if:

• You wear tight, non-breathable shoes for long hours. The heat and sweat create the perfect environment for fungi to grow
• You go barefoot in public showers, swimming pools, and locker rooms, as these places are common breeding grounds for fungi
• You sweat excessively (hyperhidrosis), making your feet moist for long periods
• You have a weakened immune system which means your body cannot effectively fight off the fungus

Risk factors for tinea manuum

You are more likely to get tinea manuum if:

• You pick at your infected toenails or soles with your hands. This is known as one-hand, two-feet syndrome, where the hand you use to touch the infected feet develops the infection. In most cases, only one hand is affected, but in rare situations, it can spread to the other hand
• You work on a farm or frequently handle soil, where you may be exposed to or have a higher risk of exposure to fungal spores
• You own pets, especially exotic ones that could carry fungi
• You frequently injure your hands (e.g., small cuts or scrapes make it easier for the fungus to enter)

High-risk groups

Some people are more vulnerable to fungal infections because of their health conditions. You are at higher risk if you have:

• HIV/AIDS – A weakened immune system makes fungal infections harder to fight
• Diabetes mellitus – Elevated blood sugar levels may impair your skin's ability to defend infections
• Hypertension & Cushing’s syndrome – These conditions can affect circulation and your immune function, making it easier to become infected
• Immunosuppressive medications – Drugs like steroids or chemotherapy can weaken your immune system, increasing your risk for becoming infected

Symptoms: how to identify each infection.

What does tinea manuum look like?

• The skin on your palm, the back of your hand, or between your fingers may become thickened and dry
• A red, ring-like rash with rough, scaly edges and clear skin in the centre may appear
• You may feel itching, discomfort, or a burning sensation

What does tinea pedis look like?

• The skin between your toes feels itchy and starts peeling
• It may turn white, crack, and flake, especially between the toes or on the sides of your feet
• Your feet may look red, swollen, or scaly in more severe cases

Diagnosis: how it is confirmed 

Medical examination

Your doctor can usually recognise tinea pedis or tinea manuum just by looking at it. However, because tinea manuum can resemble other skin conditions (like eczema or psoriasis), they may require more specific tests.

Laboratory tests

To confirm a fungal infection, your doctor may:

• Scrape a small skin sample and examine it under a microscope. It will show segmented filaments (hyphae) if it is tinea pedis
• Use a Wood’s lamp—some cases of tinea manuum may glow with a faint green colour under this special light
• Perform a fungal culture to identify the specific fungus and choose the best antifungal treatment

Which treatment options are most effective? 

Over-the-counter (OTC) treatment

For mild cases, your healthcare provider may give you topical over-the-counter medications. These are usually topical creams, sprays or powders which you are to apply once or twice daily for 1–6 weeks.

Common OTC antifungals include:

• Terbinafine (Lamisil)
• Ketoconazole (Nizoral) 
• Tolnaftate (Tinactin)

Powders work well for tinea pedis because they keep your feet dry, making it harder for fungi to grow.

Prescription treatment (for severe or recurrent cases)

In cases where OTC treatments do not work, or if the infection is severe, your doctor may prescribe oral antifungal medications like:

• Terbinafine (Lamisil) – Usually taken for 2–6 weeks
• Itraconazole (Sporanox) – Often taken for 1-2 weeks
• Fluconazole (Diflucan) – Sometimes used for persistent infections

Using both topical and oral antifungals together can improve recovery.

Complications of untreated tinea pedis 

Leaving tinea infections untreated can lead to:

• Abscess formation – When fungi weaken the skin barrier, bacteria can enter and cause pus-filled lumps under your skin. These can be painful and may need drainage
• Lymphangitis – The infection can spread to your lymph vessels, causing red streaks on the skin, swelling, and tenderness
• Bacterial infections – Scratching the infected area can create open wounds, allowing bacteria to enter and cause cellulitis. This can make your skin red, swollen, warm, and painful
• Onychomycosis – If the infection reaches your nails, they can become thick, brittle, and discoloured, making treatment harder and taking longer

Home remedies & self-care tips

In addition to medication, here are some things you can do to speed up healing:

•  Ensure your hands and feet are always clean and dry
• Avoid scratching the affected areas to prevent the infection from spreading to other parts of your body
• Wear breathable socks and shoes to reduce moisture buildup

Prevention: how to stop reinfection

Even after treatment, tinea pedis and tinea manuum can come back if the source is not fully eliminated. If you keep getting reinfected, you may want to:

• Check for hidden carriers – Family members or pets might have the fungus without symptoms. Treat them if needed
• Disinfect and control exposure to fomites – Fungi can linger on socks, shoes, towels, nail clippers, and even floors. Wash, disinfect, and avoid sharing personal items
• Keep your hands and feet dry – Moisture helps fungi grow. Dry between your toes and change socks daily
• Wear breathable shoes – Tight, sweaty shoes create the perfect environment for fungi. Let your feet breathe
• Protect yourself in public places – Wear slippers in showers, pools, and locker rooms to avoid picking up the fungus again

FAQs

What is moccasin tinea?

Moccasin tinea is a type of athlete’s foot (tinea pedis) that causes thick, dry, and scaly skin on the soles, heels, and edges of your feet. It may look like eczema but it is not - it is caused by a fungal infection.²

Can tinea pedis spread to other parts of the body?

Yes, the infection can spread to your hands (tinea manuum) if you touch your infected feet. It can also infect your toenails (onychomycosis) or spread to your groin (jock itch) through towels or hands.⁴

Tinea manuum vs. eczema – how can you tell the difference?

Tinea manuum usually affects one hand, has a ring-like rash, and may be itchy or scaly. Eczema often affects both hands, causes dry, inflamed skin, and is linked to allergies or irritants. If you are unsure of the difference, consult your doctor to confirm the diagnosis with a test.

Is tinea manuum contagious?

Yes, tinea manuum spreads through direct contact with infected skin, surfaces, or objects like towels and shoes. If you have tinea pedis, avoid touching your feet to prevent spreading it to your hands.

Summary

Tinea pedis and tinea manuum are closely connected. If you have athlete's foot, you are at risk of spreading the infection to your hands. This is why it is important to avoid touching your infected feet and allow them to heal quickly. 

You should see a healthcare provider if your tinea pedis is not improving or keeps coming back. Treating it properly from the start can prevent it from spreading and leading to more serious complications. Taking care of your feet also means protecting your hands.