Q: What causes the skin on the bottoms of my feet and in between my toes to itch and peel?

A: Athlete's foot is a common foot infection caused by fungi. Fungi are especially common in the warm, moist environments of pools, showers, locker rooms and other sports facilities, where people walk with bare feet. Once fungi contaminate the skin of someone's foot, the warm, moist environment of sweaty socks and shoes encourage them to grow.  Symptoms include itching of the feet, cracked or peeling areas of skin.  It is important to avoid walking barefooted in areas where others have walked barefooted. There is a highly effective prescription medication that is applied daily to the skin. Also, there is a list of daily recommendations for treatment of both your feet and shoes.