We all know about athlete’s foot—the itchy, flaky, “why do my socks hate me?” condition that sets up shop between your toes. But here’s the twist: those same fungi don’t always stop at your feet. Sometimes, they decide your hands look like prime real estate.
Yes, athlete’s foot can spread to your hands. It even has a name: tinea manuum. And dermatologists often see it as part of “two-foot, one-hand syndrome” which is exactly what it sounds like: both feet infected, and one unlucky hand joining the party.
So what exactly is this unwelcome plot twist, why does it happen, and most importantly, how do you stop it?
What Is Athlete’s Foot on Hands?
Athlete’s foot on hands - aka tinea manuum - is caused by the same dermatophyte fungi (usually Trichophyton rubrum) that thrive on your feet. These fungi love keratin (the protein in your skin, nails, and hair), and your palms and fingers provide plenty of it.
Common symptoms include:
- Dry, scaly patches (often ring-shaped)
- Cracking or peeling skin, especially between fingers
- Thickened, rough skin on the palms
- Redness, itching, burning or stinging
- Sometimes small blisters
Because we use our hands constantly, infections here often spread wider and can feel even more irritating than on feet.
Why Does It Happen?
1. The Hand-to-Foot Connection
The biggest culprit is self-transmission. You scratch itchy feet, fungal spores hitch a ride under your nails, and before long, your hand is infected.
2. Environmental Spread
Fungal spores can survive on surfaces for ages. That means gym kit, shared towels, dumbbells, or even damp gloves can all act as fungal bus stops.
3. The Two-Foot, One-Hand Pattern
Because most people use their dominant hand to treat their feet, it’s usually just that one hand that gets infected. Dermatologists see this pattern so often, it’s basically fungi playing favourites.
Who’s at Risk?
Active, sporty people are most likely to run into trouble:
- Gym-goers & athletes: Shared equipment + sweaty gloves = fungal heaven.
- Manual workers: Gloves trap moisture, making hands a warm, damp hideout.
- Healthcare & food workers: Constant handwashing compromises the skin barrier, making invasion easier.
- Anyone with athlete’s foot: If you’ve got it on your feet, your hands are automatically at risk.
Underlying conditions like diabetes or eczema can also increase susceptibility.
Prevention: Keeping Hands Fungus-Free
The good news? Preventing tinea manuum is pretty straightforward if you’re mindful.
- Wash your hands after touching your feet, socks, or shoes (soap and water, not a quick rinse).
- Don’t scratch: scratching spreads spores and damages skin.
- Separate towels for feet and hands: fungi love damp towels.
- Wear gloves when applying creams or powders to feet.
- Clean your gym kit: wiping down equipment and washing gloves regularly makes a big difference.
Treatment: How to Kick It (Off Your Hands)
Topical Antifungals
The first line of defence is antifungal treatment. Most NHS guidance recommends topical antifungals which is fine if you’re okay with the potential ick of synthetic ingredients, or if you prefer a natural route you can use Funga Shield. Our antifungal powder, loaded with natural goodness (and no artificial nasties) is designed for athlete’s foot, and it works brilliantly on hands too. It tackles the fungus and keeps skin dry, which fungi hate.
Treat Feet and Hands Together
This is crucial. If your feet are infected, you must treat them too, or you’ll just re-infect your hands (whoops).
Repair & Recover
Once the infection clears, your skin may feel rough, cracked, or sore. Natural moisturisers restore the skin barrier and stop reinfection - our Sole Saviour cream works fine to hydrate and repairs cracked skin on your hands too, again using all natural ingredients, restoring your natural skin barriers so the fungi don’t get another chance. Just make sure you don't start using it until after the fungus has gone (adding more moisture will help the fungus thrive if you haven't licked it first)!
When to See a Doctor
Seek medical advice if:
- The infection isn’t improving after 2–3 weeks of treatment.
- It spreads to nails (which may need oral antifungals).
- You see pus, increased swelling, or spreading redness (signs of bacterial infection).
- You have diabetes or a compromised immune system - fungal infections need closer monitoring if that’s the case.
Athlete’s foot on hands is less common but surprisingly sneaky. It usually spreads from your feet, so if you’ve got itchy toes, keep your hands on high alert.
The fix? Stay clean, stay dry, treat both feet and hands, and show your skin some love with natural care. With Funga Shield for fungus-busting and Sole Saviour to help recovery, you can keep training, lifting, climbing, or high-fiving without worrying about flaky palms or itchy fingers.
Your hands and feet are the workhorses of your active life - don’t let fungi slow you down, and go get it!
Logan
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you get athlete’s foot on your hands?
Yes. When athlete’s foot fungi spread to the hands, it’s called tinea manuum. It often happens when fungal spores transfer from feet to hands through scratching or touching.
What causes athlete’s foot to spread to hands?
The most common cause is self-transmission: touching or scratching infected feet and then not washing your hands. Shared gym equipment, towels, or gloves can also spread the fungi.
What are the symptoms of athlete’s foot on hands?
Typical signs include dry, scaly patches on the palms, redness, cracking or peeling skin between fingers, itching, burning, and sometimes blisters.
How do you treat athlete’s foot on hands?
Topical antifungal treatments are recommended, but synthetic ingredients can cause other issues. Try natural powders such as Funga Shield which work by keeping skin dry and fungus-free.
How do you prevent athlete’s foot on hands?
Wash hands after touching feet, use separate towels, clean gym equipment, and avoid scratching. Treat both feet and hands together to stop reinfection.
