For you, it probably means sore, sweaty, itchy or even smelly feet — with a small dose of personal embarrassment and a touch of confusion on top. Well, let's clear a few things up (including your feet).

From a medical standpoint, athlete's foot is a skin infection caused by microscopic fungus. It exists in warm, damp environments such as changing rooms and showers at gyms. Unfortunately, athlete's foot is very easy to pick up when you are barefooted. It can even be contracted simply by touching the skin of someone who's already infected.

Because your feet also offer similarly warm and slightly damp conditions, the infection can grow, especially between toes. Once it has taken hold, the fungus feeds off a substance called karetin, which is a protein found in nails, skin and hair.

The diagram on the right will help you visually identify athlete's foot. The possible symptoms are as follows:

• Itchy feet, especially between the toes
• Burning sensation and inflammation
• Smelly feet (caused by bacteria)
• Itchy, peeling skin between the toes
• Cracked skin
• Dry and flaky soles of feet
• Red patches on skin with a white, wet–looking surface
• Blisters