Posts for tag: athlete's foot
Athlete's foot is a skin disease caused by a fungus normally occurring between the toes. The fungus commonly attacks the feet due to the warm, dark, humid environment created by shoes. This environment is ideal for fungus growth. These conditions are also found around swimming pools, showers, and locker rooms. Because athletes use these facilities frequently, the infection is common among athletes and the term "athlete's foot" became popular.
The symptoms of athlete's foot are found alone or in any combination that include dry skin, itching, scaling, inflammation, and blisters. The blisters often lead to cracking of the skin and breaking leading to small raw areas of deeper layers of skin. This can cause pain and swelling, not to mention and a higher risk of infection. As the infection spreads, itching and burning become worse. Athlete's foot can also spread to the soles of the feet and toenails. It can also spread to other parts of the body when people scratch the infection and then touch themselves elsewhere.
Prevention of athlete's foot is not always as easy as it sounds. The fungus is picked up in dressing rooms, showers, and pool locker rooms, places where bare feet are very common. When using these places a few extra steps can go a long way in reducing the risk of coming in contact with the fungus. Using shower shoes and avoid walking barefoot in these areas is a great prevention. Daily washing of the feet with soap and water followed by carefully drying (especially between the toes) and quality foot powder are also excellent methods. Outside of the previously mentioned areas, athletes should wear light and airy shoes, socks that keep their feet dry, and changing socks frequently if heavy perspiration occurs.
Treatments with chemicals commonly advertised often fail to contact the fungi key layers of skin. For this reason, topical or oral antifungal drugs are being prescribed with growing frequency. If a person is still experiencing similar symptoms to those listed before after two weeks of proper foot hygiene and self care then it is time to consult a podiatrist. The doctor will determine if a fungus is the cause of the problem and determine a specific treatment plan often including the prescription of antifungal medication.