by | Jun 29, 2024 | Healthy Living
What is Athlete’s Foot?
Summer is here, which means it’s time to break free from the indoors and get moving! For many of us, this includes more trips to the gym and the pool, while others head for the river. Athlete’s foot thrives in warm, moist places, including your shoes. Start this summer with all the information you need to ward off this pesky fungus before it finds you.
Athlete’s foot (tinea pedis) usually begins with a fungus that often takes hold between the smaller toes. The fungus spreads through direct skin contact or by contact with skin cells that have flaked off an infected person. Communal showers, like those at gyms, are prime breeding grounds for the fungus. Our feet have an abundance of keratin, the protein on which the fungus feeds. Sores or cracks in the skin serve as open invitations for infection.
Not all athlete’s foot infections look the same, and while an infection might begin on the feet, it can spread to other parts of the body. If your feet become infected, you may notice:
- A burning sensation
- Soggy white skin between the toes
- Flaky, dry soles of feet
- Blistered skin over the foot with redness that is less noticeable on brown or Black skin.
Warmth and moisture are necessary for the fungus to multiply and spread. More than 3 million people come down with athlete’s foot every year, with infections increasing in the warmer months when heat and humidity soar.
Am I At Risk For Athlete’s Foot?
You may be at increased risk for athlete’s foot if you:
- Wear sturdy shoes or boots at work
- Have family members with it
- Suffer from allergies or eczema
- Have sweaty feet
- Have a weakened immune system
- Deal with circulation problems in the legs
- Run or swim regularly
- Use communal showers
- Are male or in an older population group
How Can I Prevent Athlete’s Foot?
The best way to keep your feet free of athlete’s foot is to practice proper hygiene to limit the fungus’s attraction:
- Keep your feet dry.
- Wear breathable shoes.
- Use antifungal powders.
- Avoid communal spaces that are hot and humid such as public showers, pools, and hot tubs. If you can’t avoid them, wear flip-flops.
- Take off your shoes whenever you can.
- Don’t share towels, shoes, or socks.
What Should I Do If I Get Athlete’s Foot?
The good news about athlete’s foot is that, although it won’t go away on its own, it is easily managed with proper care. Your neighborhood pharmacy is stocked with over-the-counter antifungal creams, sprays, and shoe powders that can help. Using antifungal topical medications should provide you with significant relief and healing.
If home remedies combined with antifungal medications do not ease your symptoms over two weeks, or if you have recurring infections, you should seek a medical evaluation. While a visit with a medical provider isn’t usually needed, if your infection isn’t improving despite your best efforts and you think you may need something stronger, stop by AFC Urgent Care Hickory. Our compassionate team can help you find relief.
Remember, if you’ve had athlete’s foot once, you can get it again. Be sure to make good foot hygiene a regular part of your daily routine. Stay proactive, stay healthy, and enjoy your summer!
