How Can You Avoid Getting Athlete’s Foot?
Feet hold many meanings for many people. While some find this area of the body too gross to discuss, others are infatuated. Regardless of how you feel about feet, however, you can likely agree that the one thing no one wants is to develop athlete’s foot.
As the name implies, athlete’s foot is a common and contagious fungal infection among athletes that primarily targets the skin on the feet. Although more common amongst individuals who spend a great deal of time exercising and sweating in the same shoes on a regular basis, anyone can develop this infection. Capable of spreading to the toenails and hands, athlete’s foot–also known as tinea pedis–is not life threatening, but can be a challenge to treat.
What Causes Athlete’s Foot?
Athlete’s foot is caused by coming into direct contact with an infected person or a surface that has been contaminated. Thriving in moist, warm environments, the fungus is most often found in showers, on the floors of locker rooms and near swimming pools.
Once infected, an individual may develop itchiness, flaky skin and cracking on the soles of the feet and between the toes..
Prevention Tips
As with most infections, the best treatment is prevention. Here are a few tips so you can avoid getting athlete’s foot:
Wear Shower Shoes in Public — Due to the fact that athlete’s foot is often spread in public places, you can do yourself a favor by wearing shower shoes, such as flip flops or sandals, when walking in pools, gyms, locker rooms and hotel rooms. Wearing shoes provides a barrier of protection between potential fungus and your feet.
Practice Daily Foot Hygiene — Washing your feet with soap and drying them thoroughly is an important step to preventing athlete’s foot. Additionally, you will want to wear socks made of natural fibers, so that your feet can dry quickly. This will prevent moisture from building up that could lead to the growth of unwanted fungus.
Only Wear Dry Shoes — Repeatedly wearing wet or sweaty shoes is a recipe for disaster. Be sure that you alternate your shoes each day, or that repeat shoes are thoroughly dry before putting them on.
Skin Laser & Surgery Specialists Can Help
If you suffer from athlete’s foot, the good news is that you do not have to suffer alone. At Skin Laser & Surgery Specialists of NY and NJ, we have years of experience helping patients heal their athlete’s foot, so that they can move forward with their life. If you live in New York City or New Jersey and are seeking advice from a trusted team, do not hesitate to contact us today.