More Podiatry Foot Care Articles
What Is Athlete's Foot?
Athlete's foot is a skin disease caused by a fungus, usually occurring between the toes. The fungus most often attacks the feet because shoes create a warm, dark, and humid environment which encourages fungus growth.
Not all fungus conditions are athlete's foot. Other conditions, such as disturbances of the sweat mechanism, reaction to dyes or adhesives in shoes, eczema, and psoriasis, may mimic athlete's foot.
Causes
The warmth and dampness of areas around swimming pools, showers, and locker rooms are breeding grounds for fungi. Because the infection was common among athletes who used these facilities frequently, the term “athlete's foot” became popular.
Symptoms
The signs of athlete's foot are
Dry skin
Itching and burning
Scaling
Inflammation
Blisters, which often lead to
cracking of the skin
Athlete's foot may spread to the soles of the feet and to the toenails. The organisms causing athlete's foot may persist for long periods. Consequently, the infection may spread by contaminated bed sheets or clothing to other parts of the body.
Diagnosis and Treatment
If an apparent fungus condition does not respond to proper foot hygiene, consult a podiatrist. If a fungus is the cause of the problem then a treatment plan, including the prescription of antifungal medication, will usually be suggested.
Fungicidal and fungistatic chemicals frequently fail to contact the fungi in the horny layers of the skin.
Topical or oral antifungal drugs are prescribed with growing frequency. If the infection is caused by bacteria, antibiotics may be prescribed.
Prevention
It is not easy to prevent athlete's foot, however, you can prevent infection by practicing good foot hygiene.
Wash your feet daily with soap
and water; dry carefully,
especially between the toes
Avoid walking barefoot; to help
in the shower, use shower shoes
Reduce perspiration by using
talcum powder
Wear light and airy shoes
Change shoes and hose regularly
to decrease moisture
By wearing socks, it helps that
keep your feet dry, and change-
ing them frequently will also
help if you perspire heavily
There are many helpful resources available today that you may reference for additional information about athlete's foot; a great place to start is the American Podiatric Medical Association. Visit www.apma.org to learn more about APMA.
