ATHLETE’S FOOT

We often think that athlete’s foot is a condition suffered mainly by teenagers. After all, they’re the ones tracking around in dirty locker rooms and wearing sneakers without socks. But don’t kick your feet up and relax just yet. Anyone can get athlete’s foot, and you don’t have to walk around a locker room to catch it.

The phrase “athlete’s foot” really is not accurate because it has nothing to do with exercise or sports. Athlete’s foot is caused by a mold-like fungus that thrives just about everywhere on your body – on your hair, skin and around your nails. Most of the time it doesn’t cause any problems. But occasionally the fungus is able to survive and thrive. When it does it can cause a variety of itchy skin infections – not only athlete’s foot, but also such things as jock itch and ringworm. The athlete’s foot fungus thrives in warm, damp places, which is why it grows so well on bathroom (or locker room) floors or on the insides of shoes.

It’s impossible to avoid the fungus entirely, but there are ways to keep it under control and to prevent infections from taking hold. Here’s what experts recommend for healthy, fungus-free-feet.

Kill it with garlic. For ages, Russians have used garlic to relieve athlete’s foot infections. There’s some evidence that they’re on the right track. Garlic contains natural chemicals that kill a variety of organisms, including the athlete’s foot fungus. The next time you have an infection, you may want to try peeling and mincing a clove of garlic, putting it in your sock, and wearing the sock to bed. Do this every nigh for a few nights. You should start to observe improvement within a few days. Or you can simply peel a garlic clove and rub it on the sore areas on your feet twice a day.

Keep them high and dry. Because athlete’s foot thrives in warm, moist environments, you can keep it under control simply by keeping your feet dry. One of the simplest strategies is also the most comfortable – going barefoot. This allows air to circulate around your feet and between the toes, which makes it harder for the fungus to survive. After showering, walk around barefoot as long as you can, then dry your feet thoroughly before putting on your socks and shoes.

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WHEN TO SEE THE DOCTOR
Athlete’s foot is rarely serious and will usually go away with home
treatments. If the infection lasts more than a few weeks, however,
you should see your doctor. There are other skin infections that resemble
athlete’s foot but persist without medical attention. You should also see
your doctor if the itching gets worse or begins to spread.
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Give them all-day protection. The same antiperspirant that keeps your underarms dry will work on your feet, as well. Applying an antiperspirant to your feet after bathing will help prevent sweating, making it harder for the fungus to thrive.

Powder your toes. Another way to keep your feet dry is to add some baking soda to the insides of your shoes, or lightly sprinkle some over your feet to absorb moisture. Don’t use cornstarch, however, which can encourage other types of infections.

Dry your shoes. To prevent athlete’s foot from setting up shop inside your shoes, doctors recommend giving your shoes a good drying between wears. You can use a blow dryer, set on low, to dry the insides of your shoes. Or make it a point not to wear the same shoes two days in a row, which will allow them to dry on their own. Putting your shoes on a sunny window ledge will help them dry more quickly.

Wash your feet regularly. By washing your feet with soap and water, paying particular attention to the area between your toes, you will help wash away the athlete’s foot fungus and help prevent infections from taking hold.

Don’t wear shoes without socks. Clean, fresh socks absorb moisture and keep your feet dry. Shoes are meant to be worn with socks. Stick with socks make from natural fibers, like cotton or wool. Other fibers don’t absorb moisture as well.

Don’t bother with flip-flops. There’s nothing wrong with wearing sandals or flip-flops, but don’t count on them to prevent infections. The key to prevention is keeping your feet dry, which open shoes won’t do.

See your pharmacist. There are a number of over-the-counter athlete’s foot medications that are designed to help kill the fungus. Doctors usually recommend using medicated powders rather than sprays because they have the added attraction of absorbing moisture. Using antifungal creams can add moisture to your feet, possibly making the infection harder to treat.