Athlete’s Foot: A Not So Fun-gi

/
41666603_S_feet_flat_feet.jpg

What’s red, flaky and insanely itchy on your feet? Athlete’s foot—a fungal condition that we see commonly at Texas Foot Specialists, and one that patients are in a hurry to get rid of once they come to us.

Getting Relief

Although over the counter remedies are available for athlete’s foot, they are often ineffective. At the first signs of this irritating infection, which often starts between your toes and then spreads to the soles and rest of your feet, you should make an appointment at our Houston (713) 664-6677, Sugar Land (281) 242-4448 or Pasadena (281) 991-0600 office. Our foot doctors, Bruce Miller, DPM and Gregory Mangum, DPM will be able to assess your infection and determine the right course of topical and/or oral medications to clear up the athlete’s foot quickly. 

Delaying treatment can result in athlete’s foot progressing to the point where there are oozing blisters on your feet and cracks in the skin. These can become entry points for bacterial infections that will harm your feet and the rest of your body. Athlete’s foot can also spread to your toenails and other parts of your body, as well as to other members of your household.

Avoiding Fungal Infections

Athlete’s foot is spread by direct contact. That means if you touch a surface or an object that someone else who has a fungal infection has touched, you’re likely to get it too. Below are some simple precautions that can help prevent athlete’s foot:

  • Don’t go barefoot in public places such as locker rooms, community pools, gyms, changing areas at beaches or clubs. Always keep feet covered with either flip flops or shower shoes.
  • Wash your feet every day using warm water and a mild soap. Dry completely, paying careful attention to the spaces between your toes. (Fungi thrive in moist, warm places.)
  • Don’t share shoes or socks or anything else that touches another person’s feet. If someone in your family currently has athlete’s foot, you can catch it from the bedding or towels they use.
  • If you get professional pedicures, make sure your salon follows appropriate sanitizing procedures for foot baths and tools. Bringing your own clippers, cuticle trimmers and other tools is the safest choice.
  • Keep your feet dry. Change your socks and shoes as soon as you notice they are damp. If you tend to sweat excessively or are particularly prone to athlete’s foot, use an anti-fungal foot powder each morning before putting on your socks.

If you think you have athlete’s foot, contact us today.