Four Symptoms of Athlete's Foot - The Texas Foot Specialists

Athlete’s foot like the term implies is a common foot condition among athletes. But this does not excuse anyone from being infected. Good thing about athlete’s foot is that it is not as resilient as its hosts. Treatments are available and it does not cost much and some could even be conveniently found in your kitchen.

But before we go exploring into the different way of treating Athlete’s foot we must first learn how to identify its signs and symptoms. Below are possible signs of Athlete’s foot.

1. Itchy and burning sensations on the feet and between the toes
2. Dry, scaly and flaky skin areas on the foot
3. Pain due to cracked skin exposing raw tissue underneath
4. Toes become thick and discolored

Just because you could easily tuck your feet inside a pair of nice looking shoes doesn’t mean that it is a medical condition that you could easily sweep aside. Athlete’s foot when left untreated can lead to complications. Touching the infection makes it easier to spread. Any type of foot infection can be serious for diabetics. For any sign of foot infection consult a podiatrist. Dr. Bruce Miller and Dr. Gregory Mangum are Podiatrists who specialize in foot care and treating foot disorders.

Treating Athlete’s Foot

Anti-fungal ointments are readily available. If Athlete’s foot is treated immediately, this could be done in as little as a day or a week. But if left untreated and allowed to progress, symptoms may last for month or years. If symptoms persist for more than two week consult a podiatrist.

• Soak the feet for 5 to 10 minutes in half a liter of warm water added with 2 teaspoons of salt
• Tea contains tannic acid a natural astringent. Soak your feet in a tea bath for half an hour
• Using yogurt as an ointment can help treat a fungal infection. it contains acidophilus bacteria which checks the growth of fungi
• Add a few drops of mustard oil into the foot bath. Soak your feet for half an hour.
• Let your feet breath. Wearing open shoes

Give these home remedies at least a few weeks to work. If Athlete’s Foot remains untreated, it can lead to skin cracks or open wounds that could cause more serious infections to set in.

 The Texas Foot Specialists located in Sugar Land, Pasadena and Houston, we specialize in helping people with foot disorders. To schedule an appointment call Sugar Land (281) 242-4448, Pasadena (281) 991-0600 and Houston (713) 664-6677.

You don’t have to be in Sports to have Athlete’s Foot - The Texas Foot Specialists

Almost everyone is familiar with the foot condition called Athlete’s foot. This is a contagious infection caused by a fungus. Signs of this fungal infection include burning, itching, flaking and dry feet. The fungus tinea pedis is responsible for Athlete’s foot. It thrives in moist and dark areas.

Nine common places of infection:

1. Gyms
2. Shower floors
3. Socks and shoes
4. Public changing areas
5. Common areas
6. Bathrooms
7. Locker rooms
8. Public swimming pools
9. Dormitory style houses

Consult a podiatrist for more information on proper foot care Dr. Gregory Mangum and Dr. Bruce Miller are Podiatrists who specialize in helping people with foot disorders.

How does the fungus spread?

• Direct contact with an infected person’s body part
• Sharing contaminated clothing
• Touching other objects or body parts that were exposed to the fungus
• Athlete’s foot is hard to treat considering the highly contagious nature of the fungus.

Most commonly affected parts of the fungus

• Hands
• Groin
• Scalp
• Feet

The feet is an ideal location for the fundus to spread and grow. The term Athlete’s foot is used because the fungus is commonly found in the area but this could easily spread to other parts of the body.

Some signs and symptoms of athlete’s foot

• Mild to moderate flaking
• Intense itching and burning
• Redness
• Cracking and bleeding skin
• Pain experience while walking or standing
• Formation of blisters
• Prevention and treatment

The best way to treat athlete’s foot is through prevention because of the recurring nature of the tinea fungus. There are a lot of helpful preventive measures that you can do to counter the fungus. Here are some of the preventive measures that you can do:

• Wear flip flops or sandals while you are in the locker rooms or public showers to minimize your contact with the floor.
• Keep your feet clean and dry. You can apply foot powders to help keep them dry.
• Allow your feet to breath. Expose them to light and cool air to prevent tinea growth.

If you already have athlete’s foot, use topical medicated, ointments, sprays and creams. These medications will help eliminate and prevent the fungus from coming back.

It has been said that almost 70% of the population had suffer from a tinea infection at least once in their lives. The Texas Foot Specialists located in Sugar Land, Pasadena and Houston, we specialize in helping people with foot disorders. To schedule an appointment call Sugar Land (281) 242-4448, Pasadena (281) 991-0600 and Houston (713) 664-6677.