How is athlete’s foot caused?

Athlete’s foot is mildly contagious and can spread through direct contact with the tinea fungus infection. Spread and infection can occur through skin particles left on shower floors, clothing, walking barefoot, or direct contact with an infected person.

The risk of developing athlete’s foot can also depend on your susceptibility. Individuals with an impaired immune system are at greater risk and those that have an open cut or sore on their feet can contract the fungal infection.

What are the symptoms?

Athlete’s foot can infect one or both feet, and there are different fungal infections causing different symptoms. Most common symptoms are itching, stinging and burning rash in-between toes, small blisters between toes and soles of feet, dryness and scaling on soles and sides of feet, thick/crumbly toenails that may be discolored, detached toenails, as well as ulcers and sores that leak fluid with a foul odor.

How is it diagnosed?

A doctor can generally diagnose athlete’s foot by the symptoms present.  To find out what fungal infection is causing your symptoms, skin tests, such as the skin lesion potassium hydroxide exam is the most common test for athlete’s foot.

For a skin lesion exam, a doctor will scrape off a small area of the infected skin and place it in a solution of potassium hydroxide. The solution removes normal cells, leaving the fungal cells untouched, so they are easy to extract and view under a microscope.

What are the treatments?

Minor cases of athlete’s foot can often be treated with over-the-counter topical antifungal medications without a prescription. For chronic cases or if OTC medications don’t relieve your infection, topical or oral prescription-strength antifungal medications can be prescribed by your doctor. Our specialists can assist with home remedies and treatments to cure your athlete’s foot problems.

What is the prognosis?

With timely care and treatment, most cases of athlete’s foot can be treated with OTC or prescription medication along with clean hygiene. More severe complications can occur if left untreated or if a secondary bacterial infection develops.

In this case, your foot can develop symptoms of swelling, pain, and burning sensation. Blistering, pus, drainage, and fever are additional signs of advanced bacterial infection. The bacterial infection can spread to the lymph system, causing infections of your lymphatic system and lymph nodes. With the help of SootheRx, you can get the treatment you need and live symptom-free.

How is it prevented?

The tinea fungus that causes athlete’s foot may be contracted while walking barefoot or touching an infected object and then touching the feet. Always wear shower shoes, flip-flops, or sandals when walking around pools, gyms, shower or locker areas, and hotel rooms.

Keeping your feet dry helps prevent athlete’s foot. The fungus thrives in warm, moist areas like thick or tight socks, sweaty shoes, and in humid conditions.

When the weather is hot, wearing sandals or flip-flops helps prevent the environment that breeds the fungus. Shoes made from synthetic materials, such as plastic and rubber are prone to cause sweating.

Wash your feet daily with soap and dry feet completely before putting on socks and shoes or sandals.

Wear socks made from natural fabrics that dry quickly and wick moisture away from the skin. Change socks daily at minimum and any time socks get wet.

Alternate your shoes you wear each day, if possible. This will ensure shoes are dry each time you wear them.

If you live with or are around someone who has athlete’s foot, do not share towels, clothing, or shoes, as athlete’s foot is contagious. Always wear slippers, sandals, or shoes in areas where infected feet have been.

Along with the above preventative measures, having a healthy diet and good hygiene is the best prevention for athlete’s foot, but sometimes, you require personalized medical treatment and that is where SootheRx will come to the rescue. Talk with our medical professionals if you have athlete’s foot for proper treatment and prevention.