Athlete's Foot
What is Athlete's Foot?
Athlete's foot is a skin disease caused by a fungus, usually
occurring between the toes. The fungus most commonly attacks the feet
because shoes create a warm, dark, and humid The warmth and dampness of
areas around swimming pools, showers, and locker rooms are also breeding
grounds for fungi. Because the infection was common among athletes who
used these facilities frequently, the term "athlete's foot" became
popular. 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.
Symptoms
The
signs of athlete's foot, singly or combined, are dry skin, itching,
scaling, inflammation, and blisters. Blisters often lead to cracking of
the skin. When blisters break, small raw areas of tissue are exposed,
causing pain and swelling. Itching and burning may increase as the
infection spreads. Athlete's foot may spread to the soles of the feet
and to the toenails. It can be spread to other parts of the body,
notably the groin and underarms, by those who scratch the infection and
then touch themselves elsewhere. The organisms causing athlete's foot
may persist for long periods. Consequently, the infection may be spread
by contaminated bed sheets or clothing to other parts of the body.
Prevention
It
is not easy to prevent athlete's foot because it is usually contracted
in dressing rooms, showers, and swimming pool locker rooms where bare
feet come in contact with the fungus. However, you can do much to
prevent infection by practicing good foot hygiene. Daily washing of the
feet with soap and water; drying carefully, especially between the toes;
and changing shoes and hose regularly to decrease moisture, help
prevent the fungus from infecting the feet. Also helpful is daily use of
a quality foot powder.
Tips
- Avoid walking barefoot; use shower shoes.
- Reduce perspiration by using talcum powder.
- Wear light and airy shoes.
- Wear socks that keep your feet dry, and change them frequently if you perspire heavily.
Treatment
Fungicidal and fungistatic
chemicals, used for athlete's foot treatment, frequently fail to contact
the fungi in the horny layers of the skin. Topical or oral antifungal
drugs are prescribed with growing frequency. In mild cases of the
infection it is important to keep the feet dry by dusting foot powder in
shoes and hose. The feet should be bathed frequently and all areas
around the toes dried thoroughly.