Athletes are not the only people who suffer from athlete's foot.
The fact is that anyone - man, woman, young, old, athlete or not - can get it.
The symptoms of athlete's foot vary from one person to another. Itching is the
most common symptom and can often signal the start of an infection. Other symptoms
include redness, burning, stinging, scaling, and/or peeling. Infected skin
(on feet or hands) can also become inflamed, cracked or blistered.
Athlete's foot usually strikes between the toes. It may then spread to the soles
and sides of the feet and to toenails. Once toenails become infected, it is difficult
to get rid of the infection completely - so prompt and proper treatment is important!
The official name of athlete's foot is tinea pedis. It is caused by small organisms called fungi.
Normally the skin acts as an effective barrier, it is home to may other small organisms like
bacteria that are harmless and actually work to fight off the invading fungi. Athlete's foot
fungi only become active and begin to grow when they are exposed to the right conditions - a warm,
humid, environment, a change in the condition of the skin, or a lowering of the body's natural
resistance.
Once the fungi have penetrated into the lower layers of the skin, they can be difficult to get
rid of. Medication must get through the thicker, often calloused skin of the foot, into those
lower layers in order to be effective. That's why treatment regimens must be followed faithfully.
While athlete's foot infections can be unsightly and uncomfortable, they do not normally affect
general health. Athlete's foot is most commonly contracted by walking barefoot on floors where
the fungi are present. Shoes and socks are also likely breeding grounds. Sweaty feet are not
the cause of athlete's foot, but the moisture that accumulates may make you more susceptible to
picking up a fungal infection.
Keeping your feet clean and dry is the important first step in both treatin and preventing
athlete's foot. Since moisture promotes fungal growth, after bathing use your own clean towel
to dry your feet thoroughly being sure to dry the hard-to-reach areas between your toes.
Treat the infected area with an effective antifungal medicatin. Your Darrington Pharmacists,
at darrington Pharmacy, can help you select an antifungal product that is right for you.
Because athelete's foot fungus prenetrates deep into the lower layers of the skin, it is
imperative that medication be used faithfully for about a month after all your symptoms have
gone away.
Hint: Jock itch and boyd ringworm are fungal infections similar to athelet's foot. Jock itch
appears as a red or brown scaly patch that is clear in the center. Ringworm is characterized
by ring-shaped red or brown patches that have raised, scaly borders and are clear in the middle.
Both can be treated effectively with an over-the-counter antifungal available at
Darrington Pharmacy.
