The condition athlete’s foot was coined back in the day when athletes experienced a fungal infection from spending all day with feet sweating in their socks. Nowadays, athlete’s foot is a common condition among many people, especially those who enjoy spending their time in the gym. For those who don’t know exactly what athlete’s foot is, it’s a fungal or bacterial infection. This infection usually has people dealing with itchy toes, scaly or cracked skin, burning sensations, and even tiny blisters.
The best way to treat athlete’s foot is through prevention. By taking all the necessary means to eliminate the chances of this fungal infection, you will protect yourself and your feet from much discomfort.Once you do develop this foot condition, you will find you will need patience, diligence, and caution to cure and prevent it from recurring.
Athlete’s foot usually develops when feet are moist and warm (hence why athlete’s in sweaty socks were prime targets). This infection also needs dead skin to thrive, since it is a great surface for the fungus to grow.
How to prevent and avoid the return of athlete’s foot
If you are unsure as to how to prevent or treat athlete’s foot, here is the basic routine and steps you should take for it:
- Make sure to remove any dead skin on your feet. This means you will need to use a nail brush or file in the shower. Do this only if you are not experiencing any cracking skin or open sores.
- Feet must be kept dry. This is extremely important. You should always let your feet completely dry before you put on any socks or shoes. To further ensure dryness, a foot powder can also be used.
Wash your socks and towels in hot water. This will be sure to kill any fungus or bacteria.- Wear cotton socks. Make sure they are clean and change them daily or once or twice a day if need be.
- Rotate your shoes and let them dry. Dust foot powder used to treat fungus in the shoes to help them dry.
- Wear sandals or waterproof shoes if you are going to be in places such as a public shower or pool.
- Do not share shoes, socks, or towels with other people. Even if they are close friends or family. Many people do not know they may be already carrying the fungus.
Now if you already are dealing with athlete’s foot, you may want to treat any discomfort with a topical treatment that can be found without a prescription. You will need to follow the instructions very carefully to make sure the infection is gone. Most of these medications will require you to continue to use the product even after all symptoms are gone to prevent the infection from recurring.
If you prefer perhaps a more natural approach to healing your athlete’s foot, you can also use certain oils to help soothe and heal the skin. When these oils are placed directly onto the skin, it can relieve the irritation. Like with the over-the-counter medication, you need to follow the directions to avoid aggravating or furthering the infection.
