How To Prevent Athlete’s Foot How to Prevent Athlete’s Foot
The phrase “athlete’s foot” may be deceptive because this fungal illness can affect anyone, whether active or not. And once athlete’s foot has taken hold, it can cause a very unpleasant rash, which can quickly escalate into a more severe experience if blisters and cracks develop.
Our team of expert podiatrists at Neuhaus Foot and Ankle feels that the greatest strategy to dealing with fungal infections is prevention, which is why we’ve put together the following advice before the warmer months arrive.
Staying High And Dry In Public Sites Athlete’s foot, also known as tinea pedis in medical terms, got its name from the high occurrence of fungal infections among people who spend time in locker rooms and sweaty socks, two places where the fungus thrives.
The fungus that causes athlete’s foot flourishes in warm, wet, and dark conditions, such as locker rooms, public swimming pools, and gyms, as well as hotel rooms. As a result, the first, and possibly most important, prevention measure is to keep your feet high and dry in public places like these. This involves putting on flip-flops rather than going barefoot in the showers at the gym or locker room. After you’ve finished showering or getting out of the pool, make sure to dry your feet as soon as possible.
Peel off your socks and wash your feet as soon as you can, whether you’ve just returned from a game of golf or you’ve just gotten off the tennis courts. It’s easy to get athlete’s foot by staying in sweaty shoes or socks that could be harboring the fungus.
You should also wash your socks after each usage (never reuse soiled ones) and let your shoes air dry completely before putting them back on. Today’s apparel has come a long way in terms of breathable shoes and socks that wick away sweat, so we recommend that you take advantage of these advancements and upgrade your footwear, especially if you’re active.
Wash and Dry Your Feet On a Daily Basis It may seem self-evident, but washing and drying your feet on a daily basis is another excellent preventative approach. Many folks speed through this step of their bathing process. Use a mild soap and thoroughly dry your feet, tossing the towel in the washer if you notice any signs of athlete’s foot.
This daily ritual is best performed shortly before bedtime to ensure that your bed remains fungus-free (and a little bit cleaner and nicer smelling, as well).
When Athlete’s Foot Affects You If you get athlete’s foot, it’s critical that you do everything you can to keep it from spreading to others. You can keep the problem contained to your feet until they are totally healed if you follow the procedures above and make sure not to share any towels, socks, shoes, or linens.