Athlete's foot is a common fungal infection that affects the skin of the toes and feet. This fungus thrives in moist, warm areas, which makes individuals, like athletes who sweat excessively and wear closed shoes, particular prone to this infection. It is also contagious and can be contracted from sharing showers with others who have the infection, or can be passed from direct contact with someone with the fungal infection.
Symptoms
Common symptoms of athlete's foot include cracked flaky skin, peeling of skin between toes and along the sides of the feet, itchy red skin, pain that is accompanied with stinging or burning sensations and oozing blisters that form crusts. The fungus can also spread to the toenails causing the nails to become crumbly, thick and discolored.
Treating Mild Cases
Athlete's foot can be very difficult to cure as it often begins to heal, only to return again. This is often the case in individuals who must wear closed shoes while working in warm and damp environments. For mild cases of this infection, over-the-counter fungal medications may provide relief, although they should be used for a couple of weeks after the fungus has cleared up. If athlete's foot becomes severe, a doctor should be seen.
Treating Severe Cases
Diagnosing athlete's foot consists of taking a skin specimen from the foot and performing a microscopic examination known as a KOH test to determine if the infection is due to the tinea fungus. This test can be done within minutes, allowing the doctor to confirm the diagnosis immediately and begin the proper treatment. The doctor can prescribe stronger anti-fungal medications, which can be more effective at treating severe cases. Athlete's foot doctors in VA can also prescribe anti-fungal oral medications to help treat the infection systemically while at the same time using an external anti-fungal cream or powder. Another important part of treatment is taking measures to prevent the fungus from continuing to grow. Although medications can be effective at curing the fungal infection, without keeping the feet clean and dry, the fungus will be more difficult to cure.
Prevention
Individuals who are more at risk of developing athlete's foot should take preventative measures to reduce their chances of developing this condition, as well as preventing its reoccurrence. This includes not only keeping feet clean and dry, but also changing socks often, wearing flip-flops or sandals when using shared showers and using a medicated powder regularly. Shoes should be well ventilated and if shoes become damp, they should be taken off and a replaced with a dry pair.
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