Athlete's Foot Fungus Information

Causes and Symptoms of Athlete's Foot Fungus

noreply@blogger.com (diane) — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 23:24:00 +0000

There are lots of way it gets spelled and searched for: athlete's foot, athletes foot, athelete's foot, atheletes foot, fungal foot, itching foot, peeling foot, athletic foot. Whichever way, if it's athlete's foot fungus you are interested in, you'll find the information for it right here.

What is interesting about athlete’s foot is that some people still believe that only athlete’s can get it. The fact is that anyone can get it. Some people are more susceptible to athlete's foot fungus than others. But in the right environment and conditions, anybody can get it as it is highly contagious.

The cause of athlete’s foot fungus is a ringworm, called tinea pedis. Despite the name, this is NOT a worm. It is a fungus belonging to the same biological family as molds, yeasts and even mushrooms.

The fungus can be passed from person to person by contact with an infected area of floor or piece of clothing. Itching and burning feet are the typical symptoms of athlete’s foot. Fungus symptoms might include the peeling of skin on the flat surfaces of your foot, like the ball of your foot or the bottom of your toes.

Another typical fungus symptom is the cracking and bleeding of the skin between the toes. As the infection worsens, the skin at the center of the infection can become red and hurt when touched. If the infection is not treated it can progress to a stage where the skin around it becomes white and there could also be a liquidy discharge.

There are more than one type of athlete's foot. In one version called 'moccasin foot', the symptom is a rash that appears on the lower portion of the foot. It is called moccasin foot because the rash appears in the pattern of a moccasin. Another type mostly affects the bottom of the foot. The symptoms are intense itching and raised bumps or ridges under the skin.

If you think the burning, itching, peeling or rash that you have are the symptoms of athlete's foot, you can check out some of the images at the link to the University of Iowa site in the upper right hand corner. (Of course this does not take the place of seeing a professional health care provider.)

How to Prevent Getting Athlete's Foot Fungus

noreply@blogger.com (diane) — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 18:50:00 +0000

The best way to prevent getting athlete’s foot fungus is by never going barefoot and never sharing socks or footwear.

Athlete's foot fungus loves moist, warm and/or irritated skin. Primary locations for picking up athlete’s foot fungus can be public showers, locker rooms, and pool side. Keep in mind that any surface that is wet can be a source for contacting athlete's foot fungus. Due to the heat and more people walking barefoot, the condition is more common during the summer months. Prevent getting athlete's foot fungus by wearing some type of footwear, especially when outside your own home.

A new location that developed recently for picking up athlete’s foot is airport security. With the requirement to remove ones shoes, there are now, literally, 1000s of people walking the same path you will be walking. Most have socks on but a lot of them don’t. Some airports provide disposable slippers for passengers but you can’t count on them being available. To prevent picking up athlete's foot fungus while going through airport security either wear socks or bring your own disposable feet wraps to protect your feet.

Protect your feet by changing your socks every day. Prevent reinfections by washing them in hot water with bleach.

Whenever possible (in your own home?) go barefoot to allow the air to keep your feet dry. Wear sandals, if you can. Never wear the same shoes all of the time.

The next best thing you can do to prevent getting athlete’s foot fungus is to keep your feet clean and dry. Wash your feet daily with soap and water. Use a clean towel and dry thoroughly between your toes. Let your feet air dry.

When you are away from home, never, never, ever go barefoot. If you travel, use ultra soles to protect your feet in the bathroom and when you are showering.

Make sure your feet are thoroughly dry before putting your socks on and, if you are particularly susceptible to athlete's foot fungus, use Derman Antifungal Powder. Or, for a more natural approach, use boric acid powder.

Buy shoes that are breathable. Vinyl sneakers, for instance, don’t breath and your feet will stay moist. Shoes made out of leather are good. Sneakers with ventilation holes in them are a good option.

Wear socks that wick water away from your feet. There are socks made of synthetic materials that will do this. Natural fibers like cotton and wool also work.

Depending upon your lifestyle, use an anti-fungal product regularly to decrease the chance of getting a full blown attack of athlete's foot. If, for instance, you are a lifeguard, you might want to use an antifungal cream daily. On the other hand, if you are in good shoes and socks on a daily basis, the Derman Antifungal Powder would be a good option.

How to Treat and Cure Athlete's Foot Fungus

noreply@blogger.com (diane) — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 17:00:00 +0000

There are many possible ways to treat athlete's foot fungus. Some of the cures are natural home remedies. Some treatments use over-the-counter medications. And some require seeing a physician. Whether you use a traditional or natural remedy, the most important thing is to start treatment as soon as the first symptoms of foot fungus appear.

For traditional treatment of athlete's foot:

At the first sign of the itching or burning of athlete's foot, start using an anti-fungal athlete’s foot powder in your shoes and socks. At night use one of the many anti-fungal creams that are available over-the-counter.

Some brand names for nonprescription antifungals are Lamisil and Tinactin. They are available in many forms such as sprays, ointments and/or powder. All are topical medicines in that they are applied to the skin. And you may find that one works better for you than another as they all have different active ingredients.

Use these treatments for at least 4 weeks. Even if the symptoms go away, there could still be some athlete's foot fungus remaining.

If you are not sure which to use, ask your pharmacist for a recommendation. Treatment with nonprescription antifungals will usually cure mild athlete's foot that is caught early.

If the symptoms do not go away after 4 weeks see a health care professional. However, if the symptom worsen or there is redness or swelling, do not wait. See a health care professional immediately.

For natural treatment of athlete's foot:

For a natural anti-fungal powder, you can use boric acid powder. Boric acid powder is a strong antifungal agent and the powder serves a dual purpose of killing the fungus and keeping your feet dry.

White vinegar is also used as a natural cure for foot fungus. You’ll need something large enough to hold a gallon of water and your feet. To the water, add half a cup of white vinegar. Soak your feet for about 10-15 minutes and do that twice a day. Let your feet air dry.

Tea tree oil is a natural remedy for athlete's foot fungus. Wet a q-tip with the oil and thoroughly saturate the affected skin. Then let your feet air dry. Repeat daily for up to a week. Use care with the tea tree oil, if you have sensitive skin, as people have been known to develop a rash from it.

After any of the natural treatments, use the boric acid powder to keep your feet dry.

Whether you use a traditional or natural remedy for your foot fungus, if the area becomes worse, if it becomes painful, bleeds, red, or infected, see a health care professional for treatment. The skin affected by athlete's foot can leave your body open to infection to the point where an antibiotic might be required.

Also, more serious athlete's foot infections, including the moccasin type, are usually treated with an oral antifungal medication. Since all oral antifungal medications can affect the liver, your doctor will probably perform monthly blood tests to evaluate liver function.

Never ignore the symptoms of athlete's foot fungus. They will not go away by itself.

Predisposed to Athlete's Foot Fungus

noreply@blogger.com (diane) — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 02:27:00 +0000

Athlete’s foot is definitely more common in athletes. Sweaty feet, wet shoes and socks, locker room floors are all contributing factors. Yet some athletes never get athlete’s foot because they are not predisposed to it.

Are you predisposed to athlete’s foot? The fungal spores can survive for months, even years, on the floors of bathrooms, locker rooms and swimming pools. If you are predisposed to athlete’s foot, it doesn’t take much to infect or re-infect yourself.

There are several factors that might determine whether or not someone is more predisposed to getting athlete’s foot fungus than someone else. Some of those factors are:

1) They’ve already had athlete’s foot fungus at least once in their life. That alone makes one more susceptible to athlete’s foot fungus in the future.

2) Because of either professional or recreational activities, they are more exposed to the spores, such as those on locker room floors and showers

3) Frequent travelers are more exposed to the spores on hotel room carpets and bathrooms, and swimming pool and hot tub areas.

4) People whom, either professionally or recreationally, wear airtight and/or watertight footwear.

5) People who have skin that produces less fatty acid, which is a natural antifungal agent.

6) Having normally sweaty feet can increase ones predisposition to athlete’s foot.

7) People with some form of immune deficiency are more prone to athlete’s foot.

8) People with poor foot circulation are also more prone to athlete’s foot.

9) Being diabetic is a serious risk factor as diabetics are significantly more likely to have a fungal infection than non-diabetics.

If you fit into any of the categories above, it is very important to take proper care of your feet to prevent getting athlete’s foot fungus.

Travel and come home WITHOUT Athlete's Foot Fungus

noreply@blogger.com (diane) — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 00:02:00 +0000

Statistically, 70% of people will, at some point, get athlete's foot. If your feet are in a closed and moist environment, you are a good candidate for contracting athlete's foot fungus. So how can you protect yourself when you travel and you are in your shoes for hours and hours?

If you need to fly, your first potential area of infection is now the airport security area. You, along with all the other passengers, must now remove your footwear before walking through the metal detector. Protect yourself by always wearing shoes (or sneakers) and socks when you travel. Never wear sandals or you’ll be walking, barefoot, the same path as literally thousands of other people. What a perfect place to get infected.

Wear socks made of absorbent material, material that will pull moisture away from your feet. Wear breathable shoes or sneakers. Use anti-fungal powder before your trip. Pour some into your socks before putting them on. If you’ll be wearing the same socks for longer than 10 hours, have an extra pair of socks with you. Change into the clean ones as your goal is to keep your feet clean and dry.

In hotel rooms, never, ever put a bare foot down onto the floor. That includes the carpet, the bathroom and the shower. Wear slippers or flip-flops in the room and down the hall. After your shower, dry your feet thoroughly before putting your socks on.

Going to enjoy the pool or hot tub at your hotel? Wear something on your feet until you get right to pool or spa side. The damp, warm environment surrounding pools is an excellent breeding environment for the fungus.

Do you have time to relax in your room? Remove your shoes and socks and put your feet up. Allow the air to circulate around them.

Keeping your feet cool and dry, and not walking barefoot, will help you avoid coming home from your trip with athlete's foot fungus.

Acute Vesicular Athlete’s Foot

noreply@blogger.com (diane) — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 14:55:00 +0000

There are three defined types of athlete’s foot. Acute Vesicular Athlete’s Foot is caused by the genus of ringworm Trichophyton mentagrophytes. It is a blister-like infection and it usually appears suddenly. It can be quite severe but it is also easily treated.

Commonly known as jungle rot, a sudden outbreak of blisters is usually the sign of vesicular infections. The blisters typically appear on the instep but can develop on any part of the foot including the sole, top, between the toes and heel. It is not uncommon for there to be a bacterial infection at the same time. The blisters become red and inflamed. There may be an initial infection and then the blisters may erupt again. Typically a vesicular infection will develop after a long bout with a toe web infection.

As with moccasin-type athlete’s foot, the hands might also be involved, with blisters appearing on the palms and/or sides of fingers. It is also possible for the blisters to appear on other parts of the body such as the arms and chest. The blisters are the result of an allergic reaction to the foot fungus.

Several treatments are available for vesicular athlete’s foot. At home, you can try and dry out the blisters by soaking your feet in a Burow’s Solution (available over the counter) several times a day and using a Burow’s solution compress. Do this for 3 or more days until the blisters have dried out. Once the blisters have dried, you can then use a topical antifungal cream. However, if you also have a bacterial infection, then you should see your health care professional, as you might need a prescription oral antibiotic.

Chronic Scaly Athlete’s foot (moccasin type)

noreply@blogger.com (diane) — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 14:08:00 +0000

There are three defined types of athlete’s foot. Moccasin-type athlete’s foot infection can be very difficult to treat and the condition can last for a long time. It is caused by a genus of ringworm, Trichophyton rubrum, and must be treated with prescription medications.

Moccasin-type often begins with a minor irritation. The skin can be dry, itch, burn and/or become scaly. The scale is typically fine and silver in color. The skin underneath can be pink and tender to the touch. As it progresses, the skin thickens and the skin on the sole or heel begins to crack. As it progresses, the toenails can become involved, thickening and crumbling. It is also possible for the infection to develop on the palm of the hand. Typically, both feet and one hand, or both hands and one foot, are infected.

Moccasin-type infection is hard to treat because the sole of the foot is thick and does not respond well to nonprescriptions antifungals. Treatment often involves using a prescription antifungal cream that will penetrate into the sole of the foot. Sometimes, prescription oral antifungal medications are also used.

Once moccasin-type athlete’s foot is healed, it is very important to take preventive measures as re-infection is not uncommon.

Chronic Interdigital Athlete’s Foot (Toe Web Infections)

noreply@blogger.com (diane) — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 12:29:00 +0000

There are three defined types of athlete’s foot. Chronic Interdigital Athlete’s Foot, also known as Toe Web Infection, is the most common form of athlete’s foot. It is caused by a genus of ringworm, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, and the infection can appear quite suddenly. While it can be severe, treatment is usually easy.

The warm and moist environment between the toes is a perfect breeding ground for athlete’s foot fungus. Interdigital athlete’s foot is typically found in between (inter) the 4th and 5th toes (digital). The skin between the toes becomes moist and white. There could also be itching (more intense when shoes and socks are removed), burning and even a slight odor.

Toe web infections that are mild to moderate usually respond very well to nonprescription antifungal creams, lotions and powders. Apply the topical antifungal treatment according to directions, usually for four weeks. During that time, change your socks at least twice a day, keep your feet clean and dry, and don’t walk barefoot. (Additional treatment information.)

If the skin becomes scaly and peels and cracks, it is a sign that the infection is getting worse. A bacterial infection might be present. And a severe infection can cause further skin breakdown. A fever can develop if a bacterial infection is involved and the infection can spread into the foot and leg. At any indication that the infection is getting worse, or there is no improvement with nonprescription antifungals, see a medical professional.