Athlete's Foot Treatment and Cure

Definition

Athlete's foot is a skin disease. It is caused by parasitic fungi. It occurs in between the toes. Anyone can get athlete's foot. Athlete's foot may last for a short or long time and may come back after treatment. The fungus that causes Athlete foot can be found on floors and in socks and clothing.

It grows best in a dark, moist, and warm environment. The perfect place for the athlete’s foot fungus is a foot inside a shoe.

Athlete's Foot Causes

A fungus known as a dermatophyte causes athlete's foot. This fungus requires a warm and moist environment. Wearing poorly ventilated shoes and socks that provide an ideal breeding ground for the germs that quickly multiply to cause athlete's foot. We can get a fungal infection by touching a person who has one.

The fungus can also be transmitted by contact with pets that carry it on their fur.

Most athlete's foot is caused by one of two types of fungus known as-

1. Trichophyton mentagrophytes and
2. Trichophyton rubrum.

Dogs and cats, as well as farm animals, can also be infected with a fungus. Often this infection looks like a patch of skin where fur is missing.

Symptoms

Most commonly, people experience the typical symptoms of athlete’s foot:

• Itching, most notably in the creases between your toes
• Redness and scaling of the skin in affected areas
• Cracked or blistered skin.
• Blisters or open areas, oozing and crusting.
• Discoloration, thickening and crumbling of the nails.

Athletes foot can sometimes be associated with onychomycosis, a fungal infection of the toenails. Less frequently, this infection may involve painful blistery lesions, which can be weepy and may have a strong odor.

Athlete's Foot Treatment

Treatment for athlete's foot is usually simple and if possible it can be treated at home by using nonprescription medications and taking care of your feet.

It is important to take the following steps to prevent re-infection:

• Keep your feet dry, especially between your toes.
• Wear cotton socks, and change your socks daily.
• Don't wear tight, closed-toe shoes.
• Don't go barefoot in public places. Wear flip-flops.
• Use a foot powder to keep feet dry. Simple corn starch makes a good foot dusting powder.
• Wash socks in the hot water setting of a washing machine.

A simple powder is an excellent treatment for athlete's foot. The fungus that causes athlete's foot likes to live in moist places. A powder will help keep the foot dry and prevent athlete's foot from becoming a problem.