Athlete’s foot is a fairly common but very irritating problem which is experienced by many people who lead an active lifestyle and spend much of their time wearing trainers for fitness and leisure. There are ways to prevent it and treat it which we’ll look at here.
What Causes Athlete’s Foot?
Essentially a fungal infection, athlete’s foot is common in adults and is caused by dark, warm and humid conditions. It is contagious and is spread by both direct contact and indirect contact. This could be by coming into contact with contaminated objects such as changing room floors and communal showers. It can also be spread through damp towels, shoes and socks.
Symptoms include itchy white patches between the toes and, in some cases, flaky and sore patches on the feet. It can also cause the skin to crack and bleed, which is very painful.
Let Your Feet Breathe
Because fungi thrive in humid conditions, athlete’s foot loves warm, sweaty feet, as it can live there and multiply. If you are a regular gym goer or live in trainers, make sure you give your feet a break and let them breathe a bit every day.
If you wear tights in cooler months, make sure they are breathable and not too thick or consider fishnet tights, which let air circulate. You can find a range of fishnet tights here.
Walk barefoot as often as possible, and change your socks each day; it’s best to wear cotton socks, which are more breathable. You should also avoid wearing shoes that are tight and choose for natural materials like cotton and leather rather than synthetics.
It’s advisable to have a separate towel to dry your feet and regularly wash it, and ensure you thoroughly dry your feet after washing.
Treatment
There are several over-the-counter creams you can use to treat athletes’ foot and alleviate the symptoms. While these will ease any itching or burning, they may not kill the fungus, and you should get medical advice if this is the case.