Athlete’s Foot describes a fungal skin infection that develops on the bottom of the feet and between the toes. It affects the outer layer of the foot and can get very itchy and frustrating. Many people will experience Athlete’s Foot at some point in their lives, or even many times, because it is easily spread through sharing surfaces with those affected. It is medically referred to as tinea pedis which literally translates to ‘ringworm of the foot’ and gets the name ‘Athlete’s Foot’ because of its high prevalence among athletes.
A fungus (called Trichophyton) is the cause of Athlete’s Foot and is contracted through direct contact with the fungus. When
the fungus is paired with warm and damp conditions, it can quickly grow and spread
over the bottom of the foot.
This is why the athlete’s foot is often contracted from and thrives in showers, changing rooms and closed-in shoes.
Be careful, your toenails are also vulnerable to fungal nail infections. These are often difficult to treat, even in drier and cooler conditions.
If you have contracted Athlete’s Foot, you might experience:
Before any treatment can be started, we must confirm the presence of a fungal. Your podiatrist is expertly trained to know the signs and symptoms, and can differentiate athlete’s foot from other skin conditions that may have a similar presentation. If you have the aforementioned symptoms and your feet are also particularly odorous, you may have both a fungal and bacterial infection simultaneously. If so, your required treatment will differ from a fungal infection alone. Once the athlete’s foot is confirmed, you can start by doing as much as you can at home to keep the feet dry, clean, and away from sources of infection. These typically include:
To treat the fungus directly, your Podiatrist will recommend the right anti-fungal for you to use. This may come in the form of a cream, powder, tablet or other medication. This is best decided by your Podiatrist and pharmacist as oral medications can take a toll on your liver, so must be carefully assessed with regard to your overall health. If the infection has spread to your toenails, you’ll also need to treat the nails too. This can often be significantly more difficult than treating the skin alone as the fungus can penetrate the nail bed. Your Podiatrist will advise you on the best course of action for this. To learn more about fungal nail infections, click here. Throughout your treatment, care must be taken as the infection can make your skin very fragile and susceptible to damage.
Because fungus spreads so easily, care must be taken to avoid re-infection. Re-infection doesn’t have to come from another person, but can occur from continuing to wear your own infected shoes and socks. We will explain the best ways to minimise your risk of re-infection to keep the fungus gone. This can include anything from scrubbing down your showers with appropriate anti-fungal agents to hot washing all of your socks, bath mats and shoe liners with anti-fungal washing detergent.
At Perform Podiatry, we specialise in conservative, evidence-based treatments that are safe, effective, and suitable for patients of all ages. One of the most successful options we offer is high-strength salicylic acid therapy.
When most people think of podiatry, they picture orthotics, skin/nail care, or sports injury treatment. But podiatry isn’t just about what’s
happening mechanically in your feet, it’s also about supporting the body’s natural healing processes.
One treatment that’s gaining popularity in podiatric care is acupuncture — a technique with ancient roots and modern
scientific backing.
Even a few minutes of foam rolling per day can make a significant difference in your lower limb health. Focus on the calves, hamstrings, IT
band, and plantar fascia. Combine with stretching and strengthening for best results.
Read this blog to find out more about the benefits of Foam rolling.
Keeping your family on their feet and helping them to walk, run, play and exceed their goals is why we love getting up in the morning.
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