Think you might have athlete’s foot? Here’s how to treat and prevent it.
Itching, pain or redness on top of or between your toes? You could have athlete’s foot. Dr. Pooja Prabhakar, orthopedic surgeon at Baylor College of Medicine, explains the nuisance skin infection and how to prevent it.
Athlete’s foot, scientifically known as tinea pedis, is a fungal infection on the foot caused by an organism called dermatophyte. Normally, people will get it when their feet are exposed to a wet environment for a long period.
“If you’re sweating a lot and wearing socks, you’re letting moisture settle into your feet. There’s no opportunity for drying to happen, making it a good environment for dermatophyte fungus to settle into,” Prabhakar said.
In situations like these, Prabhakar recommends removing your socks as soon as possible to prevent fungus from growing. If you plan to wear socks for long periods of time, use a drying powder like desiccant powder.
“If you wear shoes without socks, you can put the powder directly into your shoes. Some socks have moisture-wicking fabric that can help to avoid getting moisture on your feet,” Prabhakar said.
Prabhakar adds that you shouldn’t walk around places barefoot, especially gyms or public showers. Have water shoes, sandals, slippers or something similar to protect your feet.
While itchiness, redness and pain on your feet and between your toes are common symptoms of athlete’s foot, in severe cases, you can get vesicles, which are small, painful blisters. If left untreated, the fungus could spread to other parts of your foot.
Basic treatment for athlete’s foot includes an over-the-counter topical antifungal cream. Apply it once or twice a day directly to the infected area on your foot for about one-to-four weeks to see improvement.
“If a patient is unable to get rid of athlete’s foot [after using the topical fungus cream], they can be referred to a dermatologist who could prescribe an oral antifungal medication that may help,” Prabhakar said.
By Taylor Barnes
