Athletes’ Foot (Tinea Pedis)
The benefit of using a Foot Health Practitioner for Athlete’s Feet diagnosis:
The advice provided on different treatments for dry and moist athlete’s foot conditions with information on preventively actions you can take.
Athlete’s Foot assessment and treatment:
An assessment will include medical history and an update on your symptoms along with a full health assessment of your feet and nails to provide a diagnosis.
Treatment will depend on what type of athlete’s foot you have and advice on how you can make your feet less hospitable to fungal infections.
What is Athlete’s Foot?
Athletes’ Foot is a fungal infection of the skin that can cause cracks, small blisters, or peeling of the skin. The skin can look red, raw-appearing, and athlete foot affect the sole of your foot and the skin between the toes. If untreated it could lead to large painful fissures (cracked heels) and can spread to the whole of soles your feet and toes.
What causes my Athlete’s Foot?
It is caused by several fungal species that we pick up from someone else shedding affected skin mainly from a communal area like a swimming pool. You can contract the infection and spread it to others by touching infected skin, surfaces, and materials. Also, those of us who sweat more are prone to infection.
Once your feet are contaminated, the warm, dark, and sweaty environment of feet in our footwear is the ideal breeding ground for the fungus.
If your feet are extremely dry and your skin cracks, it is an invitation for fungus and bacteria to enter your body.
Can anyone get Athlete’s Feet?
It affects the feet of athletes and non-athletes alike.
Athlete’s foot is contagious, and it’s said around one in five people have athlete’s foot at any one time.
What are the signs and symptoms of Athlete’s Feet?
Athlete’s foot can vary from person to person but some of the common symptoms are:
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Soles of feet and toes are itchy
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The skin between your toes is white, wet-looking or there is a red rash
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Blisters on your feet
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The skin on your feet or between your toes is dry, cracked, scaly, peeling or flaky.
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Athlete’s foot fungus can spread to the toenails
Summary:
Athlete’s foot is contagious, and it is important to have it treated as soon as possible to stop the fungus from spreading and also infecting your toenails.