subject: Causes of Athlete's Foot And How To Prevent It [print this page] Causes of Athlete's Foot And How To Prevent It
Athlete's foot is one those skin conditions that you do not want to acquire. The symptoms that accompany it are quite irritating and can affect your life in one way or another. This condition is an infection caused by a fungus called Trichophyton and can result to the peeling, scaling and cracking of the skin in the foot. At some cases, athlete's foot spreads to the groin and other body parts as well.
Since athlete's foot is a caused by fungi, it can easily be acquire through contact with the soles of the feet. Walking in public toilets and showers barefoot is just one way that that can happen. Aside from that, infection can also multiply through direct contact with people who have the said condition.
The best way to prevent the spread of the disease is through good practice of personal hygiene. Wash your feet every time you come home especially if you used sandals or open shoes as footwear. Have your toenails trimmed regularly as well to discourage the growth of bacteria inside the nails and between the toes.
Keep your feet dry all the time especially before wearing socks, shoes or slippers as fungi thrive in wet environment. Have your own personal towel to use when drying your feet and never borrow or share with other people to prevent infection. Use the right kind of socks as some types of fabric can cause your feet to sweat more than others.
There are many over the counter medications you can use to treat athlete's foot if you have one. If you have hyperhidrosis, an effective way is use foot powder. Foot powders are designed to reduce sweating and smelling of the feet. For dryness of skin and itchiness, ointments and creams are also available.
See a specialist if you think your condition is beyond your control and homemade remedies no longer work for you. A good doctor would advise you to continue practicing good hygiene along with the use of medications ideal for your situation. Never leave athlete's foot untreated as it can become really gross when ignored.
