subject: Athlete's Foot - Lets Share Some Information [print this page] Athlete's foot, also known as ringworm of the foot and tinea pedis is a common fungal infection of the skin. The condition causes scaling, flaking and itching of affected areas. The athlete's foot not only affects
athletes. The condition can affect anyone. It is typically transmitted in warm, damp areas where people walk barefoot, such as showers, bathhouses, locker rooms, health clubs, public showers and indoor swimming pools. Although athlete's foot normally affects the feet, the infection can spread to other areas of the body, including the groin. Athlete's foot can be prevented by good hygiene, and is treated by a number of pharmaceutical and other treatments.
Athlete's foot symptoms
Some of the commonly reported symptoms of athlete's foot include:
* Itching, burning or stinging most notably in the creases between your toes or one the soles of the feet
* Redness and scaling of the skin in affected areas
* Cracked or blistered skin
* Skin dryness on the sides or bottoms of the feet
The symptoms of athlete's foot can be mild or severe. In more progressed stages of the condition, the toenails may become severely affected leading to a thickened, yellowish appearance of the nail and may become difficult to treat.
Home remedies for athlete's foot
Home remedies are widely used for the treatment of athlete's foot. However, it is important to consult your doctor before going in for any treatment as the symptoms may be caused by another condition. Consult your doctor immediately in case you notice swelling in your foot or leg, fever or pus in the blisters or cracks in your skin.
Discussed below are some of the most commonly used home remedies for the treatment of athlete's foot.
* Tea tree oil
- This highly popular remedy has been used for several decades. Tea tree oil is proven to work as a wonderful antiseptic and has the ability to kill many bacteria and fungi. The remedy helps in the improvement in scaling, inflammation, itching and burning
* Sosa - The herb sosa (Solanum chrysotrichum) is commonly used in Mexico as a remedy for athlete's foot
* Onion / Garlic paste - Many people also apply freshly crushed onion or garlic paste on the infected area. Garlic and onion are considered natural anti-fungal and anti-bacterial solutions and are found effective for the treatment of athlete's foot.
Prevention from athlete's foot
Listed below are some tips on how you can prevent athlete's foot from occurring/ re-infecting:
* Ensure your feet are thoroughly dry, especially between your toes
* Don't wear tight, closed-toe shoes this is because athlete's foot fungus thrives in moist and warm environment
* Avoid going barefoot in public places, wear flip-flops instead
* You can use a foot powder to keep feet dry
* Always wear cotton socks as they absorb sweat, try to wear a fresh pair each day
* Avoid synthetic or nylon materials as they trap moisture.
* Wash socks in the hot water setting of the washing machine to keep the infection at bay
