Athlete’s Foot – What is it?
TineaPedis or athlete’s foot occurs when a fungal infection occurs on a human’s foot. Trichophyton, Epidermophytonfloccosum, and Microsporum are the most common fungi in these conditions and they tend to flourish in warm, dark and moist places, such as between the toes and inside shoes.
Athlete’s foot causes dry itchy skin, scaling, inflammation and blisters to occur on the feet and can be spread through contact with affected materials including floors, foot wear and bedding. It is an infectious condition and so you should always be aware not to scratch it and touch other areas of your body where it can spread.
Causes
The most common causes of this condition are sharing shoes and socks with an infected person. Walking barefoot in public areas where an infected person may have walked, such as locker rooms, swimming pools and beaches can also spread the problem. One of the best ways in which you can help to reduce your chances of infection are to make sure that your feet are dry before putting them into your shoes and also putting some powder in your shoes to prevent moisture building up.
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Treatments for Athlete’s Foot
There are various different treatments that you can explore to help get rid of this condition and, depending on the severity and location of the problem; you will find different treatments work better for you personally.
- Anti-Fungal Powders – By applying powder to the inside of your socks and shoes, you can help to reduce the moisture and keep your feet dry. Powders can also be applied directly on to the skin and, as well as keeping the area dry, contain fungicides which work to kill off the infection at the same time. You should try to use anti-fungal foot powders in conjunction with creams and sprays so that you can keep the whole area treated at the same time.
- Anti-Fungal Creams, Sprays and Liquids– These treatments are put directly onto the affected areas and often contain the antifungal solutions miconazole, itraconazole, or terbinafine. It can take a couple of months of applying these treatments a few times a day in order for them to completely get rid of athlete’s foot so it is important to keep using them after the symptoms abate to make sure you have got rid of all the infection.
Home Remedies for Athlete’s Foot
1. Tea Tree Oil
Add a few drops of this essential oil to a foot soak or make up a diluted solution and use it to massage your infected feet.
2. Bleach and Water
Make a solution of water with a little bit of bleach added in which to soak your feet for 5 – 10 minutes on a daily basis.
3. Mouthwash Foot Soak
It may sound crazy but many people recommend soaking your feet in mouthwash as a treatment for fungal infections.
4. Urine
As horrible as this may sound urine contains urea which is used in many over the counter remedies with proven results. If you are able to urinate on your feet while in the shower this may help to alleviate some of the symptoms.
If none of these treatments work and you are still suffering with the condition then you will need to consult a doctor for further information. They will be able to diagnose the exact cause of the problem and offer advice on how you need to go about getting rid of the symptoms for good.
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