1.
What is athlete's foot?
Athlete's foot is a very common skin condition. It occurs mostly
among teenage and adult males. It is uncommon in women and children
under the age of 12. If a child displays what appears to be the
symptoms of athlete's foot, chances are it's another skin condition.
Athlete's foot is a term used to describe what really
is a form of fungus infection of the feet. The correct term for
athlete's foot is tinea pedis. Why some people develop athlete's
foot and others do not is not clearly known.
Athelete's foot does not occur among people who traditionally
go barefoot. It's moisture, sweating and lack of proper ventilation
of the feet that present the perfect setting for the fungus of athelete's
foot to grow.
2. Why does athelete's
foot develop?
The fungi that cause athlete's foot like to grow in moist, damp
places. Sweaty feet, not drying feet well after swimming or bathing,
tight shoes and socks, and a warm climate all contribute to the
development of athlete's foot. It's commonly believed that athlete's
foot is highly contagious – that you can easily catch it from
walking barefoot in the locker room. This is not true.
3. What does athlete's
foot look like?
Athlete's foot may affect different people in different ways. In
some, the skin between the toes (especially the last two toes) peels,
cracks and scales. In others, there is redness, scaling and even
blisters on the soles and along the sides of the feet. These skin
changes may be accompanied by itching.
Toenail infections can also occur and can be very
stubborn to treat. Toenail infections result in scaling, crumbling
and thickening of the nails.
4. How is athlete's
foot diagnosed?
Your examination may include a scraping of the skin on your feet.
The skin scales are then examined under a microscope or placed on
a culture plate to look for growth of the fungus.
5. How is athlete's
foot treated?
For simple cases, anti-fungal creams may be prescribed. The creams
can relieve the symptoms quickly. If your athlete's foot is stubborn,
antifungal pills may be prescribed. Toenail infections are very
difficult to treat and almost always require treatment with antifungal
pills.
6. What is the best
way to prevent athlete's foot?
You can prevent athlete's foot by following some simple rules:
- Wash your feet daily.
- Dry your feet thoroughly, especially between your
toes.
- Avoid tight footwear, especially in the summer.
- Sandals are the best warm weather footwear.
- Wear cotton socks and change them daily or more
frequently if they become damp. If possible, go barefoot at home.
- Dust an anti-fungal powder into your shoes in
the summertime.
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