Athlete’s foot is among the most common types of fungal infection, and as many people who have suffered from it can attest, it’s not exclusively a problem for athletes. Athlete’s foot can occur for a variety of reasons, and in the absence of proper treatment, it won’t go away. While promptly treating athlete’s foot can prove highly beneficial, preventing it from taking hold in the first place is even better. Anyone looking for simple and effective ways to prevent athlete’s foot can benefit from the following pointers.
Regularly Wash and Dry Your Feet
Cleanliness can go a long way towards staving off athlete’s foot – and various other fungal infections. As such, it’s recommended that you bathe on a daily basis, especially if you do a fair amount of sweating. Furthermore, take care to hit the showers after engaging in activities that cause you to sweat. For example, every trip to the gym or vigorous at-home workout should be followed up by a good shower. Additionally, when bathing, make sure to property wash your feet, as they warrant just as much attention in the tub as any other part of your body. This will help ensure that assorted sweat, bacteria and dead skin cells are washed away instead of remaining on your feet. It is also important to find out the difference of cotton socks vs polyester socks that will give you the quality and comfortable.
Once your bath or shower is complete, take care to thoroughly dry your feet. Athlete’s foot – and other fungal infections – thrive in moist conditions, so it’s in your best interest to get your feet as dry as possible before putting socks on.
Avoid Tight-Fitting Footwear
In addition to being uncomfortable, tight-fitting footwear can be conducive to the development of athlete’s foot. The less room your feet have to breathe, the more sweat and bacteria are likely to accumulate – and the more likely you are to find yourself afflicted by foot fungus. With this in mind, look for footwear that offers breathability and activewear developed with antimicrobial zinc ion technology.
You should also avoid sharing footwear with anyone, regardless of how confident you are in their personal hygiene. Sharing clothing, towels and other personal items can facilitate the formation of a host of fungal infections, so it’s in your best interest to be mindful of such behavior.
Be Mindful of Where You Go Barefoot
Since athlete’s foot is contagious, you’d do well to be extremely mindful of where you go barefoot. For example, being barefoot at public pools or gym showers can pave the way for the arrival of athlete’s foot. As such, it’s recommended that you buy a pair of sandals or flip-flops to use in such settings. Additionally, if anyone with whom you cohabitate is suffering from athlete’s foot, it’s recommended that you avoid going barefoot in your residence.
Treat Athlete’s Foot Immediately
Considering how common athlete’s foot is, it stands to reason that many of us are going to develop it at one point or another. So, if you’ve recently found yourself afflicted by said condition, your approach to treating it can largely determine how severe the infection becomes. As is the case with countless other ailments, taking a proactive approach to treatment can prove tremendously helpful when dealing with athlete’s foot.
Fortunately, in most cases, athlete’s foot is neither difficult nor expensive to treat. More often than not, you can take care of it with nothing more than an over-the-counter cream, gel or powder, most of which are affordable on even the tightest budget. In more extreme cases, the condition may require professional medical attention and prescription medication, but provided you treat athlete’s foot early, you’re unlikely to require this level of care.
Even if you come down with a relatively minor case of athlete’s foot, it’s important that you begin treatment posthaste. No matter how much you ignore the problem, athlete’s foot will not go away on its own, and the sooner you address the issue, the sooner you can be rid of it.
Although athlete’s foot generally isn’t considered a serious fungal infection, it can prove extremely embarrassing and uncomfortable. Furthermore, it won’t go away with proper treatment, and in the absence of treatment, it’s likely to become even worse – potentially even spreading to the toenails and/or hands. So, in addition to promptly treating athlete’s foot, you’d be wise to take preventative measures against it. And with the advice outlined above at your disposal, this should be well within your abilities.
