Athlete’s Foot

Why are my feet itching and scaling?

The most frequent cause of itching, scaling, and sometimes blistered feet is called Athlete’s Foot or Tinea Pedis. This is a fungal infection of the skin of the feet and can be very annoying if not treated appropriately.

Fungi thrive in warm, moist environments, like our shoes and socks. Additionally, they love gyms, pools, and locker rooms because they are, again, typically hot and humid.

How is this treated?

The best way of treating this condition is to get a prescription from your foot doctor for a cream or ointment that kills the fungus. Over the counter agents that can be purchased at local drug stores only stop the fungus from multiplying, so this might not work in clearing up your condition.

How is it prevented?

1. Keep your feet dry by changing your shoes and socks regularly, especially if you tend to have sweaty feet.

2. Use over the counter antifungal sprays or powders each day.

3. Spray your shoes out with Lysol to kill germs.

4. Wear shower shoes in locker rooms or around pools.

5. Do not go barefoot.

Why do I need to treat it?

1. Fist, it is annoying, and treatment can make you more comfortable

2. The condition can progress if untreated, requiring oral antifungal medication (pills) or antibiotics (pills) if a secondary bacterial infection occurs from the open sores or blisters on the skin.

3. It can lead to fungal infection of the toenails. This causes the nails to become thick, discolored, and crumbly.

If you feel that you have this condition, contact Dr. Bender, a podiatrist in Oak Park and Chicago, for an appointment to see what treatment is best for you. 708-763-0580 Oak Park office.

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2 Responses to “Athlete’s Foot”

  1. Mary Jones says:

    Thanks for this informative post. Not all people are aware that athlete’s foot can be acquired from moist public areas. Hence, they often disregard the importance of wearing the right footwear in this places making then prone to athlete’s foot.

    I would just like to add that in treating athlete’s foot, it is vital to take the same precautions as one would do when addressing toenail fungus. That is, one should observe good foot hygiene that includes drying the feet well before wearing shoes, avoid wearing the same socks two days in a row, and wear the right footwear in public shower rooms and gyms. If the athlete’s foot persist, it is better to immediately seek professional help in order to gain the right treatment and to avoid your athlete’s foot from worsening. As a precautionary measure, one can also apply counter treatments such as ZeroFungus cream just to prevent the fungi from spreading.

  2. Wonderful site you have here but I was wondering if you knew of any forums that cover the same topics discussed
    here? I’d really love to be a part of community where I can get suggestions from other experienced individuals that share the same interest. If you have any suggestions, please let me know. Thank you!

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