Everything You Need To Know About Athlete’s Foot

Struggling with a case of Athlete’s Foot? Athlete’s Foot is a pretty common condition that people struggle with. In fact, studies show that roughly 70% of people will struggle with this foot fungus at some point in their lives. However, by reading this article, there’s a good chance you can prevent getting it – that is if you follow the tips we’re about to give you. 

In this article, we’ll discuss what Athlete’s Foot is and how to identify it, treat it, and hopefully avoid it entirely. 

What is Athlete’s Foot?

Athlete’s Foot is a common fungal infection that occurs in people. It’s known as a tinea infection too. Generally, when fungus begins to grow in a person’s foot, they call it Athlete’s Foot. However, the reason it got this name was because it mostly occurred in individuals who had damp or sweaty feet, thus it is often associated with athletes. 

When you develop Athlete’s Foot, it causes your feet to itch, burn, sting, or develop a rash along one or both of your feet. In many cases Athlete’s Foot is isolated between the toes and can cause your skin to dry out, crack, become flakey, and even cause blisters. In some cases, it could even make your foot odour worse. 

What causes Athlete’s Foot?

Athlete’s Foot has several causes, mainly because there are a few different species of fungus that can be responsible for it. While the species of fungus might be different, they generally spread in a similar way. 

Skin-to-skin contact is one of the most common ways in which Athlete’s Foot spreads. Whether it be direct contact or contact with the flakes of your skin. Athlete’s feet also spread the most in areas with many people, like in saunas, locker rooms, or public showers. Even sharing socks, towels, or anything else that your feet touch can spread the fungus. 

How can you identify Athlete’s Foot?

Athlete’s feet are pretty easy to spot. For one, your feet will probably be extremely itchy. That said, you can identify it by how your feet look, too. When you catch Athlete’s Foot, the bottom, tops, and sides of your feet show signs of skin flaking or scaling. Likewise, they might also be a different colour, like grey, red, purple, or white. 

How’s at a higher risk of developing Athlete’s Foot?

Anyone can get Athlete’s Foot. However, there are some individuals who are more prone to getting it. For instance, men and people over the age of 60 are known to develop Athlete’s Foot more than others. People who struggle with obesity, diabetes, injuries on their feet, or a bad immune system are also likely to struggle with Athletes’ feet. 

What are the different types of Athlete’s Foot?

While Athlete’s Foot is the general term for the condition, it does present itself in different ways. Here are the different types of Athlete’s Foot that you may experience:

• The most common type of Athlete’s Foot is the Toe-web infection. This usually affects the area between your ring toe and pinky toe and shows signs of cracking, peeling or flaking
• Then there’s the Moccasin-type infection, which affects the bottom of your foot, your heels, and the edges of your feet. While it may be rare, this condition can also affect your toenails, causing them to get thicker, break and eventually fall out even
• The Vesicular-type infection is very similar to the one above. However, it causes bumps or blisters to develop on your foot.
• Finally, Ulcerative infection is a very rare type of Athlete’s Foot that causes ulcers to develop on the bottoms of your feet

How to avoid getting Athlete’s Foot

You know how the saying goes right, “prevention is better than a cure.” So, now that you know what Athlete’s Foot is, how can you avoid getting it? Well, firstly, good foot care is essential. 

Our feet pick up tons of bacteria and germs throughout the day, whether they’re in shoes or not. For that reason, they should be cleaned thoroughly when you bathe or shower. Make sure to clean between your toes and scrub them well. Also, remember to dry them well after swimming or showering, especially if you’re about to put on shows. Damp, moist areas and a breeding ground for fungus, so you want to avoid creating those conditions. 

Finally, wear shoes that allow your feet to breathe. Shows that seal your feet in completely and don’t allow for any airflow will cause your feet to sweat, creating a damp environment for fungus to thrive. In addition to this, cleaning your shoes often will also reduce the chances of your developing Athlete’s Foot.

How to treat it if you have it

If left untreated, Athlete’s Foot can become a hassle and can even be quite painful. That’s why it’s important to consider the treatment options for Athlete’s Foot. An over-the-counter antifungal cream usually does the trick. However, if you have a more severe infection, then you may need to go onto a more thorough treatment plan, including medication. 

Final Thoughts

Athlete’s Foot isn’t something to feel ashamed about. Like we said in our intro, 70% of people are likely to get it at some point in their lives. However, by knowing how to avoid it you can be in the 30% of people who are fortunate enough to never experience Athlete’s Foot.