Flaky feet? Blistery bottoms? Jungle rot?
That affliction of moist environs that causes itching or burning sensations, typically noticed first in the feet. This same fungus can move around to different body parts and this is mostly seen in men. The “two feet and one hand” syndrome, as some call it. This disease is most commonly known as “athlete’s foot” and about 70 percent of folks will experience a bout of it.
So let’s explode that myth about athlete’s foot right now. You don’t have to be athletic for it to tap you but it helps. It’s the environment that’s going to determine whether you get a fungal infection. Mostly. Some people just seem to be immune to many things that seem to greatly bother the rest of us. If you are like the rest of us, you will simply get athlete’s foot by walking barefoot…around a pool, into a public shower, in a gym locker room…not even breaking a sweat.
What is athlete’s foot?
Tinea pedis is a fungal infection that causes athlete’s foot. Symptoms vary but common signs are redness of the sole or the feet, itching, burning of the sole or feet, peeling cracking or scaling of the feet, blisters or softening of the skin and breaking down of tissue.
Athlete’s foot is contagious – it can be transmitted from one person to another by contact. It can also be caught by walking barefoot in warm moist environments, the kind the fungus loves. Shoes are good fungal incubators, especially if they are of synthetic material that doesn’t allow the feet to breathe.
Popular places for tinea pedis to hang out are contaminated socks, floors of public showers, contaminated clothing, swimming pools and nail salons. This microscopic fungus is normally found on dead tissue of outer skin layers, toenails and hair. There are four types of fungus that cause athlete’s feet, the most common is trichophyton rubrum. The other three types based on their symptoms are: interdigital; moccasin and vesicular.
Interdigital, aka toe-web infection, is one of the most common infections. This usually occurs between the two smallest toes and can cause itching, scaling and burning infection spreading to the sole of the foot.
A moccasin infection typically begins with itching, dry and scaly skin, and minor irritations. As this infection develops, skin may thicken and crack and may involve the entire sole of the foot, extending to the sides of the foot.
The least common, vesicular infection, usually begins with a sudden outbreak of fluid-filled blisters under the skin. Though it most often occurs on the bottom of the foot, it can appear of top of the foot, or between the toes or on the heel.
Treatment for Athlete’s Foot
The most important thing is to keep your feet clean and dry. Wear cotton socks as they wick moisture away from the skin and dries easily. There are medicated powders with miconazole that help keep feet dry. Use these lotions or powders for four weeks or until a week after the skin symptoms disappear.
If you also have a toe infection, it must be remembered that it is important to treat all affected areas at the same time. If not, reinfections may flare up.
Complications of athlete’s foot fungus
Complications of this fungus is that it is very contagious. It has been known to spread from the feet, to toe nails, hands, fingernails and any other body area. There’s also fungal nail infection, groin fungus, skin fungus and plantar warts.
People with HIV or AIDS, diabetes, cancer or other immune system problems are more prone to infections, fungus included. Fungal infection in people with diabetes may lead to dangerous foot ulcerations. People with diabetes, those who had veins removed for bypass surgery, those with chronic leg swelling or the elderly or others with impaired immune systems are also at risk for complications because of the athlete’s foot fungus.
Fungal Nail Infections
Fungus growing around or in your fingernails or toenails will cause infections. Toenail infections are the most common form of nail infections and can often start foot infections.
If you are rough on your feet, have deformed nails or other diseases of the nail, have a compromised immune system, wear shoes that cut air off from the feet or walk around with moist socks and skin for extended periods of time, you are asking for a case of a fungal nail infection. And be careful when getting pedicures. Doctors recommend bringing your own instruments for yourself because of the risk of nail infections.
Okay so if you have any of the following happening to your toenail, oftentimes the “big” toe, see your health care provider: your nail edges are crumbling; there is debris trapped under your nail; brittleness; loss of shine; change in nail shape; loosening or lifting of the nail; thickening of the nail, or white or yellow streaks on the sides of the nail. You may be lucky and just be at the start of a toenail infection. Or you may not be so lucky.
Unfortunately, OTC meds typically don’t work on toenail infections caused by fungus. With this type of infection, oral anti-fungal medications are usually prescribed for two to four months; or a shorter period of time for fingernails. The course of meds is a long one because nails grow slowly and it takes time for the medication to work. Laser treatments may work but sometimes the infection is so entrenched that toenail removal is recommended. So any infection needs to be treated aggressively to prevent the easy spread of it.
There you go, got an itchy foot, beware, this is the season for athlete’s foot. Wear flip flops in moist, warm places and take a chronic foot itch seriously as it could easily spread to toenails or to hands, the groin, or head. Wash your feet often and keep them dry; same with your hands. Keep this information in mind and your sunning months by the pool will be worry free.