Athlete's foot also known as Tinea Pedis is a fungal infection found commonly in men. It begins from in between the toes. It is more common in people with sweaty feet that remain confined in tight fitting shoes for longer duration. It is characterized by a scaly rash with an itching, burning or stinging sensation. This disease is contagious and spreads from walking on contaminated floors, sharing towels and other personal clothing and accessories. Athlete’s foot can be treated with the help of anti-septic and anti-fungal ointments.

Symptoms of Athlete’s Foot

Itching right after taking socks or shoes off
Blisters or ulcers
In case of Moccasin Athlete’s Foot can cause chronic skin dryness accompanied by scaling and it extends from the toes to the side of the foot. It can also be sometimes mistaken for eczema.
The infection may spread on the other feet, hand or groin as well. Do not scratch or pick the infected areas as the disease can spread.

Who is at the risk of Athlete’s foot?

Men are mostly at risk
Those who wear damp socks and tight fitting shoes
Those who share mats, rugs, clothes or towels with the infected person
Those who walk barefoot in public areas like locker rooms, swimming pools, saunas, shower areas etc.

Complications of Tinea Pedis

The infection may spread on other body parts like:

Hands: People with a habit of scratching or picking the infected parts are at a risk of developing a similar infection on in their hands as well.
Nails: It not treated early in the course the fungus can take refuge into your nails that are difficult to treat areas.
Groin: Groin infections like jock itch s caused due to the same fungus as the athlete’s foot. The infection is likely to spread through the towel or fingers to the groin area.

Tips for Prevention and Treatment of Athlete’s Foot

Do not go for shoes that fit too tight and cause too much sweating.
Keep your feet clean and dry especially after workouts and other activities that result in sweating. Let them exposed to air as much as possible.
Wear a clean pair of socks daily. If you have naturally sweaty feet change socks twice a day.
Wear shoes that are light and well ventilated.
Avoid rubber or vinyl shoes.
Keep an alternate pair of shoes and change shoes each day so that the other pair gets the time to dry out after use.
Use anti-fungal powder on your feet daily.
Avoid sharing shoes or socks

Products for Treatment and Prevention of Athlete’s Foot

Athlete’s foot can be treated with the help of several products that help in reducing the symptoms of athlete’s foot and prevent the re-occurrence of the condition:

Anti-Fungal Ointments – Since athlete’s foot is primarily a fungal condition, the first step to manage it is using anti-fungal products and other products that are anti-fungal in nature. Anti-microbial and anti-fungal ointments treat fungal infections with great accuracy and provide relief from itching and burning. They are mixed with moisturizers and Vitamin E that provide a cooling and soothing effect on the skin.

Organic Skin Care Products – Itching and irritation are common symptoms of athlete’s foot. Organic skin care ointments, gels, liquids, and sprays are used to treat these symptoms. Nature-derived ingredients are used to create these organic skin care products for gentle and soothing skin care.

General Skin Care Products – There are several other skin care products one can use to treat as well as prevent athlete’s foot. Keeping the feet clean is one of the first step towards prevents and so using moisturizers and skin cleansers on a regular basis can keep the skin clean and rejuvenated thus avoiding any growth of fungus. Wipes and towelettes can be used to clean the feet before and after wearing shoes.

Insoles and Orthotics – Foot care insoles can help in providing a healthy and cushioned surface to the feet. Foot-care insoles can be used to prevent the fungal infections from turning into serious injuries as well as keep the feet healthy to avoid any infections. Orthotics and insoles embedded with gels are great for cushioning the feet.