Keep Your Feet Fresh and Prevent Athletes Foot!

Athlete’s Foot (tinea pedis) is the most common form of fungal infection. It can cause skin to dry out, itch, crack, blister and peel. Fungus forms on areas of the skin that are warm, moist and irritated that’s why your feet can be an ideal place for the fungal infection to occur.

Symptoms include:

• Scaling, peeling, cracked skin between the toes
• Redness, itching, burning or blisters on the skin
• Smelly feet
• Fissures/splits and softening and whitening of the skin

Here are six tips on how to prevent and treat Athletes Foot

1. Let your feet breathe
Keeping your feet in a hot and moist environment all day long is the perfect condition to accelerate fungal growth¹. Especially while the days are warmer, it’s best to wear open toe shoes without socks. Also, choose socks made of natural fibres such as cotton or wool that will help minimise moisture.

2. Choose comfy shoesWear shoes that are not too tight and fit well.  Uncomfortable footwear that can irritate your feet and cause them to sweat excessively can increase your chances of getting a fungal infection. If you are wearing the same shoes regularly, ensure they are aired out to help get rid of moisture in them after wear.

3. Avoid going barefoot
If you’re at a public pool, change room or shower, be aware of the surfaces you walk on. Ensure you wear thongs or slippers in areas that are for public use. Foot fungus is a very common condition that is highly contagious and spreads easily, so minimise walking barefoot through the change rooms, around pools, gyms and saunas.

4. Keep your feet cleanRemember to pay attention to your feet and wash them when showering. Using a soap-free product to clean your feet will keep the skin on feet healthy, which helps it be more resilient towards infection. Also dry your feet well after, especially between your toes.

5. Don’t shareAn easy way to stop the spread of fungal infections is to not share footwear like socks, shoes or towels. By keeping these personal items to yourself, you can remove the risk of passing or contracting fungal infections.

6. Treat conditions immediately If you think there is a possibility you may have an infection, treat it as soon as possible. Antifungal medications are available in many forms such as creams, gels and sprays. Look for products that have effective antifungal drugs such as terbinafine, clotrimazole or miconazole. Ask your Chemsave pharmacist which treatment would be most suitable for you.

Chemsave endeavours to provide exceptional customer service and advice for the whole family when it comes to healthy feet. See your Chemsave pharmacist for further information and advice.

Posted in: Health hub