Don't Let Athlete's Foot Intrude Your Summer

Increased temperature and humidity attract many people to local pools and beaches to beat the heat! Another thing it may attract is tinea pedis-more commonly known as athlete’s foot. Athlete’s foot is a condition in which fungus inhabits the feet. It is caused by the same type of fungus that causes ringwork and jock itch. This organism thrives in moist socks and shoes along with dark, warm/humid conditions. 

Symptoms of athlete’s foot include an itchy or burning type of rash usually on the soles of feet. This rash is usually ring like peeling often referred to as annular scaling in podiatric terminology. At times, small itchy blisters may also develop. It is important to note that this infection can spread to other parts of the body such as hands, toenails and your groin. In the office, we commonly see toenail fungus in addition to athlete’s foot as it cross contaminates rather quickly. 

Some ways to avoid athlete’s foot include- keeping your feet dry after showering and throughout the day, alternating shoe gear every day to allow drying of shoes between use, using flip flops in public places like pools and locker rooms and changing your socks once-twice a day . Do not forget about the spaces between your toes since that it is a common place for fungus to hang out! It is important to moisturize your feet but always avoid the interspaces as creams/lotions between the toes create a home for fungus. 

Do not let the summer heat cause stress to your feet! If you have any dryness, itching or rash to your feet make an appointment to come see one of our specialists today. Summer should be an enjoyable few months-not an itchy one!