Athlete's Foot

The Condition

Athlete's foot is a commonly occurring skin fungus of the foot capable of spreading to other parts of the body, particularly the toe nails and other areas of the skin where the environment is moist. Athlete's foot is a fungus, a type of mold analogous in its organic construction to yeast and mushrooms; fungi flourish in dark, warm, moist places, and capable of surviving for up to two years.Athlete's foot will often first appear on the human foot between the toes as a red, itching patch of skin. The skin may develop a blister,leading to an increased risk of infection if the foot is not treated. In more advanced stages, athlete's foot causes a terrible, burning sensation. The condition is highly transmittable, easily spreading through contact to either other parts of the host skin, or to others who have contact with the fungal spores, often in communal showers or by the sharing of footwear.A person suffering from the persistent itch of athlete's foot will be inclined to scratch the affected area.The spores that cause the athlete's foot infection to spread readily attach beneath the fingernails of the itching person.

The specific places where the infection is most likely to spread are to the groin and the armpits, as these areas are similarly fungus friendly, as the foot. Athlete's foot has a similar biology to that of the infection known as "jock itch" (also known as tinea cruris), a fungus that will cause considerable redness and itching on the surface of the male groin.

For most athletes, the infection is an irritant, as opposed to a disabling injury. However, in most sports, any distraction caused by foot discomfort will detract from performance. Untreated, the infection will spread, first between the toes, and then to the skin on the top of each toe, with the possibility of reaching the toenail. If a toenail becomes infected the athlete will experience significantdiscomfort,and the toenail may have to be removed. As athletic shoes are designed to provide support to athletes during competition, the shoe will not alleviate the condition.Athlete's foot sufferers often find themselves in a situation where they are both distracted by the irritation and itching sensation of the foot, as well as an inability to apply full pressure of the foot during running,kicking, or jumping.

Treatment   (Click for more info)
The infection should be treated immediately with a topical, commercially available fungicide, which is designed to kill the fungal spores. In cases where the infection is resistant to these medications, more powerful pharmaceuticals may be prescribed by a doctor. As with all types of infection, the fungicide should continue to be applied after the symptoms have disappeared,to ensure that the underlying fungal spores are dead.An occurrence of athlete's foot, once successfully treated, does not create any form of permanent immunity from a later infection.

Good foot hygiene, especially with respect to limiting contacts with the skin of other persons in public changing rooms, swimming pools, hot tubs, and other potentially warm, wet environments, is critical in reducing the risk of contracting athlete's foot.An effective foot hygiene regimen will include: Daily washing of the feet with soap and hot water; careful drying of the feet with a towel, especially the spaces between the toes, to eliminate a fungal environment; wearing dry shoes and socks, selecting types that are breathable and not tight fitting; never sharing shoes or socks; using foot powders or other drying agents; wearing shower sandals or other footwear in public showers.Diabetics must take particular care with respect to the thorough treatment of athlete's foot.

Diabetes tends to weaken the human immune system, and the opening of foot sores caused by athlete's foot in an advanced stage may heighten the risk of a more serious infection entering the body through these openings.If this happens a trip to the doctor is mandatory.