Relief for Athletes Foot

The majority of the world’s population has experienced athlete’s foot. This is because the fungus that causes athletes foot is found on almost every floor. And these fungi are easily spread by contact. But what, exactly, is athletes foot?

Athletes foot is medically known as “tinea pedis”, wherein “tinea” is the term referring to the infection-causing fungus and “pedis” meant the “feet”. The fungi that caused athletes foot need to be exposed to a warm and moist environment before they can infect the skin in the foot and result athletes foot. This means that if a person simply keeps the feet clean and dry, athletes foot can be prevented.

If athletes foot does occur, the infected person will feel an itching and burning on his feet. Athletes foot makes standing and walking extremely uncomfortable. If the athletes foot worsens, this feet infection is not merely a nuisance but an alarming disease. A severe degree of athletes foot result in painful cracking and bleeding of the skin. And when the skin has open wounds, bacterial infection will set in. With bacteria, the athletes foot will result to cellulitis, an inflammation of the skin, accompanied with a stinky odor.

Some people are prone to cellulitis when they contract athletes foot. These people usually have impaired immune systems or have diabetes, or have had chronic leg swelling. Older people with athletes foot may also easily develop the bacterial complications.

Fortunately, one can treat athletes foot and find athletes foot relief. That is, one need not necessarily suffer from athletes foot. There are three approaches that must be done to have athletes foot relief. First, the athletes foot fungi must be prevented from multiplying and spreading further. And second, the athletes foot fungi must be destroyed. And third, if bacterial infection has occurred, this complication must also be treated.

To prevent the further growth and spread of the athletes foot fungi, the feet must be kept clean. That is, the person with athletes foot should avoid shoes that don’t allow air to flow freely, such as vinyl shoes. Shoes that are breathable, such as those made of leather, are recommended for people with athletes foot. Then, the person with athletes foot should choose socks that absorb moisture, such as cotton socks.

Athletes foot powder does not kill the fungi, but the athletes foot powder is useful for keeping the feet dry. These athletes foot powders usually contain chemicals such as miconazole or tolnaftate. If the feet remain moist even with athletes foot powder, then the feet should be soaked in a drying solution. This drying solution contains aluminum acetate.

To kill the athletes foot fungi, one can use anti-fungal creams. There are several creams that are available at drugstores. These creams that treat athletes foot have active ingredients such as miconazole and clotrimazole. To completely eradicate the athletes foot, such creams should be used continuously for about one month.

To address the bacterial infection that occurs with athletes foot, the infected person should take antibiotics. The antibiotics, prescribed by the doctor, will aid in bringing down the swelling and in reducing the bleeding. But one should remember that the antibiotics are not for the athletes foot.