Athlete’s Foot Remedies

Some things in life like athlete’s foot symptoms never cease to surprise us. While there are some that we simply ignore, everyone would agree that a bad athlete’s foot, above all, needs some serious attention.

Indeed, having a smelly, itchy and inflamed foot is the least you should attend to when you have a career to focus on or a reputation to protect. However, all means of prevention sometimes just isn’t enough. In fact, some people do catch athlete’s foot fungus without them knowing it, even with the most prudent measures of precaution. Thus, ways and means to treat athlete’s foot are employed by athletes, male adolescents, and even mothers who need to get rid of their kid’s athlete’s foot fungus.

Medication is usually paired with a change in environment and better foot hygiene as a start in the treatment of athlete’s foot. This would not only kill the fungus on the infected area but would also discourage any further infection. Foremost kind of treatment employed is the use of topical ointments such as terbinafine, econazole, clotrimazole, lotrimin, tinactin and micatin.

Good foot hygiene, is simply done by washing the feet in plain water, wiping then dry, and applying the cream to the inflamed area. Continued use of an antifungal cream for three to four weeks, even after the disappearance of the symptoms, may be necessary to get rid of the infection. Oral medication or antibiotics may also help for more serious cases of bacterial infection as when the infection does not ease after two weeks of treatment.

Home remedies for athlete’s foot have proven quite useful alternatives as well, to expensive ointments that do not bring lasting results. A dry and clean foot is a start. Changing to sandals or slippers after a few hours of wearing shoes would also help keep the foot well-ventilated. Changing socks regularly, preferably twice a day, is equally important as the material of the socks. Cotton or wool absorbs moisture and keeps the feet dry.

Powdering the feet with antifungal powder is also advised. Avoiding the use of the same towel for the feet and the other parts of the body would also prevent the infection from spreading to other areas. Likewise, towels should not be shared with other individuals, even members of the same family, in order to prevent infecting other people. Stinky shoes, on the other hand, should also be washed with detergent and bleached in order to eliminate both the smell and the fungus.

Natural cure for athlete’s foot has also recently been found to exist, thus providing a much cheaper alternative to the ones existing in the market today. For example, vinegar as a treatment for athlete’s foot has proven useful and effective a solution by simply washing the foot with it and warm water. Other alternative treatments include topical oils like tea tree oil and the use of onion and garlic extract. Athlete’s foot cures are not hard to find, if only you look around in the kitchen.

Athlete’s Foot Prevention

An extremely busy lifestyle does not need an additional burden like athlete’s foot. Ways and means to find cure to athlete’s foot are plenty but in the end, the real key to curing athlete’s foot infection lies with good personal hygiene. Prevention measures starts with our manner of doing things. An easy prey is always the one who does not know what to do or not to do, so here’s a few ways to remember that could keep athlete’s foot fungus at bay.

Athlete’s foot fungus thrives in the different parts of a household, especially in areas which are dark and moist. Thus, spraying with disinfectant the tub or the bathroom floor helps minimize the risk of catching or reinforcing an athlete’s foot. Changing the sheets, socks, underwear and towels at least once a week lessens the chances of breeding fungus. Sharing towels and other personal items like shoes and socks should also be avoided so as not to help spread the fungus that causes athlete’s foot. Already infected areas should be dried separately with another towel to limit the area of infection.

On the other hand, prevention measures are even more necessary when frequenting public places like locker rooms, public baths or swimming pools. Just the mere act of walking on the floor barefoot is enough to catch a bad athlete’s foot. Thus, shower shoes and sandals or clogs are must-haves when using public places to prevent acquiring athlete’s foot fungus from the floor. A thorough washing of feet, and drying thereafter, must be made a regular habit in order to prevent catching it or worsening an already existing fungal problem.

Make sure that special attention be given to the spaces between the toes where fungus loves to hide and stay for some time. A dry foot can also be achieved by having or changing into the right pair of socks or by putting on some old and stinky shoes. More prone individuals who are always engaged in physical activities, like teenagers and athletes, need to use antibacterial and anti-fungal soap all in one.

Wearing the right shoes and sock is also very important in thwarting fungus. Busy schedules would usually give us less time to dry our foot before putting on socks and shoes. Well-ventilated shoes and socks that are made out of materials like cotton or wool that absorb moisture are needed for people whose feet perspire and stink. Socks made out of nylon should be avoided because it traps the moisture and, thus, prevents natural ventilation. Especially for teens or very busy individuals who go home tired and worn out, it is likewise important to take off the shoe and socks when going to bed.

Athlete’s foot prevention measures are not only helpful in averting athlete’s foot symptoms, but is also useful in managing infection and, ultimately, in curing it. For example, itchy toes should not be scratched because it is likely to cause a more serious bacterial infection. The simple thing to remember in the prevention of catching fungus is basically the maintenance of a healthy and clean environment.