Athlete’s foot

Athlete’s foots is an itchy red rash develop in the space between your toes and in the soles which is mainly caused by fungus. Medical name for Athlete’s foot is tinea pedis and usually the affected skin may be scaly, flaky and dry

Causes

Normally bacteria and fungi live on skin but it becomes infection when it multiplies. Dermatophytes is the fungi which feeds off the dead skin tissue and causes Athlete’s foot. Since the foot is cool and humid makes the environment ideal for the growth of fungi. It is contagious and spread from person to person by sharing the towel or other things.

Symptoms

Most of the people are not aware that they have Athlete’s foot and they may think it as regular dry skin which goes by its own. Symptoms that commonly occurs is burning and itching of varying degrees. The skin may frequently peel, and in particularly severe cases, there may be some cracking, pain, and bleeding as well. But rarely it can cause blisters on sole. Mostly Athlete’s foot can look like slight flaky and dry skin and extensive conditions may look like peeling red skin with severe itching on the both the sides of the sole.

There are three common type of Athlete’s foots . (1) soles of the feet, also called “moccasin” type; (2) between the toes, also called “interdigital” type; and (3) inflammatory type or blistering.

Treatments

Once way to minimize the spread and formation is to keep the toe and foot clean and dry without making it moist so that it is less likely a medium for the fungus to grow. Using absorbent cotton socks make are dry by absorbing the excess moisture also help to minimize the fungus formation. Medicated powders can also make foot dry and clean . A home made remedy is to make a vinegar soaks prepared by diluting one part of vinegar with four-part of water and socking foot in it to aid treatment

Other treatment includes the use of creams and ointments containing ketoconazole or itraconazole or terbinafine. Use of topical corticosteroids actually make the area more susceptible for the fungus to grow. If the fungus spread to the nails a treatment for the nails should be started along with the regular treatments

Treatment options are limited in the pregnant women since oral antifungal are contraindicated in the pregnancy which may cause problem to the fetus. Home remedies like vinegar soaks or spray are preferred when other means of treatments are contraindicated

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