Do you tend to walk around barefoot in gym locker rooms, spas, hotels, or at school? When you come out of the bath or shower, do you sometimes forget to fully dry your toes and the space between them? Watch out! Habits like these are major causes of athlete's foot, and if not addressed, it could happen to you. Take a look at our full list of tips and tricks to learn how to prevent athlete's foot, a foot fungus also known as tinea pedis.
What is Athlete’s Foot?
Athlete's foot is one of the most common foot infections, which is due in part by how easy it is to catch. Small habits like walking barefoot on damp surfaces in communal areas, or certain personal care habits, can make it more likely that you will get the foot fungus.
Athlete's foot symptoms include redness, cracking, burning, peeling, and itching of the feet. Generally affecting the skin between the toes, athlete's foot can spread to other parts of the foot, such as the sole and sides of the feet. It can also easily spread from one foot to the other, from person to person, and onto the skin from a contaminated item.
Not only will it make you physically uncomfortable, but the cracking and peeling of your feet can lower your confidence and cause you to avoid social situations in which you need to show your feet such as a day at the beach.
For this reason, it is better to prevent athlete's foot as much as you can. Following these tips can help you to prevent this type of fungal infection from interrupting your life so that you can continue to show off your healthy and happy feet.
Athlete's Foot Prevention Tips
Did you know that you may unknowingly be making some foot hygiene and foot care oversights that can put you at a higher risk of getting athlete's foot? Fortunately these are pretty easy to avoid! Here is an extensive list of tips to pay attention to for the healthiest feet possible:
• Wash your feet daily with mild soap and water.
• Avoid using very hot water when washing your feet.
• Don't let your feet soak for long periods of time.
• After washing your feet, be sure to dry them thoroughly, paying special attention to the skin between your toes.
• Always use a fresh, dry pair of socks (preferably made of cotton) each day.
• When buying shoes and socks, look for those that are made of natural materials that allow your feet to breathe. Synthetic materials tend to cause more sweating, which creates the perfect environment for foot fungus to grow and reproduce.
• Keep your shoes clean and dry.
• Use flip-flops, water shoes, or sandals when walking on wet or damp communal areas such as pools, spas, locker rooms, public showers, and hotels.
• Don't share towels, shoes, or nail clippers.
• Wear shoes that fit you, making sure that your feet have plenty of room to move around and breathe in them.
• Cut your toenails regularly in a straight line so that they do not become ingrown. If they start to become a problem, talk to a certified podologist.
• Wash your hands after touching your feet.
Foot Powder to Complement your Routine
While following the aforementioned foot care tips will undoubtedly help you ward off athlete's foot, foot powder can complement your efforts. Using foot powder can help reduce foot sweating and help prevent foot fungus and smelly feet by absorbing excess moisture.
There is even purpose-made athlete's foot powder, that contains antifungal or antimicrobial ingredients that eliminate and prevent foot fungus. These powders may also contain deodorants that give your feet a fresh feeling that lasts for hours.
For those that don't want to deal with the mess of a powder, Silka's liquid powder is a great option. You simply apply the product as a cream, and it dries to a powder in seconds. The creamy texture allows it to soak into all of the crevices of the foot, absorbing excess moisture, getting rid of foot odor, and leaving your feet feeling refreshed.
Proper foot hygiene and the use of athlete's foot powder are some of the best steps that you can take to improve your foot health and prevent athlete's foot; however, if you start to notice a sudden deterioration in your foot health or any type of anomaly, it is always best to make an appointment with your primary care doctor or a podologist.
Take care!
