Protect Yourself from Athlete's Foot

At first you think you just have dry skin on your foot. Then it starts to burn and itch really badly, especially between your toes and then on the soles of your feet. Chances are, you have Athlete’s Foot, or as it’s known by its technical name, tinea pedis.

Where Does Athlete’s Foot Come From?

Athlete’s Foot is caused by a fungus. As with all fungi, warm, dark, damp places encourage it to grow and thrive. Public swimming pools, showers, and gym locker rooms are all places that are likely to harbor the fungus that causes Athlete’s Foot. The fungus is spread by direct contact. You can greatly reduce your chances of getting Athlete’s Foot if you follow a few simple precautions:

• Don’t walk barefoot in public places where other people walk, particularly places that are damp and humid, such as pools, gyms, locker rooms, nail salons. It’s even a good idea to wear slippers or flip-flops in hotel rooms.
• Change your socks frequently if you perspire.
• Reduce foot perspiration by using talcum powder daily.
• Choose shoes that are made of breathable materials

Although Athlete’s Foot usually starts between the toes, it can quickly spread to the soles of the feet, toenails, and even other parts of the body. At Southern Maryland Foot & Ankle we encourage patients to come in to see one of our foot doctors, Dr. Larry Hotchkiss, Dr. Jashan Valjee, and Dr. Gregory Cardinal to get Athlete’s Foot treated promptly before it can spread. After a complete exam of your foot, the podiatrist will determine the most effective treatment for you. It may be a topical fungicide or an oral antifungal drug depending on the severity of the infection. If an infection has developed, an antibiotic will also be needed.

If you have symptoms of Athlete’s Foot, make an appointment at either our Clinton or Waldorf office to get a definitive diagnosis and the proper treatment.