The red, itchy, peeling and burning skin that is caused by the fungal infection athlete’s foot is something we would all like to avoid, and there are some precautions you can take to keep your feet healthy and avoid this often smelly and unsightly occurrence. Since the fungi that grow and cause this condition are ubiquitous, it can be hard to avoid.

Tips you can employ to keep athlete’s foot fungus under control include the following:

• Your feet need to breathe—Let your feet dry out every day by taking off your shoes and socks and just letting them hang out for awhile. Wear shoes made of breathable fabrics like canvas and Goretex.
• Keep sweaty feet dry—Some individuals are more prone to sweating on their feet from a condition called hyperhidrosis, but many people have very sweaty feet. If you are prone to excessive sweating on your feet, it’s important to keep fungus at bay with antifungal spray or powder in you shoes and on your feet. You can also help to keep your feet drier by using cornstarch or baking soda.
• Avoid contagion—Don’t share shoes, socks, or towels with other people. If someone in your household has the infection, take steps to avoid coming into contact with the fungi. Keep the shower area clean and be sure to change your socks every day. Be sure to wash your feet every day with warm water and soap and dry carefully, especially between the toes, where fungal organisms love to grow.

If you are experiencing complications with foot fungus, your foot care specialist can help. At Your Next Step, our team of board-certified podiatrists has access to advanced technologies and years of experience to help diagnose and treat a variety of podiatric issues like sports injuries, joint pain, toe deformities, nail fungus, chronic tendon pain, and skin problems. Dr. Eric Ricefield, Dr. Mark Yagodich and Dr. Aliza V. Eisen provide high quality foot and ankle care to patients in the greater Philadelphia area. Our offices are conveniently located in Ardmore, Paoli, and Downingtown, PA. Please contact us for more information or to schedule an appointment.