HOW TO PREVENT AND GET RID OF ATHLETE’S FOOT
You don’t have to be an athlete to contact this common skin condition in which the skin between the toes becomes itchy and sore. Sometimes the skin will crack and peal away and, on occasion blister. The culprit is a fungal infection which thrives in warm, moist conditions. Sweaty footwear is often the breeding ground for this painful and annoying foot menace.
Here are some suggestions on how to prevent athlete’s foot and how to treat it once you’ve got it:
1) Buy two pairs of shoes— if possible, never wear the same pair of shoes day after day. It normally takes shoes at least 24 hours to dry out completely. You can also try keeping the insides of your shoes dry and clean with frequent use ol antifungal powder or spray and by wiping them with a disinfectant, such as Lysol, occasionally. Shoes that allow evaporation of moisture are best.
2) Change your socks— if your feet have a perverse tendency to perspire a lot, it’s a good idea to change your socks two or three times a day— cotton socks are best. To prevent the organism from breeding, it’s important that you make its living conditions as inhospitable as possible—clean and dry.
3) Dry your feet— after a shower or a bath, make sure your feet are allowed to dry thoroughly before you put them into shoes and socks. Once you’re sure your feet are dry, apply powder to help them stay that way.
4) Don’t go barefoot in public— you can help reduce the risk of contracting athlete’s foot by wearing slippers and/or shower shoes whenever you are in places where other people often walk around barefoot— swimming pools, health clubs, spas, gyms, locker rooms, and so on.
5) Wash your feet— once you have it, careful hygiene is often treatment enough, without having to resort to drugs. At least twice a day, you should wash the space between your toes with soap, water and a cloth. Be sure to dry the infected area thoroughly with a towel— especially the painful area between the toes. And always put on clean, dry socks.
6) Try aluminum chloride— a twice-daily application of a 30 percent aluminum chloride solution is often effective treatment because of its drying and antibacterial properties. Have your pharmacist make up the solution and use a cotton swab to apply it between your toes at least two times a day. Continue the treatment for two weeks after the condition has cleared up.
7) Use over-the-counter medications— once the infection has cleared up, you should take every precaution to keep it from recurring. One way to do that is to apply over-the-counter antifungal cream or lotion.
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