Athletes foot – Olympic Edition
Whilst we enjoy the Olympic games watching athletes from across the world compete you might expect a good proportion of them to develop athletes foot. Yet the opposite is probably true and by the end of this article you should understand why.
So why is this annoying and unpleasant and sometimes even dangerous condition given this name and what is it. In this article I’ll be answering those questions, debunking some of the myths and misconceptions around the condition and hopefully giving you a route to athletes foot free feet.
- It’s a bacterial infection, can’t I have antibiotics?
Athletes foot is not a bacterial infection but actually an infection caused by another microbe called a fungus. There are different types, and they can present with different appearances on different people and so may need different types of treatment.
- I’m no athlete so I’m not at risk – am I? – the name suggests that only Athletes get it but actually as many of you will know it certainly isn’t fussy about who’s foot it makes its home. So why give it this name- the reason is because the fungus causing most cases thrives in a dark damp and warm environment. The feet of athletes are likely to sweat and get warm and once in their shoes the perfect environment is created so that if any fungal spores get introduced, they have a good chance of establishing a colony on the person’s skin.
But you do not have to be an athlete to get sweaty feet and in fact the average pair of feet perspire ¼ pint of sweat in a day. So, anyone can be prone to it.
- Its only my feet- it cannot spread, can it? Actually, it can, and it may not be too pleasant. It can infect your hands especially if you start picking or scratching the itchiness on your feet. Furthermore, Jock itch is caused by the same fungus getting introduced to your groin (Another dark damp area- enough said) so care should be taken with putting on underwear which obviously passes up over the feet or using a towel to dry your feet before your groin.
Different people seem to be more susceptible to infection and its not uncommon for people to have it for many years in just one foot with the other being totally clear.
- It cannot be athletes foot it doesn’t itch.
Athlete’s foot will usually itch especially when the foot is warm, but it doesn’t always. Get any strange marks, blisters checked out by a Podiatrist.
- I’m clean, I wash every day, don’t only dirty people get it?
Unfortunately, you can have the cleanest possible feet but if the fungus finds its way onto your foot and is able to colonise there then you will get an infection. The problem is the fungus is all around and anywhere you walk barefoot is likely to be a source of infection. I am especially careful in changing rooms and hotel rooms by wearing a flipflop to protect me.
Additionally, although it is good to wash your feet daily and that should help prevent the fungus really taking over sometimes if great care isn’t taken to dry them then that moist skin (especially if put straight into a sock and shoe before rushing off to work) becomes the perfect environment for any fungus to thrive.
- Don’t you only get it between the toes? That is the darkest and often the sweatiest airless place on the feet and so it is common but by no means the only site. It can also affect any other area of skin, most commonly the arches and around the edges of the feet where the skin on the sides of the feet meets the weight bearing soles.
- I have heard some people say I should wear sandals and others that I should wear socks and shoes- who’s right. Neither really, even in a sandal the skin can get sweaty where it touches the sole. Letting the air get to them or wearing hosiery that allows any moisture to wick away is ideal.
Generally, I find that natural fibres are best and bamboo socks particularly are good at wicking moisture away from the skin. However, cotton and wool can get saturated and sometimes a thin layer of manmade material in the form of a sock liner can help keep the immediate surface in contact with the skin drier.
You could also try changing your socks a couple of times a day.
- Wont my body just fight it and get rid of it? The simple answer is no although good management will usually subdue it
- So, you mean once you’ve got it you’re stuck with it. For many people it may seem so, as it can be quite hard to clear up. Just keeping the feet drier will help, but the fungus and its spores really need to be killed.
For the skin this usually is in the form of a fungicidal preparation as a cream, spray, gel or powder.
Occasionally for very persistent infections an oral medication may be indicated but this is very toxic and can have nasty side effects as well as potentially damaging the liver. As there are different types of fungus you may be advised to have a sample sent off to identify which bug is causing it and thus what medication is most likely to work.
- Mine seemed to clear up and then came back. Why?
The 3 most common reasons are.
- a) Not following the instructions and stopping using the medication early because you think it has cleared up. Remember fungus is microscopic- you won’t see it – you only see the symptoms so its quite possible the medication works and the symptoms disappear, but a small amount of fungus remains. Always complete the course as advised.
- b) You get rid of it but your habits don’t change and your feet are going back into the same shoes with fungal spores in them. You can try to dust the shoes with anti-fungal powder, use a Klenz machine or just leave them out in the sunshine with laces undone and the footbeds removed. ( not a good idea if you have a problem with foxes in your garden )
- c) You have a fungal infection in the nails which becomes a constant source of reinfection. See a podiatrist who will advise on the best treatment option for you.
In summary probably the best thing you can remember to do daily is wash and then dry carefully and thoroughly. I often advise my patients to shower in the evening or if they feel they must in the morning that they get up 15 minutes early so they can leave at least a 15 minute air drying time for their feet. It can also help to use a bit of folded over kitchen paper to “floss” between the toes as this will dry them much better than a towel.
Personally as I shared here last month I find that going to the beach nearly always leaves me with a flare up between my little toe and the next one. I put it down to the sand being abrasive stuck in the gap. A tip that can really help prevent this after a trip to the beach is to sprinkle some talcum powder on your feet and simply rubbing. The talc dries the surface and the sand cant stick any more and so drops off. (also stops your car being covered in sand from the kids feet – just have to put up with the talc )
Why not pop along and get your feet checked. If you’re in London or Surrey then please do come along for an initial consultation at Circle Podiatry or go to the website