Athlete’s Foot (Tinea Pedis)
A very common skin infection known as Tinea pedis, also referred to as “Athletes Foot” is a fungal condition that affects our feet. This condition thrives in salty, dark, moist and sweaty environments. Therefore, our feet tend to be a perfect environment for this infection to grow and feed on the keratin (outlayer of human skin). Often this highly contagious infection can spread to other parts of our body.
Common signs and symptoms:
Peeling and cracking of skin between toes or beneath the feet
Rash and redness appearance on skin
Stinging and burning
Foul foot odour
Cracked heels
Scaling and raw appearance on skin
Blistering
What causes athlete’s foot?
Athletes' foot is caused by fungus called dermatophytes which grow in salt, warm and moist environments such as our socks and shoes. Fungus is contagious and may spread through direct or indirect contact (i.e. showers, gyms and swimming pools). The populations that demonstrate fungal infection are those individuals who wear socks and shoes for extended periods of times (i.e. athletes or construction workers) or those that have sweaty feet.
Treatment
There are a few treatment options depending on the state of the fungal skin infection that the Chiropodist will discuss with you based on your particular presentation. These include:
an anti-fungal prescription
Prevention strategies: ensuring proper foot hygiene is maintained and that the area between the toes is dried after showering. As well, making sure to change and wash socks after sweaty activities and routinely disinfect the insides of all shoes.
The foot specialists at East Foot Clinic can easily help treat athlete’s foot. To book an appointment please call 647-501-3338 or email info@eastfootclinic.com.