More than any other part of the body, our feet bear the brunt of our active lifestyles and put up with a lot of torture and abuse throughout our lives. Often neglected, we shove our feet into attractive, despite being uncomfortable, shoes, and keep them in moist, bacteria-and fungus-laden environments. They protest, of course, by developing infections, corns, calluses, and blisters that tend to cause us pain.
Here we take a look at the most common foot infection; tenia pedis, better known as athelete's foot, and how to prevent such an infection from occuring....
With the summer now upon us, the soaring summer heat, combined with horrendous humidity, brings excess moisture and sweating to our bodies, creating the perfect environment for fungi to grow and fungal infections to develop. Regardless of whether you're down at the beach, pool, attending the gym with friends, or even roaming around the house, there's a much higher chance of developing a fungal infection during the summer months.
Athlete's foot, a fungal infection, not a bacteria or virus, is highly contagious with a high recurrence rate if not treated efficiently. The infection generally occurs between the fourth and fifth toes on the sole of the foot but may spread to other parts of the foot, including toenails and can also extend to other parts of the body, including the hands, groin and armpits. The spread of the infection is triggered by those who scratch the infection and then touch themselves in other places.
The most common symptoms of Athlete's foot include:
- Cracked, blistered and peeling areas between the toes
- Painful & Stinging feeling on the infected area
- A redness and scaling on the soles of the feet
- Intense itching between the toes
Left untreated, the skin can crack further and bacteria can set up camp, increasing discomfort and causing an unpleasant smell. One of the most common complications of athlete's foot is the spread of the fungi to the toenails, which generally occurs if the problem is not treated. This is called a fungal nail infection and may lead to a yellowing and thickening of the toenail. Advice should be sought from a doctor or chiropodiatrist if this does occur.
Athlete's foot is estimated to affect 70 percent of adults at some point in their lives and despite this figure predominantly consisting of males; females and children are also likely to catch it, should the appropriate conditions be present. Not too many people fully understand what athlete's foot is but for those who have heard of it or do have some knowledge relating to it, contrary to popular belief, walking barefoot in places like public showers, swimming pools, and locker rooms, are contributing factors, but not the main cause. "Sweaty feet, not drying feet well after swimming, bathing, or washing, wearing tight or closed shoes and socks which offer little or no ventilation, and a warm climate, comprise the perfect setting for the fungus that causes athlete's foot to grow," comments Mr. George Wagih, who works with Lamisil at Novartis Consumer Health.
Whilst it may not always be easy to avoid catching athlete's foot and other fungal infections, there are certain precautions that can be taken to lessen the chances of catching it. As the age old saying goes: 'Prevention is better than cure' and this can be achieved by:
- Washing your feet daily and drying thoroughly, especially between toes
- Avoiding tight footwear, especially in the summer. Open & ventilated footwear is best used during summer
- Wearing socks that allow feet to breathe (cotton) and change them daily or more frequently if they become damp
- Avoiding barefoot walking and instead wearing water proof sandals when in public facilities for showering
- Avoiding the sharing of towels or footwear
- Allowing shoes to air and dry out before reusing
With the foot containing more than 250,000 sweat glands, some perspire more heavily than others and as a result, are more prone to suffer from the infection. The likelihood of catching it is reduced by following the above observations.
If you do have athlete's foot do not despair, there are numerous creams and sprays on the market to aid in dealing with the fungal infection. The spray is best since it dries much quicker and there is no need to get your hands involved in touching the cream. Whilst some of these products set out to treat the infection, others such as Lamisil are there to cure; a brand that is not only fungistatic (stops fungal growth) but also fungicidal (kills fungus). Time is another issue that should be taken into account when selecting which antifungal product should be used. Most brands on the market take 3 - 4 weeks of use before treatment is finished, others are quicker and one, scientifically proven to cure after a week of treatment.
If you notice no improvement within one week of using an over the counter product, consult your pharmacist to offer you a brand that works quicker. If after another week, there is still no improvement, consult a doctor to determine if a fungus is the cause of the problem. In more severe cases, a doctor may instruct you to soak your feet before applying antifungal creams or sprays. If your athlete's foot is stubborn, antifungal oral medication may be prescribed by a doctor or physician.
Remember, if you are unfortunate to catch the infection, it is highly contagious so out of courtesy to others, do not walk barefoot and put yourself in a situation that will make it more likely for others to catch.
-Ends-
For further information, please contact:
Sam Gad - TRACCS Public Relations
Tel: 00971 4 367 2530
Fax: 00971 4 377 2531
sam.gad@traccs.net
© Press Release 2006
