03 August 2004
Despite its widespread occurrence in the Middle East, when asked, surprisingly few people know what Athlete's Foot actually is, how serious it is or how to prevent or treat it. A common fungal infection, Athlete's Foot can be easily picked up and spread to other people, but there are also factors in our lifestyles in the Middle East that put us at greater risk of infection. The best way to reduce this risk is to learn to spot the symptoms of Athlete's Foot and recognize the factors in our daily activities that encourage its development.

Athlete's Foot has most sufferers experiencing an itching, burning sensation and blistering and cracking of the skin of the foot, especially between the toes.  Sometimes the skin can become dry, red and flaky or it may become white and moist.  If you think you may have the infection, don't ignore it! Get it checked by a doctor. If the infection is left untreated, it is not only uncomfortable for the sufferer, but it can spread to other parts of the body, including the nails, or to other people, and in extreme cases, it can even be disabling.

Ask your pharmacist for a fungicidal treatment, such as Lamisil cream or spray, which actually kills the fungus in as little as seven days and prevent re-infection for a further three months.  You can also help to avoid re-infection by spraying shoes with an anti-fungal spray.

You also need to be aware of the conditions that help this infection thrive among so many in this region, so you can modify your lifestyle and stay clear of this irritating condition.

Perfect Weather

Athlete's Foot thrives in warm, moist conditions.  The reason Athlete's Foot is so common in the Middle East is because the hot humid weather means closed shoes quickly become sweaty and become an ideal breeding ground for the fungus.  The hotter the weather, the more likely your feet are to sweat and the higher risk of Athlete's Foot - that's why this condition tends to peak around the summer months in this region.

Slippers and Sandals

The hot weather for most of the year, and the national dress in Gulf counties in particular, makes sandals and slippers the footwear of choice for most men and women in the region. Open shoes are the perfect defense against Athlete's Foot, but with only one snag. Because slippers don't hold feet firmly in place, they cause friction between the skin on the heel and the inside of the shoe as the feet slide with movement. This friction causes dryness on the skin and possible cuts, which break down the protective barrier of the skin and offer an ideal breeding ground for the Athlete's Foot fungus. The best compromise is to wear sandals as much as possible to allow feet to breathe, but also to be extra careful to remove dry skin and moisturize feet regularly.

Increased risk with Diabetes

The current global estimate of people suffering from diabetes is 194 million and is set to rise to 333 million by 20251. People with diabetes suffer an increased risk of Athlete's Foot because the high glucose levels in the blood, which affects people with diabetes, slows down circulation.  This means that not enough oxygen is reaching the nerve tissue in the feet - needed to heal the ulcers or sores.  If you have diabetes, be Athlete's Foot aware and check feet regularly for infection. 

Lack of awareness

  • The Diabetes Atlas 2003, IDF Athlete's Foot is unfortunately one of those problems that won't just go away if you choose to ignore it. The lack of awareness of this condition in the Middle East (a recent survey by Novartis Consumer Health found 41% of total respondents had never heard of Athlete's Foot!) is a major part of the problem with people unknowingly putting themselves and others at risk of catching it. Sharing towels that have been used to dry feet, not giving feet the care they deserve to protect them, and walking barefoot in public changing rooms or around swimming pools (high-risk areas for Athlete's Foot) are all factors that contribute to an increased risk of infection in this region. And if you don't know about it, then you won't know how to recognize the signs, which means that you'll be giving the infection a head start and allowing it to spread further on the foot and possibly nails, making the condition more uncomfortable and treatment more difficult.

    Prevention

    Regular washing of the feet, at least once a day, will help to prevent sweatiness, which can lead to Athlete's Foot.  It's also important that the feet are always dried thoroughly, especially between the toes, before putting shoes on.  If feet are damp when the shoes are put on, they will quickly become sweaty and encourage fungal growth.   Wearing open shoes or shoes made of natural materials, such as leather or canvas, and socks made of a natural absorbent fibre, such as cotton, can help prevent feet from becoming sweaty by allowing the foot to breathe.

    There is no reason to be embarrassed if you have Athlete's Foot - it is very common!  If you do have the infection, prevent its spread on the feet and to other people by treating it immediately with an effective topical anti-fungal preparation.  Learn to spot the first signs of infection and take steps to minimize your risk of getting Athlete's Foot for healthier feet.

    Box Out

    Look out for the following Athlete's Foot symptoms:

     Cracked, red and peeling skin

     Itching, especially between the toes

     A burning or stinging sensation

     Small blisters

     Bleeding

     Unpleasant smell

    -Ends-

    • © Press Release 2004