How to Prevent Athlete's Foot

Athlete’s foot is a very common type of fungal infection that easily spreads from one person to the next. While treatment can help, avoiding athlete’s foot is the best way to enjoy your spring and summer. 

Capital Podiatry Associates and Leland Gilmore, DPM, and Shalin Panchigar, DPM, offer the following tips to help residents of Alexandria, Virginia, avoid athlete’s foot as the temperature rises. 

What is athlete’s foot?

Athlete’s foot is a type of fungal infection that develops on the soles of your feet. It’s incredibly common, and most people will experience the condition at some point in life. Men have a higher risk than women, and people over the age of 60 also have an elevated risk. 

Athlete’s foot occurs when certain types of fungi make contact with your skin. One of the most common ways to pick up athlete’s foot is by walking barefoot on shared, wet floor surfaces. Gym showers and locker rooms are a great example, and where the infection took on the name “athlete’s foot.” 

But you can also pick up athletes foot in other ways, including:

• Skin-to-skin contact with another person who has athlete’s foot
• Wearing someone else’s socks or shoes
• Using a shared towel
• Walking barefoot on dry floors or outdoor surfaces

Here are some of the signs you may have athlete’s foot:

• Itching on your feet
• Visible scaly, peeling, or cracked skin between your toes
• Skin that takes on a red, purple, or gray tone
• Blisters
• Sensations of burning or stinging
• Scaly or dry skin on the bottom of your foot that extends up the side

In most cases, significant itching is the primary sign of an athlete’s foot infection. 

Here’s how to prevent athlete’s foot

If you’re concerned about athlete’s foot, you can take simple steps to dramatically reduce your risk of this common fungal infection. 

First, consider wearing a pair of waterproof shoes or sandals while walking on shared wet surfaces. This includes the showers at a gym or spa, as well as hotel rooms, where the previous guests may have been walking barefoot just hours earlier. Look for a pair that fits comfortably and is easy to take with you on the go. It doesn’t take long before putting on your “shower shoes” becomes just another part of your routine. 

You can also reduce your risk by not sharing socks, shoes, or towels with anyone else. Athlete’s foot often spreads quickly within families because of shared textiles. You should also know that the fungal infection can spread to other areas of your body, including your groin, toenails, or hands. 

Take care to thoroughly wash your feet with soap each day, taking care to reach between your toes. After showering or bathing, dry your feet completely, including between your toes. 

Fungus thrives in warm, damp conditions, so every step you take to keep your feet dry will reduce your risk of infection. This includes giving your shoes a chance to thoroughly dry out before you wear them again. If you’re very active, this may mean alternating between trainers or running shoes during the week. 

Don’t postpone seeking treatment if you have athlete’s foot

If you or a loved one develops athlete’s foot, it’s important to begin treatment as soon as possible. Over-the-counter products can help, but they aren’t always effective. 

At Capital Podiatry Associates, you have access to the very latest treatment options for athlete’s foot. Prescription medication can address the infection from within, and your practitioners can guide you toward the best available topical treatments. 

Left untreated, athlete’s foot can worsen, leading to symptoms that disrupt your daily life. The infection can also spread to other areas of your body, as mentioned above. 

The longer you live with athlete’s foot, the higher the chance that multiple surfaces within your home will carry the fungi that cause these infections. Part of treating athlete’s foot involves treating those surfaces to eliminate the fungi. Certain sprays can kill fungi on hard surfaces as well as in your shoes. Washing all towels and socks with detergent in hot water is also important. 

If you need treatment for athlete’s foot, help is available at Capital Podiatry Associates. It’s easy to schedule a visit online, and you can always call the office to check appointment availability.