"If it's a nice sunny day, I tell people to loosen the laces and put their shoes out to air-dry," Dr. Don't forget to treat your bedroom slippers too.Īir out your shoes. If you have an active infection, do this every day with whatever shoes you wear. Let your shoes dry overnight before wearing them. Blast the insides of your shoes with a disinfectant spray such as Lysol, Dr. The same fungi that enjoy nibbling away at your toes also find refuge in your footwear. If you wear pantyhose: (1) Shield your feet with socks, (2) pull on your panties, (3) remove the socks, and (4) put on your hose.įumigate your footwear. Avoid this potentially maddening problem by getting dressed socks-first. "If your feet are actively infected, pulling your undies on over your bare feet is a sure way to transfer the fungus to your groin," says Dr. Drying your socks on a hot setting will also help destroy fungus, says Dr. Or soak them in a disinfectant solution for a few minutes before drying them.Ĭrank up the heat. When laundering socks and hose, add a capful of liquid Lysol disinfectant to the final rinse to help destroy fungus, says Dr. But you'll want to avoid using moisturizing creams or petroleum jelly on your feet, since these products trap moisture and can actually promote fungus growth, says Dr. Fungus-ridden feet may crack, peel, and look dry. "But to permanently eradicate fungus, you must continue using the cream for 50 percent longer than it took to clear up the problem." If it takes a month to knock out an entrenched fungus, for example, use the cream faithfully for an additional 2 weeks to really get the last of it. Used properly, over-the-counter fungus-killing creams such as tolnaftate (Aftate or Tinactin) and miconazole nitrate (in Micatin products) can work, says Dr. "This is the most absorbent foot powder available without a prescription."Ĭream the germs, and don't quit. She recommends an over-the-counter medicated powder, Zeasorb-AF, applied twice daily directly to your feet. Athlete's foot fungi can't survive without moisture, so the best thing that you can do is keep your feet desert-dry, says Dr. It calls for an all-out effort to eradicate the fungus on your feet and banish it from your footwear and house permanently. Digital media kit athlete cracked#The unsightly white flakes, cracked and peeling skin, and stubborn itch can drive you crazy. TreatmentYou pick up athlete's foot in swimming pools, locker rooms, and showers - even in your own bathroom if a family member has it. Otherwise, you re-expose your feet to trapped moisture and fungus. It's important to change your socks once a day, says Dr. "And unlike cotton, these fabrics air-dry quickly." Look for polypropylene socks and other foot-friendly fiber socks at sporting goods stores.Ĭhange your socks. Digital media kit athlete skin#Wicking fibers like polypropylene and Capilene that draw moisture away from the skin and release it into the air also keep the feet dry, even more so than cotton, says Phyllis Ragley, DPM, vice president of the American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine who practices in Lawrence, Kansas. Weiner suggests wearing cotton socks instead of stockings to and from work. "Wear cotton socks or all-cotton tights instead." If your job dictates that you wear stockings and pumps during work hours, Dr. "When it comes to the proliferation of athlete's foot, nylon panty hose are the biggest offenders," says Cheryl Weiner, DPM, a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. To prevent athlete's foot, wear flip-flops in public showers and locker rooms. Taking a bath instead of a shower can increase your risk of developing this problem. Conroy, DPM, a podiatrist in private practice in Philadelphia. These fungi can get around and possibly give you a vaginal infection, says Teresa G. Description & PreventionThe fungi that cause trouble (there are about six of them) are organisms whose idea of a great place to hang out is in the damp skin between toes and on the bottom and sides of feet.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |