Athlete’s foot is a fungal infection that can appear between the toes or in the arch of the foot. This fungus is contagious and can spread to the toenails and even your hands. Most athletes experience this at one time or another due to tight shoes and constant sweating when on the field, which, by the way, gave it its name of Athlete’s Foot.Dr. Mark Forman, DPM, M.B.A., FAPWCA, a well-established foot and ankle Scottsdale specialist at Put Your Feet First and the Dermatologist want people to know that Athlete’s foot does not just favor athletes, but can occur in anyone, especially those wearing tights or using joint showers. Therefore children showering at summer camp, people showering in gyms, or the like are prone as well.
Symptoms of Athlete’s foot
If your foot and toes begin to hurt and you notice an itchy rash that stings and burns, Dr. Forman might conclude it is Athlete’s foot. Other signs include itchiness, blisters, cracking and peeling of your skin between the toes, and discoloration.
Dr. Mark Forman, DPM, believes this most often is not serious; however, if you have diabetes, if your immune system is compromised in any way, or if home remedies are not working, call your podiatrist right away. Simple matters can easily turn into big problems. We at Put Your Feet First would like to help you prevent this from becoming serious, so please call us right away.
Preventions
Dr. Forman recommends various ways to prevent Athlete’s Foot from occurring. Athlete’s foot can often be treated with over-the-counter (OTC) topical antifungal medications. If OTC medications are not working well, your doctor may prescribe topical or oral prescription-strength antifungal medications. Your doctor may also recommend other home treatments to help clear up the infection.
Dr. Mark Forman and his all-star team at Put Your Feet First recommend the following treatments to apply to your foot:
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OTC medicines that include powder, sprays, ointments, and lotions.
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Tea tree oil, as it has antifungal and antibacterial properties.
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Neem oil, as the leaf extracts contain antifungal properties.
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Soaking in epsom salt baths.
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Applying Talcum powder when the foot is clean and dry.
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Maintaining clean and dry feet.
If these home remedies do not alleviate the pain and injury within a day or two, please contact us right away at Put Your Feet First, so we can speed up your recovery in painless ways.
If you are struggling with your healing process, please visit us online, Put Your Feet Foot, or call us at 480.423.8400 and schedule an appointment to visit with our specialist, Dr. Mark Forman, DPM right away. We are here to help you. We put our patients and their feet first.