Athlete’s Foot – Actual Treatment For A Actual Infection

Athlete’s foot is occurring in millions of people at any given moment, and is a condition that most people are able to self-diagnose due to widespread knowledge of it’s existence and symptoms. Although not necessarily seen in athletes, Athlete’s foot, or tinea pedis, is a skin infection caused by fungus. Fungus is an opportunistic organism that grows best in warm, dark, moist environments. The foot is well suited for this organism’s growth, as it is often encased in a warm sock and shoe that blocks out all light. Fungus may spread from one person to another, usually in places where there is moisture like showers, locker rooms, and bathrooms.

The fungus may cause dry, cracked, itchy skin, as well as blisters and wet, sore areas in between the toes. In advanced cases, burning pain may also be felt. One may have only some of these symptoms, or one may have all of them. This infection can have a wide range of severity. The skin infection can even spread to the nails. Generally, the infection is limited to the foot, but if untreated it may persist for years, with symptoms that may disappear and then reappear. The most common type of fungus to cause this infection is called a dermatophyte. Other types of fungus include yeasts like candida. Bacteria may eventually infect the skin at the same time and cause more serious problems. Usually this bacteria is from the staphylococcus and streptococcus family, although other species can be found. At times, identification of the proper species of fungus or bacteria superficially infecting the skin may be necessary if treatment is not effective. However, this is not common unless there is concern for a more serious infection.

Although Athlete’s foot is a common problem, it can easily be prevented. Preventative treatment is centered around removing the favorable environment for the fungus, and consists of careful drying of the feet after bathing with special attention being made to the areas in between the toes. If overly sweaty feet are present, socks should be changed more frequently than normal. A synthetic material sock has a better ability to wick away perspiration away from the skin than a natural fiber like cotton. Shoes should also be sprayed periodically with an aerosol anti-fungal or disinfectant, and showers and tubs should be cleaned regularly to destroy any lingering fungus. These organisms can grow in just about any environment, and someone in the family does not necessarily have to be infected to spread it at home. Treatment of one’s own foot and its barefoot environment can go a long way to help reduce the likelihood of getting the infection in the first place, or redeveloping it after treatment.

Treatment of active infections is very effective and consists of topical anti-fungal lotions or creams, oral anti-fungal medications, or a combination of both. Most infections take between 2-4 weeks to resolve, even with the best medication. Over-the-counter anti-fungal preparations may not be strong enough to treat this infection, and often prescription medications are necessary to achieve full resolution. What I usually see in patients who treat themselves at home with over-the-counter medications is infections that appear to resolve visually, but still remain slowly active because the medication was not strong enough to eradicate the infection fully and treatment was discontinued too early because it ‘looked gone’. The infection usually reactivates a short time later, causing people to believe they had become ‘reinfected’ and starting the treatment process all over again.

Although reinfections can and do occur, it is more likely that most short term reinfections after home treatment are due primarily to incomplete eradication of the fungus. The use of a prescription anti-fungal medication is often preferred for this very reason. Topical medications for this use are great in number, and are usually cream or gel based. They are to be applied twice a day to the foot, and should be spread over the entirety of the sole of the foot, up the sides, as well as in between the toes and around the nails, even if those areas look healthy visually. Fungus can spread easily and quickly, and the entire foot should be treated as if the infection was everywhere. Interestingly, it is not common for the top of the foot to become infected with the more common type of foot fungus, except near the toe web spaces. Ringworm (a variation of this same fungus, not a worm) can involve the top of the foot, but this is usually a separate process from Athlete’s foot (and is generally seen as a circle or ring of reddish discoloration on the top of the foot and ankle, or around the sides). It is important not to skip applications of the medication, as it’s effectiveness can be compromised if one is not applying it faithfully twice a day. There are times in which the fungal infection is too severe and widespread, and topical medication may not be the most effective choice. Oral anti-fungal medications are preferred in this case. The medication requires about four weeks of use to eradicate more serious fungal infections (twelve weeks if the infection reaches the nail). These medications are not advised for those with liver disease, as extended use has a slight and rare chance of causing liver problems. However, this is generally not the case in the relatively short span of use required to treat Athlete’s foot. Like the topical medication, daily use is required, as skipped doses can alter the effectiveness of the medication.

Despite the best treatment it is true that certain people may be susceptible to this infection, and often become infected again and again. The continuous weekly use of anti-fungal topical medication may help prevent re-occurrence in these individuals. One’s doctor will be able to determine that at the completion of a treatment course, and may advise long term anti-fungal prophylactic therapy if one has a history of frequent infections.

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