close up of feet

What Are the Most Effective Treatments for Athlete’s Foot?

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Estimates of athlete’s foot are relatively high in the US, with as many as 15% of the population having it at any given time. If you have it, you likely have itchy or blistered feet. In addition to being uncomfortable, it can also be contagious. We’ll look at the top treatments for the condition and what you can do to end the madness.

OTC Vs. Prescription Treatments

There are antifungal medications that you can buy at the store or get from your doctor. Mild cases of athlete’s foot can often be treated by a brand like Tinactin or Lotrimin. Look for active ingredients like clotrimazole, miconazole, terbinafine, or tolnaftate.

If your athlete’s foot in Pflugerville, TX is more stubborn or advanced, you may need a prescription-strength medication from a podiatrist in Austin. These medications may be topical and/or oral, and it’s important to follow the directions carefully to clear up the condition. If you’re going to use a prescription-based medication, it should be done only after speaking to a doctor. Certain treatments may cause adverse effects if you’re taking other types of medication.

Preventing athlete’s foot in the future often means keeping your feet as dry as possible. This means washing and drying between the toes twice a day and changing your socks when they’re sweaty. You should also avoid ill-fitting shoes to avoid unnecessary congestion, particularly during the warmer months of the year.

Athlete’s Foot in Pflugerville, TX

No matter what type of athlete’s foot you have, experts recommend seeing a podiatrist in Austin if it’s either advanced or a chronic problem. At Dr. Jeffrey Lamour, DPM, PA, you’ll work with a foot doctor who can identify a treatment you can count on and help prevent the condition from coming back.

athletes-foot

Can Sweat Cause Athlete’s Foot?

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Athlete’s foot is a type of fungus that develops on the skin of the feet. Usually found between toes, the condition can be caused by excess sweat. However, this is by no means the only cause of the disorder. If you’re concerned about athlete’s foot in Austin or Pflugerville, TX, we’ll look at how to identify it and what you can do to prevent it.

How Athlete’s Foot Manifests 

The most common sign of athlete’s foot is a scaly, red rash, though it can also be purple or gray. Itching, burning, and stinging usually accompany the physical symptoms, particularly when shoes or socks are removed. Some people will have blisters or extremely dry skin on the bottom of their foot that also creeps up the sides of the foot.

What Causes Athlete’s Foot? 

The name of the fungus is dermatophytes, which can be found anywhere from locker rooms to swimming pools. The fungus is contagious and can cause anything from athlete’s foot to jock itch to ringworm. Closed-toe shoes and sweat have both been linked to the condition, as has walking around barefoot in public areas. To prevent athlete’s foot, wear protective footwear (e.g., slippers, etc.) in public, choose loose-fitting shoes when possible, and clean your feet regularly (including between the toes).

Foot Doctors in Austin or Pflugerville

If you’re looking for a podiatrist in Austin or Pflugerville, TX, it may be because you have symptoms that haven’t gone away on their own. While there are plenty of over-the-counter treatments available, you’ll want to see a DPM if the itching and rash persists. You may need a stronger antifungal medicine than those you can buy at the drugstore. With offices in Austin and Pflugerville, Dr. Jeffrey Lamour, DPM, PA is here to be of service.

What Causes Chronic Itch?

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Your podiatrist in Austin sees a lot of issues with feet, including chronic itch. Chronic foot itch is more common than you might think. It’s a condition that affects people all over the world, and it doesn’t matter how young or old you are. However, there are several possible causes of chronic foot itch, which is why a professional diagnosis by your Austin podiatrist is always recommended.

Athlete’s Feet

Athlete’s feet is so-called because it most often occurs in athletes. This is actually a fungal infection and fungi thrive in dark, warm, and moist environments, like that inside of sweaty socks after exercising. Athlete’s feet causes chronic itch, but there are other symptoms like redness and skin sloughing. It can be quite painful, but it’s easily remedied with over the counter powders and sprays. If your athlete’s feet doesn’t respond to over the counter treatments or if it looks like it’s getting infected, talk to your podiatrist.

Allergies

Sometimes the cause of chronic itchy feet may be something as benign as an allergic reaction. Allergies can develop suddenly, even if you’ve never had allergies in the past. Your podiatrist may ask if you’ve been traipsing barefoot anyplace new, or if you’ve recently bought a new pair of shoes or switched laundry detergents. Discovering the source of your chronic itchy feet sometimes requires a bit of detective work on the part of your Austin podiatrist, but soon the mystery will be solved!

Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a condition that causes rash, itching, and flaking on the skin. All parts of the body can be affected, including the feet. Depending upon where the chronic itch is and whether or not it appears on other parts of the body, you may be diagnosed with psoriasis. If this happens, your podiatrist will be able to recommend treatments.

Don’t assume that your chronic itch is nothing to be concerned about. If you have chronic itchy feet, talk to your podiatrist. Diagnosis and treatment options are available. Contact us today.

Kidney Disease

Obviously, if you have kidney disease you’ll need to see a specialist. But diagnosing kidney disease often involves first diagnosing the cause of your chronic itchy feet. If you have chronic itchy feet and your podiatrist can see no other obvious reason, you may be referred to a physician for more tests. This is just one example of how a chronic itch can indicate a serious problem.

close up of feet

Home Remedies for Athlete’s Foot That can Actually Help

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Itching, redness, inflammation between your toes—it sounds like you may have an issue with athlete’s foot. This irritating podiatric condition is not one to overlook; it can lead to a host of other issues beyond just being uncomfortable. While the foot doctor can always help you with the condition, you may be able to get some relief with a few home remedies that can actually be effective for some people.

Pour Hydrogen Peroxide on the Affected Area

Hydrogen peroxide can be used to kill certain types of fungus, including the fungi that cause athlete’s foot. You may be able to find a bit of relief from your irritating problem by pouring a bit of store-bought hydrogen peroxide over the affected area. You may feel a bit of stinging, but you should see the peroxide bubble just a bit as it works to kill the fungus.

Rub Tea Tree and Coconut Oil On the Affected Area

Tea tree oil is effective against the types of fungus that can be the root cause of athlete’s foot. Mix a bit of tea tree oil with a mild carrier oil like coconut oil or almond oil and apply the mixture to the affected area a few times every day. Keep in mind that tea tree oil all by itself can be a bit more potent, and it can cause skin irritation for some people.

Soak Your Feet in Rubbing Alcohol and Water

Rubbing alcohol also has the potential to kill fungus, even the type that causes athlete’s foot. It is not recommended to directly apply alcohol to the affected area because it will burn, but you can soak your feet in a water bath with alcohol. The best ratio to use to try this method is 70 percent rubbing alcohol and 30 percent water.

Get Help with Athlete’s Foot in Austin, TX

Even with some effective home remedies, athlete’s foot can be hard to completely get rid of without medical attention. If you have a stubborn case of athlete’s foot, i can lead to other risks to the health of your feet. Reach out to us at the office of Dr. Jeffery LaMour, DPM, PA.

How to Prevent Athlete’s Foot This Summer

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Summertime is here, and the livin’ is easy … unless you have athlete’s foot. Then the living is rather itchy, with some pain, dryness and scaling involved.

Because you have better things to do this summer than deal with athlete’s foot, Dr. Jeff LaMour, a top podiatrist in Austin and Pflugerville, Texas, has some recommendations to prevent you from getting athlete’s foot. Let’s start by talking about what athlete’s foot actually is.

What is athlete’s foot?

Athlete’s foot is a common fungal infection that can spread to anyone. Most people contract it from walking barefoot in a warm, moist environment like a locker room or swimming pool area. You can also get it if your feet stay sweaty (i.e. if you wear tight socks with no ventilation in your shoes).

The infection commonly results in a rash or itchy skin on the soles of your feet and between your toes. It can also cause small, red blisters, dryness, scaling, and can even cause your toenails to become discolored and pull away from the nail bed.

How can you prevent athlete’s foot?

Wash your feet often

Use soap and water. When you’ve finished washing, make sure you dry them well, especially between your toes. This will keep the fungus from finding an easy place to grow.

Wear footwear in wet public places

Whether you’re near a pool, in a gym or locker area, or in a hotel, make sure you wear sandals, flip-flops or some sort of shoes. The fungus can live on floors, so you want to avoid it as much as possible.

Keep your feet dry

Wear socks made of natural fabric or a fabric that wicks away moisture from your skin. Also, make sure your shoes fit properly and are ventilated. Wear shoes of a breathable fabric, such as canvas. You can even alternate the shoes you wear every day to ensure they’re dry when you put them on.

If your feet, socks or shoes do get wet, dry them off and change them as quickly as possible to keep the fungus from finding a home.

Don’t share

If you live with someone who has athlete’s foot, don’t share shoes, towels, linens, or socks, and don’t walk around the house barefoot.

Athlete’s foot is no picnic, but if you follow these prevention tips, your summer should be free of fungus. Stay diligent as the summer progresses, and if you need any sort of treatment for athlete’s foot, contact Dr. LaMour on the phone or through his website.

4 Ways to Avoid Athlete’s Foot

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Although it’s rarely serious, athlete’s foot is not something any of us want to deal with. The scaling, peeling, and cracking skin not only looks undesirable with your favorite sandals, but it’s uncomfortable with its trademark burning and itching. In some cases, it can damage your skin’s protective barrier, leaving you susceptible to bacterial infections and other problems.

Don’t let this fungus invade your feet! There are some effective ways you can avoid this annoying condition and keep your feet looking and feeling great.

Be Wary of Public Places

It’s very easy to catch the fungus that causes athlete’s foot in warm, damp areas. The fungus, known as tinea pedis, loves to breed in places such as public bathrooms, showers, and locker rooms. Wear flip flops or shower shoes and never go barefoot in these communal areas.

Let Your Feet Breathe

Keeping your feet dry is key to avoiding athlete’s foot. If your socks or shoes get wet from water sports or sweating, your feet become a hot spot for fungus. Instead, change into dry footwear often, don’t wear the same shoes two days in a row, and wash and dry feet thoroughly after exercise.

Unless it’s very cold outside, wear lightweight, breathable shoes and socks, and skip the heavy fabrics that can make feet sweat more.

Be Mindful of Pets

If you let your dog go into a public shower or locker room and then into your house, Fido could be bringing fungus in with him. If your pet has been in a damp public area, wash and dry his paws outside before you let him in. Otherwise, he could track the fungus in your home, where it will wait for you to pick it up on your feet.

Don’t Share Germs in Your House

If you find out someone in your household has athlete’s foot, make sure you don’t share towels, shoes, or socks with them (you shouldn’t do this anyway). Consider using a disinfectant in the shower or tub after each use.

The affected family member should use an appropriate antifungal product as directed for at least two to four weeks. A podiatrist can recommend the best treatment and ensure the infection is properly cleared. Anyone with an active athlete’s foot infection should also avoid public swimming pools, showers, and other places until their infection is gone to avoid spreading it to others.

Do you have signs of athlete’s foot or another foot concern? Dr. Jeffery LaMour is an expert in foot health. Contact his office today to schedule your appointment!