What is Athlete's Foot?

Athlete’s foot also known as Tinea Pedis is a common fungal infection that affects the upper layer of the skin of the foot, especially when it is warm, moist, and irritated. Up to 70%  will develop Athlete’s Foot at some point in their lifetime.  It usually causes burning, stinging, redness, and itching. It also causes flaking of the skin in some people.

Athlete’s foot is contagious and can spread through contact with an infected person or from contact with contaminated surfaces, such as towels, floors and shoes. You can also spread it from the foot to other parts of the body, especially if you scratch or pick the infected parts of your foot.

Research has shown that Athlete’s Foot is a long term and recurring condition that can last up to 8 to 9 in years in duration.

Who is at risk for Athlete's Foot?

Anyone can get Athlete’s Foot but certain behaviors would increase your risk.

  • Walking barefoot in public areas where the infection can spread, such as locker rooms, swimming pools, communal baths and showers
  • Sharing socks, shoes, or towels with someone who has the infection
  •  Wearing enclosed footwear frequently
  • Having sweaty feet
  • Keeping feet wet for a long period of time
  • Having a minor skin or nail injury on your foot

How is it normally treated?

Athlete’s foot can often be treated with over-the-counter (OTC) topical antifungal medications in the form of creams, ointments, gels, sprays or powders. If OTC medications don’t treat your infection, your doctor may prescribe topical or oral prescription-strength antifungal medications.

However, it takes close to 4-6 weeks for the entire treatment process, yet it does not prevent recurrence from happening. The active ingredients in antifungal cream such as Clotrimazole and Miconazole are not suitable to be used for long-term preventive application. Prolonged usage of these agents would result to the development of harmful systemic side effects and antimicrobial resistance.

What are the symptoms of Athlete's Foot?

  • Itching and burning: The affected area often feels itchy, burning, or stinging, especially between the toes.
  • Redness and inflammation: The skin may appear red, inflamed, or swollen, particularly in the spaces between the toes.
  • Peeling and cracking skin: The skin affected by athlete’s foot may peel, crack, or flake, especially around the toes and on the soles of the feet.
  • Blistering: Fluid-filled blisters may develop on the affected skin, which can be painful.
  • Dryness and scaling: The skin affected by athlete’s foot may become dry, scaly, and rough in texture.
  • Odour: Fungal infections can sometimes cause a foul odor, particularly if there is a buildup of sweat and bacteria in the affected area.
  • Thickened, discolored toenails: In some cases, athlete’s foot can spread to the toenails, causing them to become thickened, discolored, and brittle.

How to prevent against it?

Here are some tips to help avoid Athlete’s Foot :

  • Let your feet air out. When you can, wear sandals to let your feet air out as much as possible.
  • Change socks regularly. Change your socks at least once a day — more often if your feet get really sweaty. Moisture-wicking socks, such as those made from cotton, help keep your feet drier than do nylon socks.
  • Alternate pairs of shoes. Use different shoes from day to day. This gives your shoes time to dry after each use.
  • Protect your feet in public places. Wear waterproof sandals or shoes around public pools, showers and lockers rooms.
  •  Wash your feet daily. Rinse with warm soapy water and dry thoroughly, especially in between the toes. Apply Trisafe Anti Odour Foot Spray to protect the feet against infection from  bacteria and fungi.