What is athlete's foot?

Athlete's foot (the medical term is tinea pedis) is not something that only athletes can get. It is, in fact, a very common fungal infection which generally occurs between your toes and is extremely contagious. You can get athlete's foot just by using a communal changing room or even sharing a towel. If left untreated the condition can spread to the soles and sides of the foot and to the toenails. Athlete's foot may be further complicated by a bacterial infection, accompanied by an unpleasant smell.

Signs and symptoms of athlete's foot often include:

• Cracking and peeling of skin between the toes
• Inflammation
• Areas of white, dead skin
• Moistness or blistering
• Itching or soreness

What causes athlete's foot?

Athlete's foot is a fungal infection of the foot caused usually by one of 3 different types of fungi. As it is not usually known which of these fungi has caused your athlete's foot.

When and how should I treat athlete's foot?

You should treat athlete's foot as soon as you notice the first signs of infection. The skin often becomes inflamed and itchy with areas of ‘dead skin', moistness or blistering and cracking or peeling. It is important to treat the infected area quickly and thoroughly. A wide range of anti-fungal sprays, creams and powders are availble in the medical stores that can be used to treat athlete's foot.

How can I prevent athlete's foot from re-infection?

Even if you've got rid of your athlete's foot, it is very easy to re-infect yourself. It is important to remember that the fungi that cause athlete's foot thrive in warm, moist conditions. Therefore, it is important to dry thoroughly after bathing, particularly between your toes. The fungi can live in your shoes, socks and on your towels if you don't change them regularly enough. You should wear good quality cotton socks that allow your feet to breath and make sure you wash them at 60°C to destroy fungal spores.

What is sweat rash?

Sweat rash is a red, itchy rash on the skin. Anyone can get sweat rash. Not surprisingly, the rash is linked to sweating! Therefore, people who sweat more have an increased chance of getting sweat rash. Such people include those who play a lot of sport and those who are overweight. It usually happens where chafing occurs or when sweat gets trapped between two layers of touching skin or between skin and clothes.

Areas that are usually affected include the armpits, under breasts, around the groin and between the legs and the arms. Along with the redness and irritation of the chafing, the rash may also become infected, increasing the problem.

What causes infected sweat rash?

Hot and sweaty skin can become inflamed, especially where skin rubs together or where clothes chafe against the skin. In addition, the fungi and bacteria that are always present on our bodies, can quickly infect irritated skin, making the rash and chaffing worse. This is called infected sweat rash.

How should I treat sweat rash?

If infected and inflamed, you need to relieve the inflammation and treat the infection at the same time. A Hydrocortisone Cream contains an effective anti-fungal agent that also has some secondary anti-bacterial properties. This helps eliminate the fungi and bacteria that are present in infected sweat rash. It also contains an anti-inflammatory to help ease inflammation, redness and itching quickly.

Symptoms of infected sweat rash

An inflamed red, itchy rash on the skin usually occurring around the armpits, under the breasts, around the groin and between your legs and the arms.

Athlete’s foot treatment and prevention

It is a fungal infection which is increased by closed-in footwear, prolonged moist skin, and minor skin or nail injuries. This is primarily a problem for people who wear tight-fitting trainers or don't dry their feet properly. If you have athlete's foot then you have a skin infection that is caused by fungus. The athlete's foot fungus can be spread from person to person by contact with socks, clothes, or floors in which the infected person has either walked on or worn. There are lots of ways to help prevent athlete's foot from ever creaping up on your in the first place. Keep your feet dry and cool, and sprinkle shoes and shocks with anti-fungal powder. Change socks regularly. Some socks are made with materials such as wool blends that wick moisture away.

How is fungal nail infection treated?

A fungal nail infection (onychomycosis, or ringworm of the nail) are common in worldwide, 2% to 18% of the population have a fungal nail infection at any given time. Nail infection becomes more common as people grow older. After age 40, your nails thicken and grow more slowly. It offers the best chance of a cure, but they can cause dangerous side effects. So taking necessary steps to prevent the infection from returning, and possibly removing the affected nail. Without treatment, fungal nail infections tend to get worse, infecting more of the nail or surrounding skin. Early treatment may shorten treatment time and increase your chances of being cured.

Prevention of fungal nail infection

A fungal Nail Infection isn't the same as athlete's foot, which primarily affects the skin or the nails, but at times the two may coexist and can be caused by the same type of fungus. Fungus infections in people are caused by insufficient air circulation and moisture. The risk of getting a fungal infection is increased by closed-in footwear, prolonged moist skin, and minor skin or nail injuries. Take necessary steps to prevent the infection from recurring, before bed, thoroughly wash and keep your dry feet and apply powder to your dry feet after you take a shower or bath. Wear dry cotton socks and wear shower sandals or shower shoes. Don't share shoes, socks, or nail clippers with others.

Athlete’s foot problem and fungus infection

Athlete's foot is one of the most common foot problems that most of the people deal with every day. It can affect anyone whether you are the college athlete of the year or the village gardener. Athlete's foot is an infection on the skin of the feet that is caused by fungus. The culprit is the fungus can attack two parts of your foot: the skin or the nails called tinea pedis. Infections of the toenails and fingernails are caused by a fungus, trichophyton rubrum, and are often quite difficult to treat. Although there are topical medicines available that can help your solve this problem, prevention is always the best treatment.