Athlete's Foot revisited.

Thank God I finally am back to some normalcy from hurricane Ike. But I was more fortunate than most.
I have seen a lot of athlete's foot recently and wanted to talk briefly about its symptoms, prevention and care.
In my opinion, athlete's foot is perhaps the most misdiagnosed skin condition on the body. Not only by patients, but medical professionals as well.
Essentially, athlete's foot is a fungal infection. These are caused by 'dermatophytes' that come from three organisms: Microsporum (most common but does not cause athlete's foot), Epidermophyton, and Trichophyton which is mainly responsible for tinea pedis or athletes' foot. The most common form occurs in-between the toes and generally 'weeps' or expresses a clear fluid. The second most common type is red, scaly, and itchy (like you see on TV). It itches because it causes an inflammatory response which is essentially an allergic reaction. But the majority of athlete's foot does not present to the patient with symptoms. Patients come into my office all the time complaining of dry skin which is in actuality, athlete's foot.
Generally, you get this fungal infection from communal areas that are warm and damp such as locker rooms, weight rooms, showers, and pools. Also, people who share shoes are susceptible to acquiring athlete's foot.
To prevent athlete's foot, wash your feet daily with mild soapy warm water and dry your feet thoroughly, especially between the toes. Change socks daily and try to wear natural fibers vs. synthetic or blended fibers. Alternate shoes and use foot powder, if your feet have a tendency to sweat. Avoid going bare-footed and if your shoes are made of cloth or mesh, wash them once a month.
To treat athlete's foot, use over-the-counter antifungal creams twice to three times a day for two to no more than three weeks. If your symptoms do not improve, see your local podiatrist for an evaluation.

"The journey of life is taken one step at a time... none of them should be painful." G.M. Barclay, DPM, AACFAS