Treatment for Athlete's foot

Generally, athlete’s foot is not a serious condition, although this does not mean that it should not be monitored. The fungal infection can spread to other parts of the body, such as nails or groin; but this happens infrequently. The biggest danger is that athlete’s foot can cause other skin infections, such as cellulitis, as bacteria can penetrate the skin through the lesions and worsen the situation. But these things usually do not happen when there is treatment for athlete’s foot.

The prognosis for patients is good, as long as they receive good treatment for athlete’s foot. To achieve a quick recovery, patients should follow all care instructions that the specialist will give, and thus avoid relapses of contagion during the treatment for athlete’s foot. If patients comply with these hygiene measures and are disciplined with the treatment, the fungus will eventually be eliminated.

Do not use other people’s shoes or socks or allow others to use yours, because there is a high probability that you will transmit the fungus to them. Also, do not use old shoes or other people’s shoes that are suspected of having athlete’s foot or have had it. This fungus is notably persistent, even though the shoes have been unused for a long time.
This is especially true for cases of closed sports shoes or water boots, but precautions should also be taken with ski shoes or skating in public rental places. If you cannot avoid using shoes of these types, it is best to disinfect them before using them. For this, you can use antifungal sprays or powders.
If you are receiving treatment to eradicate athlete’s foot fungus, or if you have already received it, disinfect all the shoes you normally use. This will prevent you from reinfecting yourself, or the fungus from passing from one shoe to another. It is also advisable to disinfect and rid towels, sheets, and all bed linen of pathogens. You will probably be able to achieve this if you use special fabric disinfection products.

There are many measures that can be taken to prevent the spread of athlete’s foot, either to avoid spreading it to other people or to other areas of the body. Among the most useful measures to avoid contracting athlete’s foot are:

1. Wash your feet and the skin between your toes with special antifungal soap.
2. Dry your feet well after bathing, or at the end of a sporting event.
3. Use talc or antifungal powder on your feet to absorb moisture.
4. One way to prevent the fungus from spreading to the groin is to put on socks before underwear.
5. Use shoes that allow good foot perspiration and do not accumulate sweat.
6. Give shoes at least 24 hours of rest after using them, so that sweat does not accumulate due to continuous use.
7. Avoid using rubber shoes or synthetic materials as much as possible.
8. Regularly clean shoes with disinfectant sprays or wipes.
9. Wear socks that are made of natural materials and that absorb sweat, such as cotton and wool.
10. Do not walk barefoot in public places like gyms, saunas, pools, public showers, etc., or wash your feet very well after doing so.
11. Wash intimate clothing, bed linen, as well as socks, with hot water. This helps to eliminate microorganisms that may be lodged in the fibers.

Home remedies can be effective, and that’s why doctors sometimes recommend them. However, in cases of advanced athlete’s foot, or if the home treatment has no effect after 10 days or at most 2 weeks, we recommend at least using over-the-counter antifungal drugs. Using a mildly effective home remedy can cause a delay that allows the infection to progress, and then the specialist will have to prescribe relatively invasive drugs, such as oral antifungal medications. However, we reiterate, home treatments for athlete’s foot can be effective in many cases of mild or non-advanced infection, and side effects are usually rare. Any unexpected reaction should stop the use of the product. Here are some of these treatments.

Yes, athlete’s foot is a fungus that is easily contagious. It can be transmitted from one person to another, or to different areas of the same body. For example, if your feet are infected with the fungus and you scratch a lot with your hands, the infection can also spread to your hands. Therefore, precautions and hygienic measures should be taken to prevent the spread of athlete’s foot. On surfaces in places where humidity is constant (such as swimming pools, showers, etc.), the fungus that causes athlete’s foot can survive for months.

The answer to this question depends on the severity or degree of athlete’s foot progression. Normally, infections from this type of fungus can range from mild to severe. Although in all cases a positive outcome can be expected, only the milder infections are eliminated within a period of 2 to 3 weeks. Topical medications or oral antifungal drugs should be maintained for the prescribed period, with the aim of minimizing relapses or recurrences.

Sometimes athlete’s foot fungal infections are not easy to eradicate, even if strong antifungal or antimicrobial drugs are being used, not just simple home remedies. In these cases, treatment must last longer, up to approximately 6 weeks. It is necessary to continue with the treatment for a longer period, even if the fungus has apparently disappeared. This long-term treatment with antifungal medications, even beyond the time when the fungi have disappeared from sight, is necessary to prevent athlete’s foot infections from returning in the most severe cases.

To reduce the treatment time to the shortest possible period, prophylactic measures must be taken, such as keeping feet clean and dry, wearing socks to prevent the fungus from being absorbed into shoes, avoiding keeping feet in humid environments for too long, avoiding contact with places where you suspect the infection is present, among others.

Yes, athlete’s foot is a fungus that is easily contagious. It can be transmitted from one person to another, or to different areas of the same body. For example, if your feet are infected with the fungus and you scratch a lot with your hands, the infection can also spread to your hands. Therefore, precautions and hygienic measures should be taken to prevent the spread of athlete’s foot. On surfaces in places where humidity is constant (such as swimming pools, showers, etc.), the fungus that causes athlete’s foot can survive for months.

This type of fungus spreads easily. If you don’t undergo treatment for athlete’s foot, it can extend to the sole of the foot and develop into a moccasin-type infection. Severe cases of athlete’s foot can cause skin cracks, inflammation, fluid-filled blisters, and even ulcers.

Without treatment, athlete’s foot will continue to spread, making the person an infectious agent in their environment. Precautions must be taken at home and in places the person frequents to avoid infecting others. The symptoms can also worsen if the fungus is not stopped with treatment, leading to strong foot odor and increasingly unbearable itching. Another consequence of not treating athlete’s foot is that it can spread to other areas of the body, such as:

• Nails: Untreated athlete’s foot can also infect the toenails. Once the fungus settles between the hard layer of the nail and the skin, it becomes much more difficult to eliminate. Nail infections caused by athlete’s foot often become resistant to many treatments.
• Hands: The fungal infection from athlete’s foot can also spread to the hands. This happens when patients have the habit of scratching their feet and not washing their hands afterward. The fungus can also transfer to the hands through towels when the same towel is used for infected feet and the rest of the body.
• Groin: Dermatophytes can also settle in the groin area, causing jock itch. This usually occurs when the same towel is used to dry both the feet and the rest of the body. It’s important to note that this can also happen if the groin area is not properly dried after bathing, whether at home or in pools, beaches, etc.

Mild to moderate cases of athlete’s foot can often be treated effectively with specific home remedies and improved personal hygiene. If the foot does not exhibit symptoms such as bleeding, fluid or pus discharge, nail involvement, and if the skin condition shows signs of improvement and responds well to treatment, the situation should not worsen. Over-the-counter antifungal medications are commonly used for treating athlete’s foot. However, it is important to note that there are still risks associated with self-treatment.

If you have any doubts or concerns, it is always recommended to seek the opinion of a healthcare professional. Prescription medications should never be consumed without the proper guidance and prescription from a specialist. Oral medications, in particular, can have potent active ingredients that may lead to side effects and drug interactions. For example, oral terbinafine may cause gastrointestinal disorders, as well as temporary loss of taste and smell. Some studies have shown a very low risk of severe liver damage with the use of these oral antifungal medications. Therefore, individuals with liver disease are only prescribed these medications if absolutely necessary.

Additionally, other antifungal drugs may interact with active ingredients in medications the person is taking for other reasons. Due to these potential risks, it is crucial that only a specialist prescribes and authorizes the use of such medications. Avoid self-medication and prioritize your safety.

Yes, it is possible to become reinfected after successfully treating athlete’s foot. Similar to other fungal infections, such as toenail fungus, the infection can often recur, especially if the patient did not seek professional treatment and attempted to eliminate the fungus with home remedies or over-the-counter medications. If the foot fungus persists, it is necessary to consult a specialist for appropriate treatment.

It is also important to reinforce the hygiene measures we mentioned earlier, such as thoroughly washing the feet, avoiding reusing worn socks, minimizing the use of closed-toe shoes, and so on. Additionally, on days when you anticipate wearing shoes for an extended period, using antifungal powders can help keep your feet dry and prevent the proliferation of fungi despite wearing shoes.