Athlete's foot - How to keep from getting athlete's foot

Athlete's foot

How to keep from getting athlete's foot

There's a lot you can do to keep from getting athlete's foot.

Keeping your feet clean and dry is your best protection. To do this, you should:

Source:
Malcolm B.
Tinea pedis.
Practitioner. 1998; 242: 225.

Source:
O'Donnell M, et al.
Tinea pedis.
In: Lorimer D, French G, O'Donnell M (editors). Neale's disorders of the foot: diagnosis and management. 6th edition. Churchill Livingstone, London, UK; 2001.

Source:
Hay RJ, Moore M.
Tinea pedis.
In: Champion RH, Wilkinson DS, Ebling FJG (editors). Textbook of dermatology. 6th edition. Blackwell Science, Oxford, UK; 1998.

Source:
Truong A, Friedlander SF.
Superficial fungal infections in adolescence.
Adolescent Medicine State of the Art Reviews. 2001; 12: 213-227.

⁴

Source:
Brooks KE, Bender JF.
Tinea pedis: diagnosis and treatment.
Clinics in Podiatric Medicine and Surgery. 1996; 13: 31-46.

⁵

Take off your shoes at home and let your feet air out.
Wear sandals when you can.
If you have

diabetes
Diabetes is a condition that causes too much sugar to circulate in your blood. It happens when your body stops making a hormone called insulin (type 1 diabetes) or when insulin stops working (type 2 diabetes).

diabetes, you can let you feet air, but don't walk around barefoot or in open shoes.
Always take off sweaty sports shoes when you are done using them.
Put on clean socks every day. Washing socks kills the fungi that cause athlete's foot.
Wear cotton, silk or wool socks rather than synthetic (nylon) ones.
Wear shoes made of leather or canvas. These let your feet air out more than plastic shoes.
If your shoes are sweaty or wet, let them dry out before you put them on again.
After you take a bath or shower, dry your feet carefully, especially between your toes.
Never walk barefoot in public areas such as changing rooms. Wear flip-flops, sandals or shoes made to be worn while swimming.
If you've had athlete's foot, spray the inside of your shoes with a spray to kill the fungus (called an antifungal).
Never borrow other people's shoes.
Never share towels with other people.
Check your pets for patches of hair loss, and ask your vet to do the same. If your pet is losing hair, it could be a sign of athlete's foot. You can catch athlete's foot from your pets, and if you don't treat them you can get the infection again.

Sources for the information on this page:

Malcolm B.Tinea pedis.Practitioner. 1998; 242: 225.

O'Donnell M, et al.Tinea pedis.In: Lorimer D, French G, O'Donnell M (editors). Neale's disorders of the foot: diagnosis and management. 6th edition. Churchill Livingstone, London, UK; 2001.

Hay RJ, Moore M.Tinea pedis.In: Champion RH, Wilkinson DS, Ebling FJG (editors). Textbook of dermatology. 6th edition. Blackwell Science, Oxford, UK; 1998.

Truong A, Friedlander SF.Superficial fungal infections in adolescence.Adolescent Medicine State of the Art Reviews. 2001; 12: 213-227.

Brooks KE, Bender JF.Tinea pedis: diagnosis and treatment.Clinics in Podiatric Medicine and Surgery. 1996; 13: 31-46.

This information was last updated on Mar 06, 2009

This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment.
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