A widespread evil, not only in sports circles, is athlete’s foot, also called athlete’s lichen. It is noticeable by itching and burning between the toes and often extends over the tops and soles of the feet. Small fluid-filled blisters form and infect the wider area. The itching often becomes unbearable, and inflammation is not uncommon due to chafing.
Causes
Since athlete’s foot is transmissible by contact infection, after foot contact with the hands, they must be washed carefully, because other parts of the body can also be affected.
Athlete’s foot develops best in warm moisture. And of course, infection takes place most easily where many people move around barefoot. In bathing establishments, coconut runners, textile floor coverings and wooden grates, as well as rubber runners and mats are breeding grounds for this fungus.
The same applies to the bathing and changing rooms of sports clubs.
Since a sufficient disinfection of the mentioned rooms is often questionable, barefoot should not be walked in these rooms, also not in wooden clogs standing around, which can have been already used by foot fungus carriers. Own bathing slippers made of plastic or rubber, which should not be borrowed, as well as a toothbrush, are recommended.
Treatment
In order to deprive the athlete’s foot on the skin of the most favorable living condition, which in this case is moist heat, everyone should take care after the bath to dry the feet well, especially between the toes. After that, powdering the feet and the spaces between the toes with foot powder is extremely effective.
In America, athlete’s foot has been controlled by moving the dried feet in the so-called powdering bench for a few minutes after bathing in all sports facilities. It is a flat box, filled with foot powder, which gives the user dry feet and deprives the athlete’s foot of the chance to live.
When suffering from athlete’s foot, one should change shoes and socks often and ensure dry footwear.
Take lukewarm foot baths with the addition of potassium permanganate, and let the feet air dry, walk barefoot outdoors as often as possible, and eliminate sweaty feet if necessary. Regularly treat the areas affected by athlete’s foot with specific remedies for athlete’s foot in the morning and evening. Ask your family doctor or pharmacist for suitable remedies.
Since athlete’s foot is transmissible by contact infection, you must wash your hands carefully after foot contact, as other parts of the body can also be affected.
If only one foot is affected by athlete’s foot, make sure that you do not put on the sock of the affected foot on the healthy one. It is also advisable to disinfect footwear or slippers, if necessary, to also eliminate all possible sources of infection.
