Prophylaxis
Above all, foot hygiene, such as keeping the foot dry and drying the spaces between the toes after bathing, are the most important forms of preventing athlete’s foot. Shoes and socks should be changed daily and disinfected with antifungal agents, especially during and after a fungal infection. Washing at 40 degrees cannot kill the pathogens. Socks and bath mats are best washed at 95 degrees. Breathable and comfortable shoes are preferable to tight shoes that create a warm and humid climate.If there is a tendency to excessive sweating on the feet, which can also facilitate infection, anti-secretion sprays can be useful.
Treat athlete’s foot during pregnancy
A athlete’s foot infection is unfortunately nothing unusual during pregnancy. Often a single visit to the swimming pool is enough to have to deal with the annoying fungus. But how can such an infection be treated?
In principle, care should be taken during pregnancy when treating any illness, as many medications are fetotoxic, i.e. they can damage the fetus. This is also the reason why a athlete’s foot infection must be treated differently in pregnant women than in non-pregnant women: It is not advisable to take it orally, as it would allow the active ingredient to enter the bloodstream directly through the stomach lining and thus reach the fetus, i.e. systemic athlete’s foot treatment is not suitable for pregnant women. Instead, the active ingredient is usually applied externally – in ointment form.
Active ingredients that can be applied externally are Clotrimazole and, after consultation with the treating physician, Bifonazole or Canesten®. For the latter, there is insufficient experience with their use. Of course, the patient can also receive non-drug treatment in addition to drug therapy. Especially on the Internet, one can find various tips on household remedies or tea tree oil cures, which have already been discussed in more detail above.
Treatment of athlete’s foot in the nursing period
During the breastfeeding period, certain medications can be used against athlete’s foot – but not others. Therefore a doctor should be consulted during the breastfeeding period in any case – even if athlete’s foot was already known before pregnancy and breastfeeding. Self-medication should not be used.
In principle, the active ingredient Clotrimazole, which is also contained in Canesten®, can be applied to the athlete’s foot using a cream, as the active ingredient does not pass into the mother’s milk during athlete’s foot treatment. Creams containing the active ingredients ketoconazole and bifonazole can also be used safely for athlete’s foot during the breastfeeding period. In addition to drug treatment, the nursing mother should also try to contain athlete’s foot with general measures.
This includes, for example, changing socks frequently. Towels should also be replaced with fresh towels more often than usual. The feet should be cleaned with lukewarm, clear water.
After washing, the feet must be dried thoroughly. In addition, unnecessary sweating of the feet should be avoided, since athlete’s foot can grow better in a humid environment.
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