Therapy
In the case of a beginning infestation by athlete’s foot, ointments are first applied which are effective against many types of fungi, these are so-called broad-spectrum antimycotics such as ointments containing the active ingredient Terbinafine. Only in the case of a more pronounced and advanced infestation, the administration of medications that can have an effect on the entire body and are therefore swallowed, comes into question. As a supporting measure, the disinfection of stockings and shoes and the elimination of risk factors should be mentioned here.
Risk factors
Since mushrooms feel particularly comfortable in humid and warm places, people who suffer heavily from foot sweat tend to develop athlete’s foot more than others. People who suffer from a defect of the immune system, such as congenital immune defects (SCID) or immune defects caused by chemotherapy or immune defects caused by an infection with the HI virus, generally have a harder time standing up to infections of all kinds and are therefore more likely to suffer from athlete’s foot. Here a special hygiene, not only in dealing with athlete’s foot, is urgently necessary.
Another important factor is the blood circulation of the foot. Therefore, all habits or diseases that lead to a reduced blood circulation of the foot are automatically predisposing factors for the suffering from athlete’s foot. Among the damaging habits are smoking, which generally has a damaging effect on the blood vessels, not only on the leg, and a lack of exercise, since only a reduced blood circulation supplies the foot.
Diseases that affect blood circulation include peripheral arterial occlusive disease (pAOD), which can develop at the base of arteriosclerosis, and diabetes mellitus. Both diseases lead to a deficiency in blood supply to the foot, as the diameter of the blood vessels is restricted. Of course, it is the small blood vessels that are affected first.
Prophylaxis
A good and effective prophylaxis is to wear flip-flops in public swimming pools and showers. By wearing slippers, contact with possibly infected skin scales of other bathers is reduced to a minimum. The choice of suitable footwear also leads to a reduction in the occurrence of athlete’s foot.
Due to good ventilation, the feet do not sweat as much and thus the athlete’s foot is deprived of a good breeding ground for its development.Choosing the right stockings, which can also absorb moisture, for example cotton, and changing them regularly, is also good prophylaxis. If you have a tendency to athlete’s foot, you should also make sure that you dry off thoroughly after bathing and showering, especially the spaces between the toes, and generally pay attention to good foot hygiene. In general you should pay attention to a good ventilation of the foot and a dry skin, therefore it is also a good prophylaxis to go barefoot from time to time. This not only stimulates the blood circulation, but also prevents foot sweat from collecting.
