It is a general misconception that Athlete’s foot is the bane of only athlete’s as the very name may suggest. Even a lethargic individual who is loathe to any sort of physical exertion or activity can be susceptible to it because this has been medically regarded as an “equal opportunity" affliction affecting men and women alike from a cross section of people.

This skin condition, which though not life threatening, can be a huge encumbrance carried literally on the two feet of a person. Understanding the causes of this infection and the conditions under which the fungus thrives helps us to avoid it altogether by just taking proper care and precaution. If it already exists and has been treated effectively, a recurrence can be prevented.

So measures to combating as well as avoiding this infection can be as elementary as avoiding exposure of the skin of your feet to warm, moist conditions. Nurture your feet with tender loving care by giving it plenty of rest, oil and hot water massages and a lot of breathing space. Regularly applying creams and antifungal medication with talcum powder to keep your feet dry is also effective in the cases of those afflicted by the fungus.

As advised by the physician, creams applied should be the same antifungal cream or lotion that was used in curing the disease. In order to help these antifungal creams and medications to permeate the affected layers of skin, podiatrists recommend a “saline solution" which provides an atmosphere non-conducive to growth for the fungus. Salinity is also said to make the skin soft for easy permeation and it further reduces perspiration on the feet.

Besides over the counter medications, there are other solutions that help treat this condition. For instance, Aluminium Chloride solution and baking soda are very effective in treating infection between the toes. Aluminium chloride kills the fungus and dries up the area preventing a recurrence.

In combating athlete’s foot, it is of paramount importance to continually remove dead skin because it is in dead skin cells that the fungus thrives most thus increasing the risk of re-infection. Scrubbing of feet gently with a scrub brush is best before taking a shower to wash away dead skin cells.

Choosing the right footwear is as elementary as avoiding warm, moist conditions. It is essential that you wear shoes that reduce perspiration and allow the feet to breathe. In this context, plastic shoes and water resistant footwear must be avoided at all cost. It is further important to rotate your footwear regularly by avoiding wearing the same shoe for consecutive days. Shoes must also be kept dry and clean at all times by applying antifungal powder and leaving them out to air in the sun.

If you are careful about your shoes, then you must be doubly careful with your socks which trap the most sweat and moisture. For this purpose, cotton socks are the best as opposed to those made of synthetic fiber. Washing socks regularly under hot water is also essential to kill fungus trapped in the spores.

Following these simple procedures diligently will effectively help in both preventing and curing Athlete’s foot.