Causes of Athlete’s Foot
Trichophyton, the athlete’s foot fungus, is a dermatophyte, which is related to other fungi that can cause infections in skin, hair and nails. These fungi are harmless to human skin. Their reproduction is restricted as long as the skin remains clean and dry. They can multiply quickly in warm and damp conditions.
Because they squeeze the toes together, thick, tight shoes can trigger athlete’s feet. This creates ideal conditions for the fungus. Experts believe that plastic shoes are more likely than other materials to cause athlete’s foot. They warm and moisten the feet most.A greater chance of getting athlete’s feet is present if socks are wet and feet are warm.Direct and indirect contact can spread the foot of an athlete:
- Direct, skin-to–skin contact is possible when someone with athlete’s feet touches their infected area.
- Indirect contact is when the fungi infect people through contaminated surfaces, clothing and socks, shoes, sheets and towels.
- The foot of an athlete is often found around communal showers and swimming pools. These places are usually humid and warm.
Diagnosis of Athlete’s Foot
You can usually diagnose an athlete’s foot by looking at the symptoms and hallmark signs. A doctor might want to rule out conditions such as dermatitis or psoriasis.
The skin lesion potassium hydroxide test is the most popular. The doctor will take a sample from the infected area and place it in potassium hydroxide (KOH) for testing. KOH destroys all human cells and leaves only fungal cells. These can be seen with a microscope.
Treatment of Athlete’s Foot
Athlete’s foot symptoms can be mild in most cases and patients don’t need to see a physician. OTC medication can be purchased at pharmacies that are effective in treating the infection. A doctor might prescribe stronger antifungal medication in severe cases. This is usually taken by mouth. These medications kill the fungus responsible for the symptoms. These antifungal medications can be found as:
- Tablets
- Powders
- Liquids
- Sprays
OTC is the most common way to purchase topical medication. Topical refers to the application of the medication directly on the skin. One pharmacist might recommend the following antifungal medication:
- clotrimazole
- Econazole
- ketoconazole
- miconazole
- terbinafine
- sulconazole
Online purchase of a variety of topical antifungal medication is possible.If the symptoms are severe or if the topal medications did not work, a doctor might prescribe oral medication.
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Long-term
An athlete’s foot infection can be either mild or serious. Some heal quickly while others can last for a while. Antifungal treatment is generally effective for athlete’s feet infections. Sometimes fungal infections can be difficult to treat. To prevent athlete’s feet infections from returning, long-term antifungal treatment may be required.