If your feet are itching, burning or stinging, you may have athlete’s foot. It’s unpleasant, but treated properly it’s not dangerous. Here are tips on how to deal with athlete’s foot and how to avoid getting it in the first place.
Around one in five adults in Switzerland has had athlete's foot at some time, with men affected more often than women. Athlete's foot is the result of a fungal infection that affects keratin proteins in the skin, hair and nails. It tends to gather between the toes, but the fungus can cause unpleasant blisters, rashes and scales on the arches of the feet too. It can also lead to thicker calluses around the heel.
Thrives in damp conditions
Athlete's foot thrives in damp, warm conditions. This means you're more at risk if you 're a frequent user of swimming pools, saunas or public showers. All it takes is minor skin wounds for the fungus to get into your body and spread.
Shoes can become damp if you have sweaty feet, synthetic shoes or don't dry your feet properly, and this also helps the infection spread. The gap between the fourth and fifth toe is often affected, as it's particularly narrow.
Make sure your feet are dry
In the early stages of athlete's foot you'll experience itching and stinging and your skin will look red. If the infection spreads you may suffer inflammation, or weeping or scaly skin. People with a weakened immune system are particularly prone to athlete's foot. Older people and people with diabetes or circulation problems are also known to suffer more.
To avoid the problem you should keep your feet as dry as possible. Drying your feet thoroughly after a shower and wearing well-ventilated shoes can help.
Treat systematically
Athlete's foot isn't dangerous provided you treat it quickly and systematically. But left untreated, the skin wound can open the way to harmful viruses and bacteria. If you also have cracked or damaged toenails, you're at risk of nail infection as well.
