Athlete’s foot is a fungal infection that affects the upper layer of the skin of the
foot, especially when it is warm, moist, and irritated.
In this video, we are going to look at, what athletes foot is, what causes it, how to treat
it, and finally, how to prevent athletes foot altogether, so stay tuned until the end.
Hi guys, yaseen arsalan back here, media pharmacist, here on youtube, this weeks video is on athletes
foot.
Smash the like button below, to help this video be seen to more people, to hopefully
help reduce more foot fungi.
Athlete’s foot, also called tinea pedis — is a contagious fungal infection that
affects the skin on the feet.
And yes, it is contagious.
It can spread to the toenails and even the hands.
Its called athlete’s foot because it’s commonly seen in athletes since their feet
can become very sweaty while confined within tightfitting shoes.
up to 70 percent of people will, at some point, develop athlete’s foot, which is why I wanted
to make this video, giving you tips and tricks to prevent and treat athletes foot.
It is actually the most common type of contagious fungal infection.
But not to worry as it can be treated with over-the-counter (OTC) medication.
Chances are you probably caught the fungus through direct contact with an infected person,
or by touching surfaces contaminated with the fungus.
Showers, locker room floors, swimming pools, to name a few.
So you don’t need to be an athlete to get it.
But if you are one, interesting to note is: Experts say that plastic shoes, which warm
and moisten feet the most, are more likely to bring on athlete’s foot than those made
from other materials, such as leather or canvas and if your socks are damp and your feet are
warm, the risk of developing athlete’s foot will continue to increase.
To treat athletes foot: know that: the majority of cases, are going to be mild, and you dont
not need to see a doctor.
Ill go over when you should see one, so stick all the way til the end of the video.
You can pick up some over the counter medications, I also left ones that i recommend in the description
below too.
So definitely check that out.
You have: miconazole(Desenex), terbinafine (Lamisil AT), clotrimazole (Lotrimin AF),
butenafine (Lotrimin Ultra), or tolnaftate (Tinactin).
Theyll either be in a powder, liquid, spray, or cream form.
Some include hydrocortisone, which is a steroid cream preferred if the area is inflamed, red,
hot, and itchy, so talk to your pharmacist, as they can recommend if yours needs the hydrocortisone
combo.
I personally recommend Lamisil the most to my patients, since: it basically does double
duty in killing the fungus and stopping its growth.
“It is well-absorbed into the outer layer of the skin, which is where athlete’s foot
lives and it comes in a cream, gel, or spray.
Use the cream form of lamisil if you have dry skin or the gel or spray form if your
feet tend to sweat more.
When you are ready to use it: Remember to wash your hands before and after use, and
to Clean and thoroughly dry the affected areas on the feet before you use it.
I also recommend washing the area with an antibacterial soap, wait for it to dry, then
apply.
Remember to thoroughly read the directions on the medication leaflet, as each of the
directions will differ, depending on what you are trying and to ask your pharmacist
if you have any questions.
It may look like the athletes foot is gone within a few days of treatment, but know you
might still have fungi present, so a great tip is, to keep using it for up to 2 weeks
on both feet to be absolutely sure.
You might be thinking, what if its just on one foot, In the majority of athlete's foot
cases both feet are actually infected – even if you don't have symptoms on both.
Just FYI.
You would Call your doctor.
if you: develop a rash on your foot that doesn't improve within two weeks of beginning self-treatment
with any of the over the counter medicines, of if you are diabetic and develop one, especially
if you notice any signs of possible secondary bacterial infection such as excessive redness,
swelling, drainage, or fever.
This is when they would need to know.
Now that the treatment is over.
Lets look at some ways to prevent getting athlete's foot.
Number 1.)
Wash your feet with soap and water every day up to twice a day and dry them thoroughly,
especially between the toes.
2.)
Wash socks, bedding and towels in water that’s 140°F (60°C) or higher.
Also disinfect your shoes too.
3.)
Don’t share socks, shoes, or towels with others.
4.)
Wear sandals in public showers, around public swimming pools, and in other public places,
because you want to avoid being barefoot here and make sure your feet are dry before putting
socks or shoes back on.
5.)
Alternate between two pairs of shoes, so basically wear each pair every other day, to give your
shoes time to dry out between uses.
And lastly: 6.)
Remove your shoes as soon as your done exercising.
If you have any tips I forgot to mention, pause the video, and leave em down in the
comments below.
I hope this video was useful to you guys and that I hope you do share this video with someone
you know who can benefit from it.
Like the video, if you did enjoy it and subscribe to stay on board with all my other weekly
health and wellness videos.
Thanks for sticking tuned till the end, and as always, thanks for watching.