How to Prevent & Treat Athlete's Foot | Foot Care

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Hi, I'm Dr. John Fritz, and I'm going talk to you about how to treat and prevent athlete's foot. Athlete's foot is a fungal infection of the foot. The infection usually occurs either through contact with another individual or conditions on the foot changing, usually increased moisture. The shoe is a perfect breeding ground for fungus. It's a warm, moist, dark area, and fungus just loves to grow on it.

To prevent fungus, you need to practice good foot hygiene. Proper foot hygiene includes washing your feet daily with warm soap and water. Dry well between your toes.

If you have a problem with excessive moisture, identify it. There are many things you can do to treat it. Shoe gear should not be worn every single day. You should alternate shoes and at least allow them to dry 24 hours before using them again.

If you go to a public place like a swimming pool, a gym locker room, wear something on your feet. Don't walk barefoot. Walking barefoot will just lead to acquiring a fungal infection.

If you develop a foot infection, there are a lot of over-the-counter products that are effective. If you have a fungal infection that doesn't go away, seek medical attention with a local podiatrist. He can prescribe you a topical medication and for more severe cases possibly an oral medication. Should you have a secondary bacterial infection, you may also be prescribed an antibiotic.