posted: Nov. 16, 2017.
There are some simple measures you can take to prevent this fungal infection from infecting those around you.
Athlete’s foot is a pretty common and unpleasant fungal infection of the feet that leads to burning, stinging and red itchy skin. While the problem can be easily treated, the one issue our Olney, Silver Spring, Clinton, and Kensington, MD, podiatrists see quite often is that this fungal infection can quickly spread like wildfire to other members of the infected person’s family. So, if you have athlete’s foot what can you do to make sure that you don’t infect anyone else? Just follow these simple measures:
Know What to Disinfect
When you have athlete’s foot it’s important that you pay special attention to what things should be cleaned regularly and more meticulously. Laundry is a perfect example. Make sure that any clothing, socks, towels or bedding that have been exposed to the infected person are washed separately in hot water (at least 140 degrees F). If water isn’t hot enough it won’t be able to kill the fungus. For any white clothing or materials, you can also use bleach with hot water.
Keep Surfaces Clean
We all know that every member of your family shares the bathroom; unfortunately, this moist, warm location is a hotbed for athlete’s foot because fungus loves thriving here. As our Olney, Silver Spring, Clinton, and Kensington foot doctors will tell you, one way to prevent the spread of athlete’s foot to other members of your family is to make sure to thoroughly clean and disinfect the tub and bathroom floors after the infected person has showered or bathed.
Have questions about treating athlete’s foot? Need medical care for another foot condition? Don’t hesitate to turn to the experts at Family Foot and Ankle Associates of Maryland. We offer five convenient locations to serve the Silver Spring, Kensington, Clinton and Olney, MD areas.
