What should I avoid if I have athlete's foot? (2023)

What makes athlete's foot worse?

Sweaty shoes and socks add to the dampness and can make the infection worse. Sharing towels, sheets, clothing, or shoes with someone who has athlete's foot also can spread the infection.

After washing and drying your feet, apply an antifungal product. The antifungal terbinafine (Lamisil AT) has been shown to be very effective. Another option is clotrimazole (Lotrimin AF). You may need to experiment to find the product and formulation — ointment, gel, cream, lotion, powder or spray — that work for you.

Although there are prescription topical creams for treating fungal infections, certain foods can also help alleviate symptoms. Garlic, cayenne pepper, yogurt, cranberries, and high fiber foods all can help treat infection. Opt for foods high in fiber, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and zinc.

Athlete's foot is caused by the same type of fungi (dermatophytes) that cause ringworm and jock itch. Damp socks and shoes and warm, humid conditions favor the organisms' growth.

Should I Wear Socks to Bed with Athlete's Foot?: Athlete's foot is very contagious and it's a good idea to wear socks to bed, especially if you share your bed with another person. This can help prevent transmitting the fungus to others.

Most cases of athlete's foot can be cured with over-the-counter antifungal products and basic good hygiene.

What is the best cure for athlete's foot? Over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription antifungal creams, ointments, gels, sprays or powders effectively treat athlete's foot. These products contain clotrimazole, miconazole, tolnaftate or terbinafine. Some prescription antifungal medications are pills.

How Long Does Athlete's Foot Last? Most mild cases of athlete's foot clear up within 2 weeks. But treatment can go for several weeks or longer if the infection is more serious or affects the toenails.

Ultraviolet radiation from the sun kills fungi capable of causing athlete's foot. Avoid reinfection by keeping feet dry as much as possible. Go barefoot. Expose your feet to sunshine (but don't get sunburned!).

How Long Is Athlete's Foot Contagious? As long as the fungus is still on the skin of the feet, even during treatment, you can still pass it on to others.

What is the fastest way to cure athlete's foot at home?

Like hydrogen peroxide, rubbing alcohol can help kill off the fungus that's on the surface level of the skin. You can apply it directly to the affected area or soak your feet in a footbath of 70 percent rubbing alcohol and 30 percent water for 30 minutes.

Tea tree oil has long been used as an antibacterial and antifungal home remedy. Its properties make it a great choice when treating athlete's foot at home. Rub the oil into the skin at least twice a day to reduce scaling, itching, and burning. For best results, apply daily for up to a month.

Choose Breathable Footwear

Choose ones with uppers made of breathable mesh, canvas or leathers. Work Boots should have moisture wicking linings to reduce the risk of developing Athlete's Foot.

So moisturizing your feet regularly can help. If you're prone to athlete's foot or have a history of nail fungus, Lipner recommends daily treatment with a drugstore antifungal product — it reduces your chance of recurrence threefold, she says. “Athlete's foot tends to be a chronic condition,” Lipner says.

The fungal infection is called athlete's foot because it's commonly seen in athletes. Athlete's foot isn't serious, but sometimes it's hard to cure. If you have diabetes or a weakened immune system and suspect you have athlete's foot, you should call your doctor right away.

Athlete's foot is very common. It is estimated that 3 to 15% of the population are affected. Men and older people are more likely to get it.

Athlete's foot spreads either through contact with fungi or by contact with infected skin. Perpetually damp areas like locker rooms, bathroom floors, showers, and swimming pools are prime breeding grounds for the fungi. They can also live in socks, shoes, and towels, all of which have a tendency to remain moist.

Having athlete's foot once doesn't mean you're immune. If you have an infection, make sure to disinfect or treat any areas that the fungus may be on. This includes your towels, sheets and bathroom or shower floors. Don't forget your shoes either, especially the ones you wear barefoot, like sandals.

You do not have to throw away your shoes if you have athlete's foot unless they were worn without socks, have dirt in them, or you have another skin reaction to the material or color dyes.

A simple and easy fix at home is to “sanitize shower bases with a potential disinfectant like bleach. It kills spores of fungi,” Tierno says. Try a diluted bleach solution to kill off any potential threats.

Is Athlete's foot a symptom of diabetes?

Diabetics often develop athlete's foot. A diabetic person has a higher concentration of blood sugar, which makes their perspiration sweeter. This encourages the growth of fungus, leading to athlete's foot. Neuropathy is a severe complication of diabetes.

Yes. Hydrogen peroxide kills the fungus that causes athlete's foot. It can also kill bacteria that live on the surface of the skin and can worsen athlete's foot or cause additional infections. Use hydrogen peroxide on athlete's foot two times per day until the infection is gone.

Fungus is already a difficult infection to get rid of, and what surprises many people is that fungus can live in your shoes for up to 20 months. Thus, continuously treating your shoes throughout treatment is essential. There are many ways to treat shoes including Lysol, anti-fungal mists and UV shoe cleaning devices.

The fungus that causes athlete's foot can't thrive in saline (a.k.a. salty) solutions, so dissolve about a 1/3 cup salt in a gallon of warm water, and soak your feet in the water for 10 minutes or so at a time, then dry your feet thoroughly. Repeat daily until the problem disappears.

To prevent or mitigate the spread of the fungal infection, an individual might consider being particularly careful with how they handle their laundry. This is because spores can often spread from clothes to clothes.

Unfortunately, this infection is contagious. You can get infected from other people who have athlete's foot, and the disease can also spread to other parts of the feet and body — especially if you touch the infected area.

CARD9 deficiency is a genetic immune disorder characterized by susceptibility to fungal infections like candidiasis, which is caused by the yeast fungus Candida. Typically, Candida does not cause severe problems in healthy people, but it can take advantage of those with a weakened immune system.

To help the immune system fight off infection, it is important to not smoke, exercise with regularity, drink in moderation, eat a balanced diet and get plenty of rest.

Wear socks made of natural fabrics or fabrics that dry quickly or wick moisture away from the skin. Alternate the shoes you wear each day, if possible, to ensure shoes are dry when they are put on. If you live with someone who has athlete's foot, don't share towels, linens, or shoes.

Is vaseline good for athlete's foot?

Fungus-ridden feet may crack, peel, and look dry. But you'll want to avoid using moisturizing creams or petroleum jelly on your feet, since these products trap moisture and can actually promote fungus growth, says Dr. Weiner. Stick with antifungal creams.

For athlete's foot

Athlete's foot often burns and itches. For mild forms of this condition, a vinegar soak might work well. The antifungal properties also make vinegar soaks a good idea for people who have toenail fungus. Soak your feet for 10 to 15 minutes daily in a vinegar bath until the infection subsides.

How Do You Disinfect Shoes From Athlete's Foot? The best way to disinfect shoes from athlete's foot is to use a UV shoe sanitizer. However, you can also use hydrogen peroxide and baking soda to get rid of fungus from athlete's foot. Vinegar is also effective at slowing down fungal growth in shoes.

If left untreated, it can spread to a nail and cause a fungal nail infection. The infection can spread to other areas of skin, such as the hands, but that rarely happens. Very rarely, and only in severe cases of athlete's foot, it can also lead to a bacterial infection.

The early signs of athlete's foot are patches or fissures (deep breaks or slits), especially between the toes. As the infection progresses, the skin may turn red, become itchy, and appear moist. Small blisters may spread out across the foot, breaking to expose raw fissures that are painful and may swell.

Athlete's foot isn't typically dangerous, but it will stay around forever unless it's treated with an antifungal medication. It will not go away on its own or simply fall off. We can treat this condition and get rid of the fungus.

Most cases of athlete's foot can be cured with over-the-counter antifungal products and basic good hygiene.

A simple and easy fix at home is to “sanitize shower bases with a potential disinfectant like bleach. It kills spores of fungi,” Tierno says. Try a diluted bleach solution to kill off any potential threats.

Most mild cases of athlete's foot clear up within 2 weeks. But treatment can go for several weeks or longer if the infection is more serious or affects the toenails.

Fungus is already a difficult infection to get rid of, and what surprises many people is that fungus can live in your shoes for up to 20 months.

What are the three types of athlete's foot?

Of the 3 types, toe web is the most common, while vesicular is the least common type of athlete's foot. Moccasin-type is often a chronic condition that should be evaluated by a podiatrist.

Hydrogen peroxide kills the fungus that causes athlete's foot. It can also kill bacteria that live on the surface of the skin and can worsen athlete's foot or cause additional infections.

As vinegar has antifungal properties, soaking the feet daily in a vinegar foot bath could help fight off fungal infections, such as athlete's foot.