Athlete’s Foot: Causes, Symptoms, Prevention and Treatment

Athlete’s foot is one of the most common fungal infections. In industrialized countries, one in three people suffer from the unpleasant disease, which is accompanied by severe itching. We explain to you what you can do to prevent it and how you can treat athlete’s foot.

Recognition, treatment and prevention of athlete’s foot

Athlete’s foot (medical: tinea pedis) belongs to the skin fungus diseases. The infection usually spreads between the toes, but can also affect the sole of the foot and in particularly severe cases even the back of the foot. If the nails are also affected, it is a nail fungus.

Symptoms

The first sign of athlete’s foot is extreme, permanent itching between the toes. The infected areas are then reddened and dandruff is formed. Later on, small pustules and blisters develop at the affected points of the foot.

Causes

Athlete’s foot is caused by filamentous fungi, the so-called dermatophytes. Normally, the pathogens have no chance of infecting the skin, as the acid mantle and the skin flora ensure that all pests are destroyed immediately.

However, if the immune system is weakened or the skin of the foot is attacked, the pathogens can outwit the body’s own defence system. The fungal spores can penetrate the skin and spread at will. In doing so, they fight their way from the upper skin into deeper skin layers. Once there, the athlete’s foot can settle down. Now it becomes uncomfortable for the feet.

Since the skin cells renew themselves again and again, the fungus spores penetrate again and again to the upper skin layer. The cell renewal ensures that the skin repels the dead scales. Exactly these skin scales are dangerous because they contain the pathogen. The fungal spores can survive in the scales for up to several weeks and thus transmit the infection and infect other people.

Prevention

Due to the high risk of infection, caution is advised, especially in places where many people walk barefoot. In swimming pools, saunas, solariums and hotel rooms, you should never walk around barefoot as a preventive measure, but always wear slippers or slippers. Since fungus loves humid climate, you should make sure your feet are dry. After showering, it is therefore important to dry the spaces between your toes thoroughly or to blow-dry them with a hairdryer. Sweaty feet also favour the development of athlete’s foot. To avoid sweaty feet, you should avoid synthetic socks and shoes. The synthetic fibres do not absorb the moisture and therefore create a tropical climate on the feet, where the pathogens multiply well. Wear cotton socks and breathable leather shoes instead. The skin can then breathe better, which helps to prevent sweaty feet. You should also wear comfortable shoes: Too tight shoes can cause pressure sores and wounds. The skin is damaged and the nail fungus can penetrate the protective mantle of the skin more quickly.

To prevent the pathogens, you should also ensure that your immune system is intact. With a balanced diet you can strengthen your body’s own defence system. Especially vitamins A, C, D and E are important for the immune system. They are mainly contained in fruit. The trace elements iron and zinc are also essential for the immune system. Iron is mainly found in meat. Zinc is mainly found in seafood, spinach and lean meat. Sufficient exercise is another important factor in supporting the immune system.

Treatment

If you have nevertheless caught the unpleasant athlete’s foot, you can first fight it with home remedies. For example, you can dab the affected areas regularly with apple vinegar. A footbath with apple vinegar, lemon, salt and water can also help to reduce the symptoms. To do this, mix apple vinegar and water in a 1:4 ratio. Add some lemon and half a cup of salt and bathe your feet in it for ten minutes.

Another method is to kill the infection with garlic and onions. To do this, rub your feet with garlic cloves or an onion before going to bed. Then put on cotton socks and let them work overnight. Carry out this treatment for several days. But beware! If you do not sleep alone, it is advisable to ask if your bed partner agrees to the extra portion of garlic and onion ointment.

For stubborn athlete’s foot, a gel or cream with antimycotics can help. The active ingredient inhibits the growth of the pathogens and kills them.