For most people, a case of athlete’s foot will be annoying, costly, and time-consuming. This is because many patients do not know how to cure athlete’s foot—they will merely treat the symptoms until they cannot see the infection anymore. Once they believe they are “healed,” they will continue to perform the same actions that caused the infection in the first place, leading them to suffer the pain of athlete’s foot all over again.
In order to get rid of athlete’s foot for good, you need to know what causes it and where it lives—allowing you to treat it effectively. Many people do not realize that athlete’s foot is caused by a fungus—a fungus that thrives in moist, dark environments—and can spread easily from one person to another.
Fungus can cause a number of irritating foot ailments in Phoenixville, including:
- Athlete’s foot. The tinea pedis fungus causes the familiar itching and burning sensation on the bottoms of the feet and between the toes. Patients may also experience extremely dry skin, especially on the sides and bottoms of the feet.
- Onychomycosis. This is a fungal infection of the nail. It can be caused in conjunction with another fungal infection such as athlete’s foot, or through person-to-person contact (most commonly through nail trimming instruments at pedicure salons).
- Ringworm. Unlike its name suggests, ringworm is an infection caused by a fungus, not a worm. It is characterized by red, scaly, raised patches of skin that will itch and often blister. Although common among children, it can spread through all age levels and can affect any part of the body, causing oozing sores and hair loss.
Since most people are unaware of how these infections are caused, they may try fighting them with antibiotics, which will have no effect. Others may not know that they are spread by direct contact and will continue to walk barefoot in public areas. At HealthMark Foot & Ankle Associates, our Philadelphia podiatrists keep you informed and armed against the causes of foot infections, greatly decreasing your chances of suffering them again.
To set up your first consultation, call our Media office at 610-565-3668, our Phoenixville office at 610-933-8644 today, or click the link on this page to receive a FREE copy of our book, The Foot is Not an Island: Recognizing Vitamin D Deficiency & How to Correct It.