Pesky? Yes. Contagious? Yes. Potentially serious? Yes again. Athlete’s foot  is an ailment that causes millions of Americans discomfort and possible infection each year. It is difficult to get rid of and often recurs.

If you have fought athlete’s foot and actually defeated it, then your next logical step is to avoid getting it again. Preventing athlete’s foot now is much easier than treating it later. Your Pennsylvania area podiatrists discuss several strategies to keep your feet healthy.

Steps You Can Take to Prevent Athlete’s Foot:

  • Always wear sandals or shoes whenever walking on damp floors, especially in public places like gym showers and swimming pools.
  • Don’t share towels, socks or other personal items. The fungus spreads so easily that even a towel can transfer it from one person to another.
  • Choose wool or cotton socks rather than nylon or other synthetic fibers, which aid fungal growth.
  • Change your socks, and sometimes even shoes, whenever they become wet or sweaty to prevent foot moisture.
  • Wear footwear that is designed to circulate air around your feet and toes. Sandals and many athletic shoes do just this.
  • Keep the floors of shared facilities clean and dry to prevent the spread of athlete’s foot.
  • Promote dry feet with products like talc that you can dust on your feet, in your shoes and on your socks.
  • Clean your shoes, especially athletic shoes, regularly with a good cleaning product.


Oops, There it Is Again! Let a Doctor Help
Unfortunately, no matter how careful you are, you may still get athlete’s foot. When this happens, a visit to a good podiatrist can save you lots of time and discomfort. Over-the-counter products are not particularly reliable. While they may work for you, too often they simply hold the fungus at bay. It will return again as soon as you quit using the product.

If you suffer from diabetes or any circulation-related disorder, seek help immediately. Athlete’s foot can cause cracking, swelling and open sores. All of these are potential causes of serious infection, something you need to take very seriously.

The Philadelphia area foot and ankle specialists at Healthmark offer you the kind of treatment you can trust. We pride ourselves in our attention to detail, our patient-focused approach, and our knowledge of the most up-to date treatments and technology. Give us a call today. Let’s get together and solve your athlete’s foot problem once and for all.