Severe Athletes Foot
The cause of athletes foot is a fungi. Normally, this fungus resides on the skins surface, and eats away at the dead skin cells. Sometimes however, the fungi can get beneath the surface of the skin where it can cause an infection. This is usually the beginning of athletes foot.
The symptoms of athletes foot will vary greatly depending upon the severity and duration of the infection. Some people experience a cracking of the skin, where the skin becomes almost scaly and dry. For other people with more severe athletes foot, the skin may crack and bleed, and pustules may begin to form, which become sore and infected.
Athletes foot is not a nice infection to have at all, and a persons life can become blighted by severe athletes foot, leaving them in constant pain or irritation, and in causing pain whenever they walk.
The fungus which causes athletes foot thrives on moist and warm conditions, such as those between the toes and we often are unaware that we could help reduce the risk of developing athletes foot immensely by taking a few simple precautions, such as:
- Drying in between the toes after bathing: This is the most basic of all precautions, however most people fail to adequately dry their feet after bathing, and by leaving our feet moist we are aiding the fungi by providing the moisture they love.
- Changing our socks regularly: Wearing the same socks means an accumulation of fungi can occur. The more often we change our socks, the better.
- Avoid walking barefoot in places such as locker rooms and changing rooms: Athletes foot can be spread or picked up from another person who has walked the same floor.
- Allow you feet some air: Wearing shoes which don't breath well will cause your feet to sweat more. More sweat means more moisture, and once again, this aids the fungi's development.
In some of the cases of severe athletes foot, regular treatments may be somewhat inadequate in clearing the fungal infection and stronger medication or treatment may need to be prescribed. You should always keep your doctor informed if your medication isn't working, and you doctor will try you with strong medication.
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