Aging Skin Feet Solutions – fungal infection self-treatment
The symptoms of dry feet, especially the heels can include:
- Peeling and flaking skin.
- The skin feels “”tight”” or painful.
- The skin may appear yellow or brown in color, and may become inflamed due to itching and scratching.
- The dry skin may become thick and hard, especially around the edges of the heels.
- The feet may become painful while walking. This discomfort is increased when walking barefoot, in thin sole shoes, or open back shoes.
- If the cracks are deep, bleeding may occur.
- Dry and cracked skin is prone to bacteria and fungal infections which can cause serious problems.
Athlete’s foot typically affects the skin on the feet between the toes, but can move anywhere on the foot and can affect the toenails. Athlete’s foot is a fungal infection of the skin and the nails, usually found on the skin between the toes. When the infection spreads to the toenails, they become thick and distorted.
Fungi are plant organisms (tinea pedis) such as mold and mildew and grow best in conditions that are moist. Bacteria may thrive as a secondary infection, which worsens the symptoms of the disorder and makes it more difficult to cure. A fungal infection is one of the most difficult nail and foot conditions to treat.
It is common to catch athlete’s foot from other people who have it by walking on floors that are moist or wet (e.g. at swimming pools and in shared bathroom facilities). Athlete’s foot is also much more common in people who tend to have moist feet. Athlete’s foot can also be spread by sharing other people’s shoes or personal care items such as towels and wash cloths.
Athlete’s foot and fungus may also spread to other parts of the body, notably the groin and underarms, by those who scratch their and then touch themselves elsewhere.
Symptoms include:
- On the skin:
- Reddened, cracked, and peeling skin
- Some bleeding
- Itching
- Burning
- Stinging sensation
- Development of small blisters (Blisters often lead to cracking of the skin. When blisters break, small raw areas of tissue are exposed, causing pain and swelling. Itching and burning may increase as the infection spreads. In severe cases the skin may thicken, like a callus, and begin to scale.)
- On the toe nail:
- Change in color (yellow or brown)
- Nail gets thicker
- Bad odor
- Debris collects beneath the nail
- White marks on the nail
Treatment
Self-care treatments:
Bathe your feet at least once a day with soap and warm water. Dry thoroughly after bathing and keep your feet dry. Change socks frequently and buy socks that absorb moisture, such as cotton and wool. Expose your feet to the air for short periods of time throughout the day (do not walk barefoot, however). Wear sandals with open toes whenever possible.
There are a variety of over-the-counter products that can be used to treat the tinea pedis fungus, such as:
- Gordochom Fungicide-Germicide
- Tineacide Antifungal Cream for Foot Fungus
- Tineacide® Antifungal Shoe Spray for Foot Fungus
- Bromi-Lotion Antiperspirant
- RESTORE AF – topical solution restores infected nails
After a period of time, if products used for athlete’s foot and fungus fail, prescription topical or oral antifungal drugs, such as Sporonax or Lamisil, can be prescribed by your Podiatrist.
Prevention:
- Wear sandals or shoes when walking on moist or wet floors
- Don’t share shoes or personal care items such as towels
- Wear socks made of absorbent materials such as cotton or wool
- Change socks frequently if you perspire heavily
- Choose footwear that allows for the circulation of air
- Keep the floors in shared facilities clean and dry
- Keep your feet clean and dry by dusting Bromi-Talc Foot Powder in shoes and stockings and on your feet
- Clean athletic shoes frequently with a good athletic shoe cleaning product
