Fight foot fungi

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Fight foot fungi

http://www.health24.com/Man/Looking_good/748-768,23166.asp

There's nothing quite like a warm, dark, moist environment to make

fungi feel right at home.

With more than 250 000 sweat glands in the foot, maintaining the

kind of ventilation necessary to prevent fungal growth can be a

challenge. Failure to do so can lead to such problems as foot odour,

fungal nail infections, athlete's foot and other skin infections,

warns the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA).

Common foot problems

Common areas of fungal growth are the soles of the feet and between

the toes. Signs of infection can include dry skin, itching, scaling,

inflammation and blisters that can break and lead to pain and

swelling.

If you find your feet plagued with such problems, you're probably

not alone in your community - infections such as athlete's foot are

contagious and can be spread not only at warm, humid places such as

swimming pools, but even through the sharing of towels.

How to give fungal infections the boot

To prevent fungal infections of the foot, experts recommend changing

your shoes daily to let each pair air out. When it's hot or you're

working out frequently, socks should be changed even more often, and

try to avoid walking barefoot at public pools or locker rooms.

There are a number of over-the-counter anti-fungal foot powders that

can be effective in preventing or treating athlete's foot, and even

soaking your feet in vinegar and water can help prevent foot odour,

says the APMA.

If you do find yourself with an infection, be patient - it can take

several weeks for the problem to clear up. If the condition persists

or becomes increasingly painful, it's time to see a doctor. –

(HealthDayNews)