A side effect of athlete's foot -
bacterial infection
When the skin is injured by the fungus, bacteria
can also invade the skin.
This bacteria can cause a bad smell. This bacterial
infection and resulting inflammation is known as cellulites
and can occur in the elderly, individuals with diabetes,
those with chronic leg swelling or in those who have
had veins removed (such as for heart bypass surgery).
Patients with impaired immune systems are also at
risk. Medical advice and the prescribing of antibiotics
may well be necessary for a bacterial infection
Acute and Chronic Athlete's Foot
The acute form of athlete's foot
is the infection with moist, scaling between the toes
with occasional small blisters and/or fissures. There
is burning and itching accompanying the blisters.
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The chronic form of athlete's foot
differs from the acute form in that it is relatively
non-inflammatory. There is a dull redness to the skin
and pronounced scaling. It may affect the entire bottom
of the foot. It generally does not itch or cause blisters.
There may well be a fungal infection of the toenails.
How to prevent the spread of athlete's
foot
This condition is called athlete's foot for the very
reason that it is mostly athletes who contract the
condition. Athletes frequent gyms, swimming
pools, locker rooms and showers. Here are a
few precautions that you can take to minimize the
risk of either passing on the infection to others
or catching the infection yourself in the first place:
- If you have athlete's foot, then treat the condition
as early as possible.
- Don't share towels, wash cloths, socks or footwear
with anyone including members of your own family.
- Wear thongs or other footwear in locker rooms
and public showers and at pools when not swimming.
Be aware that gyms have a lot of equipment used
by many different people so that there is often
excessive sweat and moisture on these amenities.
Disinfectant is usually provided by the management
so that clients can wipe down machinery themselves
after use. One new possible source of infections
to the feet is the use of shared exercise and yoga
mats. So if you are a yoga fan, be aware of this
possibility and invest in your own personal mat
or purchase one of half a dozen kinds of yoga-mat
wipes now sold in the US or other new products like
hand and foot mitts.
- If you are concerned about possible infection
in your own home, then the same advice applies to
showers and the pool area there. Keep the shower
and bathroom floors well disinfected.
