General Tips Athletes Foot
- Wash hands regularly.
- Do not pick at infection.
- Use separate towels (do not share) especially when washing feet.
- Foot hygiene is very important, wash regularly every day in warm soapy (antibacterial) water and/or salty (antiseptic) water especially between toes and ‘pat dry’ thoroughly.
- Allow feet to breath. Take shoes and socks off when you can.
- Wear sandals (beware of strapped sandals as they can cause blisters) and flip flops.
- Try not to be barefooted where there are lots of people (e.g. swimming pool and communal areas).
- Try to avoid sweaty environments (e.g. gyms), Sweaty environments allow fungus to grow.
- Avoid wearing trainers or synthetic shoes, they hold in moisture and let fungus grow. Leather shoes are fine.
- Wear cotton socks.
- Avoid tight fitting shows (that stop water vapour escaping).
- Change socks daily and shoes after exercising.
- Change shoes every two to three days.
- Leave your shoes out in the sunlight to kill fungus in the shoes.
- Wear socks before underwear to prevent infection from feet to reach the groin area.
- Use anti-fungal dusting powders (if suitable) in socks and shoes to prevent re-infection
- Use foot sprays (if suitable) to prevent infection.
- Stop smoking
- Keep nails short to prevent nail infections and it will also help to keep the nail bed cool.
- Feet tend to be often forgotten about as it is one part of the body which is hidden away. It is prone to roughness due to constant rubbing against the shoes and the ground and should be regularly exfoliated or using a foot file with a foot and heel balm to remove dead skin. One needs to moisturise the feet on a regular basis to prevent dryness.
Foot care Patient Advice (especially diabetics or with poor foot circulation
- Look at feet each day. If you are not able to check if someone else can, particularly if you have reduced sensation in feet.
- If you get a cut, bruises, redness, blister bleeding; please see your medical doctor, in the meantime cover it up with a clean dry dressing.
- If you have dry skin, use a moisturising cream or oil but do not use between toes (one may have athletes foot or be at risk).
- Cut your nails along curvature with toe nail clippers, not straight across. Do not damage your skin.
- Wash feet regularly everyday in warm soapy (anti-bacterial soap) water and/or salty (antiseptic) water especially between toes and ‘pat dry’ thoroughly.
- Try to avoid foot burns:
- Check bath temperature with hand before you put your feet in.
- Keep your feet away from hot objects e.g. hot water bottles, electric blankets, close to fire, hearers
- Avoid slip on shoes
- Avoid top flat shoes, pointy shoes (have broad front with room for toes, sandals and flip flops that cause rubbing).
- Always feel inside shoes for stones or rough edges before you put them on.
- Always wear comfortable low heel shoes/trainers, (heels too low can strain the foot arch, cause sore and cracked heels)
- Make sure they fit well (comfortable fastening, liner and buckles to prevent rubbing otherwise can get blisters). Take into account any corns, bunions, awkward shape. (If have no choice, consider specially fitted shoes to take account of bunions, corns deformities)
- When buying new shoes, wear your usual socks.
- Gradually break in new shoes.
- Always wear comfortable socks (not too tight) with footwear. Socks protect you from a rubbing shoe.
- Do not walk bare foot anywhere. One may damage their feet.
- Rotate ones ankles move feet up and down and do regular feet exercise to improve suppleness and blood circulation.
Natural treatments and tips (DR Axe)
