Athlete's foot (tinea pedis)
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Prevention
It's common for people with athlete's foot to suffer further bouts of infection. Partly, this can be due to not using treatments for long enough, but it can also be because you pick up a new infection.
Making simple changes to your usual routine can help prevent future infections:
- Keep feet and toes dry – fungi need a damp, moist environment to thrive
- After washing feet daily, dry thoroughly paying particular attention to the area between the toes
- Wear cotton socks and shoes from natural materials (e.g. leather) as these help the feet breathe and stop them getting sweaty and damp
- Change socks and tights daily
- Don't wear the same shoes every day
- Don't share bath towels
- Don't walk around barefoot in communal changing areas, wear shoes or flip-flops to protect feet
- Wash hands after applying treatment to prevent the spread of infection
- Put an athlete's foot powder in shoes or socks as a preventative measure.
