Athlete’s foot, or tinea pedis, is a fungal infection that affects the feet. The fungus responsible for this condition causes symptoms such as itching, redness and scaling of the skin on the feet. Infections can occur in public areas such as swimming pools, bathrooms, saunas and hotel rooms.
Although athlete’s foot is not serious, it can be very uncomfortable. This fungal disease is generally not serious in healthy people and can be easily treated. All linens (sheets, socks and towels) that come in direct contact with the feet must be washed immediately after athlete’s foot treatment.
Generally, an antifungal cream can be applied to kill the fungus. Treatment with this medication usually lasts two to four weeks and must be applied daily to be effective. Ideally, the affected area should be cleaned with water and mild soap and then dried thoroughly. The product can then be applied in a thin layer, making sure that it extends about two centimetres beyond the affected area. This will ensure that any fungi present are removed. It takes a few days of use to see an improvement. In addition, it is important to continue the treatment for a few days after the lesions have disappeared, as the fungi may still be present even if they are not visible to the naked eye. This prevents the return of athlete’s foot when the treatment is stopped.
You probably want to know how to cure athlete’s foot in one day, but, as you can read, the treatment usually takes several weeks before the fungus disappears from your body. To ensure it doesn’t return, you can continue treatment for as long as five to six weeks. If athlete’s foot not responding to treatment, ask your doctor quickly to avoid advanced dermatology intervention and skin surgery.
If left untreated, athlete’s foot can spread to the whole sole of the foot and nails. It can also open the door to bacterial infections if there are lesions in the skin.