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Easy cure for athletes footAthlete's Foot is a fungal infection of the foot where the skin tends to be moist such as between toes. This fungus grows well in warm, moist environments such as shoes, stockings, and the floors of public showers, locker rooms, fitness centers and swimming pools. The signs and symptoms of athlete’s foot are itching, stinging and burning between the toes, soles of the feet, blister formation, cracking skin, peeling skin and foul odor. Our ancestors believed that this condition was due to insect bites. But the 19th century scientists discovered that the primary culprit for this condition is microorganisms, and later a group of fungi called dermatophytes. These organisms sprout tendril-like extensions in the superficial skin area of the foot. As these fungi proliferate in its substrate, the basal layer of skin produces more skin cells than normal. As the infection progress, the skin of the affected foot produces more scales. Medical advice is very important if the self-care measure doesn’t work well. An experienced physician can easily differentially diagnose athlete’s foot condition from other similar conditions such as dermatitis and psoriasis by viewing the skin scrapings or fluid samples taken from the affected area within minutes to identify the fungus. The mild athlete’s foot condition respond well to the topical agents which include Clotrimazole (Lotrimin) and Terbinafine( Lamisil AF). These topical agents are available over-the-counter as anti-fungal ointment, lotion, powder or spray. In severe infections or the condition, which doesn’t respond to the topical medicine, a prescription may be sought from the dermatologist. The oral medications are Itraconazole (Sporanox), Fluconazole (Diflucan) and Terbinafine (Lamisil). Gastrointestinal upset, rash and abnormal liver function tests are the side effects of these oral medications. Oral antibiotic may also be included in the treatment if the individual developed secondary bacterial infections.
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