You Can Prevent Athlete’s Foot: 4 Habits You Need to Start Now

If you’re not paying attention, you could easily end up with a case of athlete’s foot. This contagious skin infection comes from an opportunistic fungus, and results in itching, scaly skin and rash-like symptoms.

But with the right prevention strategies, you can avoid this fungal infection. Here, Dr. Stephen G. Eichelsdorfer and our expert team at Town Center Foot & Ankle of Kingwood, Texas, offer four healthy habits and prevention strategies you should adopt right away.

Watch where you go

You can reduce your risk of infected feet by avoiding the situations where contagion is most common and paying more attention to your foot care habits when you know you’re in a high-risk space.

The fungus that causes athlete’s foot thrives in areas that are warm and wet. It doesn’t do well in sunlight and prefers dark spaces. The space between your toes is warm, often damp, and frequently quite dark, so the fungus can thrive there.

Public changing rooms and shared showers are a major source of athlete’s foot. Watch out when you’re in these types of environments or any time your feet are exposed where fungus could thrive.

Get serious about cleaning your feet

How often do you really wash your feet? Just getting them wet or letting soapy water run over them in the shower, doesn’t count. If you’re focused on preventing foot fungus, this needs to become one of your regular habits. 

Scrub between all of your toes with soap and warm water, and fully dry your feet when you’re finished. The more frequently you clean your feet, the less chance athlete’s foot has to take root and become a problem.

Dry out sweaty shoes and socks

It’s not just your feet that need cleaning to reduce the risk of athlete’s foot. The shoes and socks that come into contact with your skin can be a vector for infection, as well.

Carefully clean and dry your socks and shoes when they get damp or wet. Don’t reuse gym socks you have perspired in.  Wash sweaty socks as soon as possible. Take off gym shoes right away after working out, and leave them to air out overnight before putting them on again. 

You should also clean shower shoes regularly. These habits help keep your footwear from becoming a source of athlete’s foot infections.

Don’t share socks, shoes, or towels

You take good care of your gym or shower shoes, but do your friends or housemates do the same? Don’t share shoes, socks, or towels with others if you want to prevent athlete’s foot.

For personalized advice on reducing your risk of athlete’s foot or for help with an infection, contact us at Town Center Foot & Ankle.  Request your appointment online or over the phone now.