How To Keep Athlete's Foot from Spreading

Common summer activities like hanging out at the pool or just walking around with bare feet can increase your risk of picking up a case of athlete’s foot. This highly contagious fungal infection results in unsightly and uncomfortable symptoms including a scaly, itchy rash around your toes.

The good news is that you have plenty of over-the-counter and highly effective professional treatment options for athlete’s foot available to you from Dr. Stephen Eichelsdorfer (aka Dr. Ike) and our team at Town Center Foot & Ankle of Kingwood and Atascocita, Texas.

How contagious is athlete’s foot?

The fungal infection known as athlete’s foot is very contagious and can be challenging to root out and fully resolve.

Fungal infections like tinea pedis (athlete’s foot) do best in warm, damp, dark environments. That’s a good description of the inside of your shoes after a sweaty workout. Athlete’s foot is particularly well-suited to the spaces between your toes, where it’s very warm and damp.

Athlete’s foot can spread easily from person to person in favorable environments. If you walk barefoot through a warm, damp area where others have walked barefoot, you’re at risk for athlete’s foot. Think public showers and pools or gym locker rooms.

Preventing athlete’s foot from spreading

This summer, take steps to protect yourself and your family from athlete’s foot. And if a member of your household contracts a case, prevent athlete’s foot from spreading any farther. Here’s what you can do:

• Wear shoes when walking in public areas like pools and locker rooms
• Use shower shoes if a household member has athlete’s foot
• Avoid sharing sweaty socks or shoes
• Give your feet a break before too long if your socks and shoes get sweaty
• Clean your feet every day, and always scrub between your toes

If you follow these tips from Dr. Ike, you can keep athlete’s foot from spreading.

Treating athlete’s foot

If you already have a case of athlete’s foot, you may need professional podiatry treatment. As previously mentioned, eradicating athlete’s foot can be a challenge.

The rash and other symptoms may seem to subside, only to flare up again after weeks or months have gone by. You might find yourself repeatedly trying to address the problem with over-the-counter or home remedies, only to have athlete’s foot recur.

At Town Center Foot & Ankle, Dr. Ike offers highly effective professional forms of treatment for foot fungus problems like athlete’s foot. He can prescribe oral or topical antifungal medications and soothing creams that actually work. 

And our team can help you understand the steps you need to take to protect yourself from athlete’s foot in the future.

To learn more about athlete’s foot prevention and treatment, contact us at Town Center Foot & Ankle today by phone or online to request an appointment.