Athlete's foot is the most common type of fungal infection in Korea. It makes up 33-40% of all cases of mycosis, typically in adult patients in their twenties to forties. That being said, it's good to know the general causes and symptoms in order to prevent catching it yourself.Simply put, athlete's foot is an infection caused by the fungi trichophyton, normally on the soles of the feet and between the toes. Fungi thrive in warm, damp, and moist environments, which make sweaty feet and hands the perfect hideout. They settle in the outer layers of the epidermis, where sweat glucose actually serves as nutrients for the bacteria.
So what causes athlete's foot? There may be several factors behind fungal infection, but sweaty feet/hands serve as the biggest cause. Tight shoes or socks that cause sweat, or not drying thoroughly after swimming or showering can be other reasons. Symptoms include itchiness, hardened skin, flakiness/scaliness, weakened nails, and in severe cases, pain. Athlete's foot not only easily spreads across the body; it can be transmitted to other people as well. You can get it by something as simple as touching the foot of someone who has athlete's foot, or even from the flakes/scales that fall off. However, exposure doesn't always mean transmission, so you don't need to treat it like a plague. Just be careful!
Now let's take a look at some treatment options available at Renewme Skin Clinic.
1. Treatment for Acute Inflammation
For acute or secondary inflammation, a wet compress and antibiotics/anti-inflammatory ointments are recommended before moving on to antifungal medication. However, this should be conducted under a doctor's supervision, because improper use of anti-inflammatory ointment can actually worsen the condition.
2. Antifungal Medication
About one week after antifungal cream is applied to the treatment area, it may seem like your skin has recovered to some extent. However, the fungi has most likely penetrated deep into your skin and is waiting to relapse. For full recovery, cream application is recommended for at least 6 weeks. If topical treatment is not working, the doctor will prescribe oral medication which should be taken regularly.
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Line: skin0075
Kakao Talk: renewmeskin
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