Recently I had a patient come in to Family Foot & Ankle Specialists complaining of itching and redness to both his feet. Patient said that he started noticing some red bumps on the bottom of his feet over a month ago and it has become very itchy. This patient is a body builder and spends a lot of his time at the gym.
Treating Athlete's Foot At Home
The patient thought it was athlete’s foot and was treating it with over the counter products. His condition did not improve so he decided to come to the office. After the first exam it was clear that his foot issue had a clear moccasin distribution of red bumps on the bottom of his feet. This condition is Tinea Pedis which is athlete’s foot. I told him this is very common and can come from old shoes or gym floors.
How Do You Get Athlete's Foot
Athlete’s foot is very contagious and can range from mild irritation to a peeling, itching skin. It is commonly caused by public places such as gyms, locker rooms, and public pools. It is essential to wear shoes, even pool shoes, at all public places. Athlete’s foot, warts, even nail fungus can be spread in wet and warm places.
Treating Athlete's Foot
The treatment for athlete’s foot is to apply a topical ointment, spray shoes with an antifungal spray, and wash feet with a medicated foot wash. The patient I treated stated an immediate improvement in the itch and noticed the red bumps disappearing within a week. The patient is very happy and I will follow up with him in 2 weeks.
