What's That Itching Between My Toes?

If you've noticed you've been itching between your toes a lot more lately and that area is red or scaly, you most likely have Athlete's Foot.

Athlete's Foot, also known as tinea pedis, is a skin disease caused by a fungus that occurs naturally between the toes. The fungus attacks the feet because shoes create a warm, dark, and humid environment that encourages fungus growth. Warm, damp areas around swimming pools, showers, and locker rooms are also breeding grounds for fungi. So with spring sports and summer weather coming up, the cases of Athlete's Foot will rise.

Symptoms of Athlete's Foot including drying skin, itching, scaling, inflammation, and blisters on and between the toes. Athlete's Foot can spread to the soles of the feet and to the toenails as well as other parts of the body, which is why timely treatment is so important.
You can prevent Athlete's Foot by:

• Not walking barefoot, particularly in public pools and locker rooms. 
• Reducing foot perspiration by using talcum powder.
• Wearing light and airy shoes.
• Wearing socks that keep your feet dry, and changing them frequently if you perspire heavily. 

While fungicidal and fungistatic chemicals are usually used to treat Athlete's Foot problems, they often fail to contact the fungi in the lower layers of the skin. For persistent Athlete's Foot, a prescription topical or oral antifungal drug may be needed.
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
Podiatrists in CT
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• Red, Itchy, Peeling Area between Your Toes - It Might Be Athlete's Foot!

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Men's Foot Problems

Men and women have some similarities in their foot problems, but they also have a number of differences. Since we all have less time to think about our feet these days, we thought we'd get the men out there thinking about what some of the differences might be. Let's admit it guys, we usually tend to wait too long to seek medical care. We avoid our medical problems until  they become too serious to ignore. The term "weekend warriors" often applies to us, especially when we start on a new exercise routine. We also tend to binge on exercise during the weekend. And while we're making a list, we are less likely to use the proper type of shoes for activities, and we tend not to prepare for those same activities with stretching before and after exercise.

When you experience an athletic injury, it's important to do the right thing fast. Call your podiatrist to discuss any and all foot and ankle injuries. The doctor may recommend that you treat your injury at home or may recommend that you meet him or her at the office or the ER. While you're waiting, remember "RICE"- rest, ice, compression, and elevation.
Another problem that men may be more prone to is "athlete's foot", which has a great title for a crummy infection. While most men over fifty would love to have "athlete" associated with them in any way, this condition is probably not what you had in mind. Athlete's foot is a skin disease caused by a fungus, usually occurring between the toes. The signs of athlete's foot are dry skin, itching, scaling, inflammation, and blisters.
Men can do a lot to prevent infection by practicing good foot hygiene. Daily washing of the feet with soap and water, drying carefully, especially between the toes; and changing shoes regularly to decrease moisture, help to prevent the fungus from infecting the feet. Men should also avoid walking barefoot, wear socks that keep feet dry, and change them frequently, and reduce perspiration by using a powder recommended by the podiatrist.
If an apparent fungus condition does not respond to proper foot hygiene and self care, and there is no improvement within two weeks, consult your podiatrist. The doctor will determine if a fungus is the cause of the problem. If it is, a specific treatment plan, including the prescription of antifungal medication, applied topically or taken by mouth, will usually be suggested.
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
Podiatrists in CT
Visit our website, friend and like our page on Facebook, and follow our tweets on Twitter.