As the days heat up and we head towards summer, many of us seem to suddenly remember that the appendages at the end of our feet also need some love and care. They're often forgotten and neglected until we're ready to show them off by slipping on a stylish new pair of sandals, having a picnic in the park, or taking a stroll on the beach.
Image courtesy of: Typharm Group
But it's not just the beauty of your feet that you need to pay attention to during this time – you also need to pay attention to their health. Hot summer weather often exacerbates athlete's foot (tinea pedis) and other fungal and bacterial infections, as the heat and moisture from excess sweating create an ideal environment for their growth. People with eczema, dermatitis and psoriasis are at even greater risk. When the skin is injured in any way, the skin barrier becomes damaged, increasing the risk of infection, especially if the skin becomes itchy and prone to scratching.
According to data from a recent field study commissioned by Typharm, developer of the Nistafoam line of creams and ointments prescribed to treat fungal and bacterial infections such as athlete's foot, three-quarters (77%) of people who suffer from skin conditions say they become worried when the weather gets warmer. Athlete's foot is one of the most common fungal infections that affect many people in the summer. Here, we'll cover what athlete's foot is, what causes it, who gets it, treatment information, and advice tips on how to avoid and overcome this health hazard this summer.
Athlete's Foot
Athlete's foot is a fungal infection of the skin that causes intense itching, cracked skin, blisters, peeling, redness and scaling. It often appears as moist, soggy skin between the toes or dry, flaky skin around the heel. If left untreated, it can develop into large, painful cracks and the condition can spread to all five toes, the soles of the feet and even the nails.
Symptoms may include:
Itchy, scaly rash between the toes, a burning sensation, small red blisters, dry scaling or peeling on the bottom or sides of the feet, cracked skin that can be very painful and prone to bacterial infection, and oozing red sores (in severe cases).
What causes athlete's foot?
Although athlete's foot got its name from the fact that it's common among athletes who share dirty locker room floors, you don't have to play sports to get it — it's surprisingly common and can affect anyone.
Athlete's foot thrives in moist, warm environments, such as inside sweaty shoes or socks. Athlete's foot grows and survives by feeding on keratin, a type of protein found in hair, skin, and nails.
Athlete's foot loves to live and grow on the feet, but the fungus isn't just found on your toes. Athlete's foot is highly contagious and can spread to other parts of your body by touching your toes or through towels, socks, shoes, and floors that may have dead skin particles on them. This includes your scalp, hands, and groin. And of course, touching these surfaces can spread the infection to other people who come into contact with it.
Who gets athlete's foot?
Athlete's foot can affect anyone of any age, but it is more common in people who spend a lot of time barefoot in shared spaces, or who have open skin due to conditions such as eczema or psoriasis.
Real-world data from a Nystaform survey revealed that most people living in the UK currently suffer from or have suffered from a skin condition in the past.
51% said they had had athlete's foot, 70% had eczema, 29% had suffered from dermatitis, and 25% had psoriasis.
Why does athlete's foot get worse in the summer?
There are two main reasons why athlete's foot is more likely in the summer. First, people are more likely to walk around barefoot in shared spaces like pool locker rooms and decks, which means their feet are more likely to come into contact with tiny infected skin cells that other people have dropped on the floor. Second, people who sweat a lot are more likely to get an infection, and let's be honest, everyone sweats a lot in the summer.
When your feet become contaminated, the warm, dark and sweaty environment of your feet in shoes or trainers provides an ideal breeding ground for fungi, and sunlight can also dry out the skin, stripping it of its natural protective oils and making your feet more susceptible to infection.
Treating athlete's foot, fungal or bacterial infections?
If you have athlete's foot, fungal infections or bacterial infections, it's vital to treat the health problem. Used and recommended by medical professionals and patients for over 40 years, Nystaform products include Nystaform Cream, Nystaform HC Cream and Nystaform HC Ointment and can be used to treat athlete's foot, ringworm, diaper rash infections and fungal and bacterial infections associated with cracked or damaged skin.
The Nystaform series includes the following product overview:
Nystafoam Cream: A prescription cream that combines the antifungal drug nystatin with the antibiotic chlorhexidine. It is used to treat fungal and bacterial skin infections, including ringworm, athlete's foot and infectious nappy rash. www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/2693/pil
Nystafoam HC Cream: A combination cream containing an antifungal (nystatin), an antibacterial (chlorhexidine) and 0.5% hydrocortisone (a corticosteroid that reduces redness, swelling and itching and has vasoconstrictive properties) that has many clinical benefits as a dermatological treatment. As well as being prescribed for athlete's foot, Nystafoam HC Cream is also used as an effective treatment for infectious skin diseases caused by fungi (especially Monilia) and bacteria. www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/2702/pil
Nystafoam HC Ointment: A prescription medicine containing nystatin, chlorhexidine, and hydrocortisone, a corticosteroid that reduces redness, swelling, and itching. It is used to treat fungal and bacterial skin infections such as ringworm, athlete's foot, and infectious nappy rash. www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/8074/pil
Tackling antimicrobial resistance (AMR)
In the case of skin infections, the causative microorganisms are mainly bacteria and fungi. AMR is a major concern worldwide with regard to the use of antibiotics in human healthcare. There is also evidence of an increasing AMR to antifungal and antiviral agents. As a result of the growing problem of AMR especially in dermatology, the Nystaform product range offers a number of advantages over antibiotics for the following reasons:
Avoidance of first-line topical antibiotic therapy contributes to antibiotic stewardship strategies
Nystaform® features:
It is a fixed-dose combination topical medication that is easy for patients to apply. It contains chlorhexidine, an antibacterial agent that is effective against many bacteria. It is an effective antifungal agent with fewer AMR issues compared to other antifungal agents. Nystaform formulations are approved for both children and adults. Nystaform topical products act locally on the skin and are not intended to be absorbed systemically through the skin.
Does it cure athlete's foot and other fungal and bacterial infections?
The most important tip for preventing athlete's foot is to make sure your feet are completely dry after washing them and before putting on shoes or socks.
However, there are some self-care measures you can take to make your feet less susceptible to fungal infections.
Wash your feet well with soap every day. Wash at least once, more if you sweat. Make sure to dry them well, especially between the toes. Check your feet every day. It literally only takes a few seconds, but check for signs of damage and treat any problems immediately before they spread or get worse. Change your shoes regularly. Try not to wear the same shoes two days in a row. There's no point in treating your feet if you're constantly reinfecting them by wearing damp, fungus-infected shoes. Shoes take 24-48 hours to dry properly, so change your shoes every day. If you can't do that, when you take your shoes off, dry them properly using the cold setting on your hair dryer. This will help remove the moisture quickly without increasing the heat. To dry your shoes faster, remove the insole, loosen the laces, and open the shoes completely to allow air to circulate. When buying sneakers, choose ones with ventilation holes if possible. Make sure the shoes are wide enough. If your shoes are too tight and your toes are compressed, moisture can accumulate between your toes, making it easier for fungus to grow. Instead, choose shoes with wide and deep toe boxes and shoes made of natural materials to allow air to circulate between your toes. If you wear socks, be sure to change them daily. Choose shoes that allow your feet to breathe and don't trap moisture and heat like plastic or vinyl do. Wear sandals frequently to keep your feet dry and your skin temperature cooler to prevent sweating. If you wear socks in the summer, choose natural materials like cotton and change them frequently. Never share towels, flannels, shoes, etc. If you or a family member has athlete's foot, consider washing clothes, towels, and bedding separately. Research has shown that the fungus that causes athlete's foot can survive on surfaces and in the washing machine unless it is washed in hot water. Always wear flip flops, slippers, sandals, or water shoes in public showers, around pools, and in changing rooms. Even at home! This way you won't pick up any fungal skin cells that someone else has shed and you won't be left with any ripped skin if you have an infection. Change your shoes as soon as possible after the gym or sports, especially if you have a late shower. It's also a good idea to clean and disinfect your shoes and gym equipment after each use, using hot water and disinfectant wipes or sprays. Don't forget to dry everything thoroughly. Wearing flip-flops or sandals without arch support can put extra pressure on your feet and lead to problems like cracked heels. Cracks weaken the skin barrier and make you more susceptible to infections. Using a moisturizer on your heels can help. Try varying your shoe choices. A variety of shoes will definitely increase your chances of keeping your feet healthy.
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