Finding a Cure for Athlete's Foot Nail Fungus

Athlete's foot or tinea pedis, is a fungal infection of the skin which causes scaling, flaking and itching of the areas affected. It can also cause blisters and cracking of the skin leading to exposed raw tissue, pain, swelling and inflammation. The most common location where the condition manifests is the area between the toes especially with the space between the fourth and fifth digits. Athlete's foot nail fungus is typically transmitted in moist areas where people commonly walk barefoot such as in showers and bathhouses. Although this condition usually affects the feet, the athlete's foot nail fungus can also spread to other body parts including the groin. Athlete's foot nail fungus can be prevented by practicing good hygiene and can be treated by a number of pharmaceutical as well as other treatments. If secondary bacterial infection occurs, the need for a course of oral antibiotics might be necessary.

A general practitioner as well as a specialist such as a dermatologist or a podiatrist can diagnose this condition. A visual inspection of the skin is commonly done. If the diagnosis or impression is unclear, direct microscopy of a potassium hydrogen preparation is often done to help in ruling out the possible cause such as eczema or psoriasis. A KOH preparation is used to scrape off a portion of the athlete's foot nail fungus. The preparation has an excellent positive predictive value; with false negative results occurring on an occasional basis especially when the patient has already began anti-fungal medication. If diagnosis still remains unclear, a biopsy of the fungus can be performed for histological examination.

There are plenty of conventional medications or over-the-counter and prescription drugs and even alternative treatments for athlete's foot nail fungus infections. For a treatment plan to work, proper hygiene should be practiced because it plays an important role in managing the condition. Several placebo-controlled studies show that even without medication, 30 to 40 percent of the athlete's foot cases were cured through the practice of proper hygiene. Since fungi thrive in moist environments, it is crucial that you keep your feet and footwear dry at all times. Allylamines and azoles, however, have consistently produced a much higher percentage for curing athlete's foot than the placebo effect in the placebo-controlled trials.

The conventional treatment typically requires the affected person to apply once or twice daily the topical medication in conjunction with proper hygiene measures as well as basic nail care. The recurrence of infection often happens when the affected person does not or refuses to practice proper hygiene. Oral anti-fungal medications may be necessary if the infections become severe or prolonged even with the use of the combined therapies. Zinc oxide diaper rash ointment may be used, as well as talcum powder, to absorb the moisture, killing the fungus causing the infection.

Prevention is still the best cure. Thus there is a need to change bad practices and start doing what is right. When drying your feet after taking a bath, pay particular attention to the web spaces between the toes. If you have sweaty feet, wear open-toed or ventilated shoes. Lightweight cotton socks also help in reducing the sweat. When washing the socks, it must be soaked in hot water and bleached. Foot powder helps in reducing moisture and friction too. When at home, prefer wearing sandals or slippers. Do not use the same pair of shoes every day. Allow them some time to dry. To prevent the spread of infection to other areas of the body, put on your socks first before your underwear.

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