4 Ways to Avoid Fungal Infections of the Feet

There’s good news and bad news about foot fungus. Let’s start with the bad news: there are millions of different species of fungi. Even though you can’t see them, they’re out there living on plants and in your garden soil. It may surprise you to learn that some types of fungi usually inhabit the human body as well, both inside and out.
So, what’s the good news?
Only a relative few of these fungal species can work their way under your skin and cause an infection in your feet. Since we observe Fungal Disease Awareness Week during the third week in September, our podiatrists want to talk about what you can do to prevent these few species from such an invasion.
- Keep your feet clean, dry, and intact. Wash and dry them daily. If your socks get wet, change into a dry pair. And if you’ve got a cut or scrape, keep it covered with a sterile bandage to prevent a fungus from entering.
- Don’t walk barefoot in pools and locker rooms. Wet floors are perfect hosts for all kinds of fungi, so wear sandals or flip-flops in these public spaces.
- Don’t share nail clippers or towels with others. Fungi are contagious and can pass through infected surfaces.
- Treat athlete’s foot promptly. The fungus that’s causing your skin to crack and peel can spread to your toenails.
Our experienced podiatric surgeons, Dr. Craig B. Frey, Dr. Megan L. Oltmann, and Dr. Jim Swienconek, know fungal infections can be challenging to eradicate. Over-the-counter creams and lotions may help, but they don’t always do the trick.
But here’s some more good news: if you’ve been suffering from red, itchy feet or crumbling toenails, we can help. Call Foot & Ankle Associates of Cleveland in Solon, Ohio at (440) 903-1041 or contact us online to schedule a consultation. We offer a modern office with the latest technology for podiatric patients in Portage, Geauga, Cuyahoga, and Summit Counties, proudly serving our patients from Solon, Aurora, Bedford, Chagrin Falls, Hudson, Macedonia, and Twinsburg.