What can actually help athlete's foot

Home remedies, ointments and medicines: what helps with unpleasant athlete's foot

Finally the weather is warm enough to venture out into the open air with open shoes or sandals. However, those who suffer from athlete's foot, does not like the ugly redness, cracks and scale-like changes in the affected skin. High time to do something about it.

Over two-thirds of the population has already had athlete's foot

Athlete's foot (tinea pedis) is an often-occurring infectious disease caused by infection with a fungus, usually a filamentous fungus. "About 70 percent of the population has had this disease before," explained Uta Ense from the Board of Pharmacists Bremen in an earlier release. Typical symptoms include redness, dandruff, wetness, blisters, itching and burning. In most cases, the toe spaces are affected, but the soles of the feet or the back of the feet may be affected. Experts advise treating the infection fast and long enough.

The warm weather makes it possible to finally get out again with sandals or open shoes. Unless unsightly fungal infections stop one of them. But there are ways to get athlete's foot under control quickly. (Image: Delphotostock / fotolia.com)

Infection can hit anyone

The fungus can spread particularly well in a warm and humid environment. Caution is therefore especially in the swimming pool, the sauna and in shared showers during sports announced.

Too tight or not breathable shoes or circulatory disorders of the feet may also favor athlete's foot.

Although older people as well as persons with a weakened immune system, diabetes or atopic dermatitis are more at risk, but in general, athlete's foot can hit anyone - but there are some precautions.

It's best not to walk barefoot

To protect yourself from annoying athlete's foot, best precautions should be taken.

The most important rule here is: "Do not walk barefoot!" So, especially in outdoor pools and other public institutions flip-flops should be worn.

The mushrooms can survive for months, for example on floor coverings, sauna benches, bath mats or loungers.

In addition, it is important that the feet - especially the toe gaps - dry well after swimming and showering or are best dry-blown.

Furthermore, you should not share towels with others and used towels at least 60 degrees wash.

It is recommended to wear well-fitting, not too tight and if possible breathable shoes and to prefer cotton socks.

Ointments and medicines

But if it does, you should not wait too long to get treatment. "Anyone who thinks that the athlete's foot simply goes away by itself is wrong and risks a chronic course," says Ense. In addition, the fungus can spread.

If the athlete's foot is not massive, it is sufficient in most cases to treat the affected skin areas externally with a creamy cream or ointment.

It is important that these - depending on the preparation - also be applied after the symptoms subsided.

In advanced, large-scale infestation of soles, balls and heels, according to dermatologists prescription drugs are needed to combat the fungus systemically.

Here, too, it is important that the person concerned takes the medication consistently on a regular basis and, above all, long enough. If the toenails are affected, a separate therapy against nail fungus is required.

"If in doubt, the doctor should be consulted, so that the infection does not come back immediately or other people are infected," said Ense.

Home remedies without side effects

Some people also swear by home remedies for athlete's foot. Coriander oil has proven its worth here.

However, some experts believe that you can not get control of athlete's foot with home remedies such as vinegar, tea tree oil or even various medicinal plants.

Among other things, it is criticized that, for example, vinegar can additionally irritate the skin and also tea tree oil does not kill the mushrooms.

According to critics, home remedies rarely cause unwanted side effects, but their use often delays the beginning of effective therapy.

Therefore, people who persistently rely on such alternatives run the risk of delaying the skin disease. (Ad)