If you have a burning and itchiness to your feet, or if your feet are dry and cracking, it may be due to athlete's foot. Athlete's foot can be caused by a few different things, but it is usually caused by bacteria and excess moisture. If you have these symptoms with your feet and think it may be athlete's foot, you can visit the podiatrist for an exam and for treatment options. To help prevent athlete's foot and for tips to help clear up this condition, read below.

Preventing Athlete's Foot

Athlete's foot can be prevented by taking good care of your feet. Wearing the proper footwear, protecting your feet, and cleaning your feet thoroughly are all important. To help prevent athlete's foot you can do the following.

1. Dry Feet Thoroughly. Dry your feet thoroughly after bathing/showering. Excess moisture can be to blame for athlete's foot. Be sure to get in between your toes when drying your feet. If your feet sweat or if you've worked out and have sweaty feet, make sure you change your socks or bathe after your workout to keep that moisture off your feet. Changing your socks throughout the day if you have sweaty feet should also be done.
2. Keep Feet Covered. When at a public pool, shower house/bathroom, or locker room, it's important to keep your feet covered. Wear some type of footwear to prevent your feet from touching the floor where tons of bacteria are lying in wait.
3. Avoid Flip-Flops. Avoid wearing flip-flops that may be harboring bacteria, especially flip-flops that are old. Think about where your flip-flops have been - to the beach, the public pool, public bathrooms. Don't continue to wear these shoes if they're old and well-used. If you do wear flip flops, clean them often and change them out with new ones each year.

Treatment Tips

You can treat your athlete's foot by using an over-the-counter anti-fungal cream or spray on your feet. Cleaning your socks in hot water can help kill bacteria in your socks. Spraying your shoes with an anti-fungal spray can kill any bacteria in your shoes. Clean your shower/bathtub with a bleach-based cleanser to prevent spreading the bacteria back to your feet or to others in your home, and avoid sharing socks/shoes to prevent spreading bacteria.

If you suspect you have athlete's foot, make an appointment with a podiatrist. Avoid getting athlete's foot in the first place by using the tips above.