'Footwear Fungus' among us

Fashionista alert: Are boots your foot's "friend or foe?"

Boots are cute – and comfy….until your feet start itching or hurting. The dark, damp environment (particularly common to the leather skin and wool style of boot that doesn't breathe) is the perfect breeding ground for foot fungus. This is particularly a problem in winter when this trendy footwear is worn from dawn to dusk for warmth. And, although quite toasty to the toes, wearing furry boots over bare feet is fairly common --yet the absolute worst combination -- for fungi growth.

Boot devotees can reduce their chances of skin irritations if they:

• Change socks at least once a day and wear socks or hosiery that are made of an acrylic fiber, not cotton.
• Cover feet with antiperspirant with the active ingredient, aluminum hydroxide that helps keep feet from sweating.
• Mix it up; give shoes about 24 hours to completely dry out from the last time they were worn.

Boot enthusiasts also suffer from back and foot pain related to minimal arch support, particularly when they are loose around the ankles. While quite popular and stylish, boots are just one of many contributing factors to foot fungus. Warm, moist environments like nail salons, locker rooms and rented shoes at bowling alleys also feed the fungi frenzy.

Fungus can be categorized as Athlete's foot, dermatitis or an infection under the toenail that can be both contagious and tough to get rid of. Some 70% of the population will suffer from a foot fungus at some point in their lifetime, and some don't ever even recognize it.

Possible symptoms:

1. A rash on one or both feet.
2. Your feet are intensely itchy.
3. You have tiny blisters on the foot or between the toes.
4. Your feet are reddish and/or peeling.
5. You have dry, cracked or bleeding feet or toes.

To make matters worse, when a foot condition has progressed to the toenails, symptoms may include discolored or thickened toenails that can be embarrassing and very sensitive. These types of complications sometimes require in-office surgical procedures or extended treatment periods.

Farewell, fungus!
Good news: There are a variety of powerful foot fungus treatments available. The key is to get treatment quickly and continue until the fungus is completely eradicated. Surprisingly, topical corticosteroid creams (often used to treat eczema) can act as a fertilizer for fungus and may actually worsen fungal skin infections. These topical steroid medications have no role in treating athlete's foot.

Sometimes an over-the-counter cream or spray will take care of the problem, but some instances require oral treatment. Dermatologists, however, can perform a simple test to confirm fungal infection, with diagnostic results and recommendations in just minutes.

As winter lingers, take extra care to keep your feet dry and clean, and watch for any early signs of skin irritations that MCA Dermatology can help you nip in the bud.

 

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Where Beautiful Skin Begins.

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