Same Day Appointments Available!
Call Us 24/7 (801) 619-2170
Salt Lake City * Sandy * West Jordan
Home » Salt Lake City Foot and Ankle Conditions » Salt Lake City Skin Conditions » Salt Lake City Athlete’s Foot
If you are experiencing itchy feet, this itch is one of several symptoms of athlete’s foot. Athlete’s foot is a very common fungal infection that you can catch through contact. Athlete’s foot is not limited only to athletes, as anyone can come into contact with the fungus.
If you develop athlete’s foot, you should get treatment. An experienced foot doctor can help you to relieve the discomfort and to avoid complications like infection. For patients in and around Salt Lake City, Elizabeth E. Auger, DPM can help you.
Athlete’s foot, or tinea pedis as it is also called, is a contagious fungal infection that can afflict the toenails, the skin of the foot, and the hands. The infection usually develops after contact with an infected person or contact with a contaminated surface. If you share socks or towels with someone who has the fungus, you are likely to develop it. Walking barefoot around swimming pools or locker rooms; wearing tight, closed-toed shoes; and having sweaty feet or feet with cuts on them can all exacerbate the risks of developing athlete’s foot.
The most obvious symptom of athlete’s foot is itchiness on the feet. Your feet may also sting or burn. This itchiness is usually concentrated between the toes and on the soles of the feet. Your skin could also start to crack and peel and could become raw. If the fungus affects the toenails, you can expect discoloration. The nails could also thicken, start to get crumbly, or pull away from the nail bed.
Athlete’s foot can be hard to get rid of, so a visit to the foot doctor is definitely needed if you have this condition. When you visit Dr. Auger, a comprehensive exam will be performed to determine what type of fungus or bacteria is causing your infection. You may undergo a skin lesion potassium hydroxide exam, which involves scraping off a small area of the infected skin and putting it into a potassium hydroxide solution. The potassium hydroxide destroys the normal skin skills and only the fungal cells are left behind, so the fungus can be seen clearly in a microscope.
Once you have been diagnosed, Dr. Auger will recommend an appropriate antifungal medication, which may be a topical or oral medication. If you experience complications, such as secondary bacterial infections, Dr. Auger can provide the necessary treatment to help you heal.
You should not have to live with the discomfort and embarrassment of athlete’s foot, and you do not want to spread athlete’s foot to others. Dr. Auger offers same day athlete’s foot treatment to patients, serving all of Salt Lake City with 3 locations in West Jordan, Millcreek, and Sandy. Call (801) 619-2170 to schedule an appointment.
1561 W 7000 S, Suite 200
West Jordan, Utah 84084
(801) 509-9959
3934 S 2300 E
Salt Lake City, UT 84124
(801) 396-9743