Sandy Athlete’s Foot

If your feet itch, burn, or sting, you could have Athlete’s Foot, a common, contagious fungal infection. In spite of the name, you don’t have to be an athlete to develop this condition, which can cause constant itching and discomfort. Besides these symptoms, there are some other potential signs of Athlete’s Foot:

• Sometimes the toenails are affected, leading to one or more discolored or misshapen nails. An afflicted toenail might also grow thicker or pull back from the nail bed.
• Cracking or peeling skin may also occur, especially between the toes.
• Sometimes the skin feels raw or becomes red from repeatedly scratching.
• Typically the itching and burning are concentrated between the toes or on the soles of the feet, but occasionally you may have symptoms on the tops of the feet as well.
• Often the itching, burning, and other symptoms are worse when you first take off your socks and shoes.

What Makes Our Athlete’s Foot Doctors the Best in Sandy, Utah?

When your feet are itching and burning, you need an experienced foot and ankle specialist to help you feel better quickly. Dr. Elizabeth Auger, DPM, has treated foot and ankle issues for over 24 years in Sandy, Utah. After graduating from the Pennsylvania College of Podiatric Medicine (now Temple University), Dr. Auger completed a medical residency in Salt Lake City that included three years of comprehensive training in foot surgery and wound care. She then went into private practice in Sandy and is now a member of the College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, and Board Certified in Podiatric Medicine by the American Board of Lower Extremity Surgery.

Dr. Auger has treated many cases of Athlete’s Foot with varying degrees of severity, including in patients with diabetes and other chronic conditions. She understands the importance of establishing a firm diagnosis before beginning treatment and will give your symptoms the attention they deserve. Additionally, Dr. Auger will advise you on how to prevent future Athlete’s Foot infections and reduce the risk of spreading them.

How is Athlete’s Foot Spread?

Athlete’s Foot is caused by a fungus called dermatophytes. It spreads easily through towels, clothes, flooring, and sometimes other surfaces. Because fungi thrive in moist, warm environments, Athlete’s Foot is frequently found in locker rooms at gyms, saunas, or pools. These areas tend to be very humid, and even with good drainage and frequent cleaning, water often pools on the floor, creating an ideal place for fungi to grow. Ironically, doing healthy activities like going to the gym can put you at higher risk of catching Athlete’s Foot!

However, this infection is also common in people who wear tight-fitting shoes and experience frequent foot sweating. Again, the moist environment inside the shoe creates a good environment for fungal infections like Athlete’s Foot to thrive. You can also pick up the infection if you live or share towels or clothes with another person who has it.

How Can You Prevent Athlete’s Foot?

You can reduce your risk by taking steps to avoid common sources of infection and making it harder for a fungus to live on your feet.

• If you use a gym or pool, consider going home to shower afterward, so you don’t have to walk on the locker room floors.
• If going home to shower is inconvenient, you might wear flip-flops or “shower shoes” in the locker room to keep your feet from touching the floor. Shower shoes are usually made of a non-porous material, have open backs and toes, and sometimes have other ventilation, allowing them to dry quickly and prevent water from pooling in the shoes.
• If your feet tend to sweat a lot, consider using medicated powders. These work partly by drying out the feet, but they also contain medications that create an inhospitable environment for fungi. Another idea is to change your socks a few times throughout the day as they become damp.
• Avoid wearing the same shoes every day, but instead, alternate different pairs of shoes. The goal here is to allow your shoes to dry out completely before you use them again, curtailing any fungal growth.
• Wear breathable shoes or go barefoot whenever practical. Sandals or flip-flops are good options, or you can be barefoot when at home.
• Avoid sharing shoes or unwashed linens with others.
• Wash your feet daily with soap and dry them afterward. Always make sure your feet are thoroughly dry before putting on socks and shoes for the day.

How is Athlete’s Foot Treated?

First, the doctor will examine your feet to be certain you have Athlete’s Foot. Sometimes only a visual examination is necessary, but in other situations, the podiatrist may scrape a small amount of skin from your foot and send it to a lab for testing. 

In what’s called a “skin lesion potassium hydroxide exam,” the doctor will remove a small amount of infected skin and place it in a solution of potassium hydroxide. This chemical compound digests typical skin cells, leaving only fungal cells which can be seen and identified easily under a microscope. Your doctor will then be able to determine if you have Athlete’s Foot or a different, less common fungal infection. If no fungal cells are present, the podiatrist will consider other causes for your symptoms, such as allergic contact dermatitis. At this point, they may order additional tests, such as a “patch test” for common allergens.

Once the diagnosis is confirmed, Athlete’s Foot is usually treated with a prescription antifungal cream or ointment. The foot specialist will instruct you on use, but typically you will apply the prescription a few times a day until the course is completed. If topical ointments don’t fully eliminate the infection or you have a particularly severe case, your doctor may instead prescribe an oral medication.

Can You Just Buy an Athlete’s Foot Remedy at the Store?

Some Athlete’s Foot ointments are sold over the counter, and this is often the first option people consider when their feet start to itch. But buying an over-the-counter remedy is not a good solution for several reasons:

• First, you should see a medical professional to get a firm diagnosis. Athlete’s Foot shares many symptoms with other conditions, including bacterial infections, allergic contact dermatitis, planar lichens, and others. It’s easy to assume that your itchy feet are a sign of Athlete’s Foot, especially if you frequently have sweaty feet, walk barefoot in a gym locker room, or have other risk factors. But those indicators don’t always mean that you have Athlete’s Foot. Unfortunately, many people waste time and money trying over-the-counter remedies when they don’t actually have Athlete’s Foot but another condition.
• If you do have Athlete’s Foot, over-the-counter remedies may not be ideal for treating it. These are usually less concentrated than prescription-strength versions. Additionally, if you have a particularly severe case, you might need a stronger dose, more frequent applications, or an oral medication. Your doctor can determine the best way to dispel the infection and advise you on how to use your medication. If your symptoms aren’t responding as expected, they may adjust or change your prescription to better target the infection.
• It is possible to have both Athlete’s Foot and another condition, like a bacterial infection or contact dermatitis. For example, if an allergic reaction causes your feet to itch, increased sweating may follow, setting up an environment where a fungal infection can easily flourish. Likewise, the irritation and inflammation associated with Athlete’s Foot can also invite bacterial infections. When you have multiple issues, using a medication to treat only one will likely be ineffective. Worse, it’s possible a bacterial infection could spread, especially in patients who have diabetes or other conditions. A podiatrist in Sandy will be sure to diagnose and treat all difficulties causing your foot discomfort.
• Ineffectively treated Athlete’s Foot can spread not only to other people but to other areas of your own body, often due to scratching or contamination of clothes and other linens. In fact, this is the same type of fungi that causes jock itch and ringworm. Getting appropriate treatment in a timely manner is the best way to reduce the risk of adding to your discomfort.

Make an Appointment with a Sandy Athlete’s Foot Doctor Today

Some people are embarrassed to admit they might have Athlete’s Foot, but there is no cause for concern. This condition is very common and easy to catch, and there is no reason you should continue to suffer.

Please contact our office today for a consultation about your foot irritation. Our attentive and helpful staff members will check the schedule and arrange an appointment as soon as possible – most of the time, we can even get you in on the same day. We’re also happy to answer questions about your insurance coverage or transfer records from your primary care physician. The sooner you contact us for an appointment, the sooner we can help you get the painful itching of Athlete’s Foot under control for good.