Blame the advertising man who misnamed it in the 1930s, but athletes foot has nothing to do with athletes . It’s a fungal infection of the feet . Also know as tinea pedis , or”ringworm of the feet,” it has nothing to fo with worms either. The Trichophyton fungus that cause the redness ,

itching ,cracking,and scaling of athlete’s foot can also infect the scalp,where it cause round ,red,scaly patches that itch; and the groin ,where the so-called “jock itch’ causes itching and thickerning of the skin.

Athlete’s foot is the most common fungal infection of the skin,It affects more men than women, probably because men typically wear heavy, often airtight shoes, and the fungus loves hot,dark,moist environment .

Contrary to popular myth, athlete’s foot fungus isn’t just found in locker in rooms, although the moist locker-room environment is perfect for fungal growth.” The fungus is probably present in your bathroom and in your shoes all the time ,”says Andrew Schink , D.P.M., a podiatrist in private practice and past president of the Oregon Podiatric Medical Association.

Frank Parker ,M.D., professor and chairman of the Department of Dermatology at Oregon Health Sciences University in Portland agrees,” There’s no good way to avoid exposure to the athlete’s foot fungus,”he says,” because it’s everywhere where there’s moisture.”

In fact , most people harbor the fungus on their skin, but it’s kept in check by bacteria that live on the skin, So if the fungus  is commonly present ,why do same people develop an athlete’s  foot infection ,while other people don’t ? Doctor aren’t really sure ,but they believe some people are genetically more prone to developing athlete’s foot, and people with certain health condition ,such as eczema,asthma,and hay fever, have more difficulty getting rid of the infection.”Some people are simply more susceptible to getting it than other,” explains James Shaw ,M.D., chief of the Division of Dermatology at Goof Samaritan Hospital and Medical Center in Portland , Oregon. ” Some people have chronic athlete’s  foot problems and other are never bothered by it. It may have to do with genetic factor on with exposure – being in places where there are numerous feet in moist environments.”

Most cases of athlete’s foot cause only bothersome redness ,itching,flaking, and scaling on the soles of the feet and between the toes. In severs cases ,however,blisters form on the soles of the feet; fissures, or  cracks ,that weep fluid can also open between the toes,These fissures are vulnerable to secondary infection, When the infection involves the toenails , it can cause the nails to became discolored and thick . Also ,if left untreated , athlete’s foot can infect other parts of the boby.

Doctors don’t agree on exactly how athlete’s foot is spread, but most believe it’s passed by direct contact with an infection person or with a contaminated surface ,such as the floor of a shower stall . But Shaw says the real determinants of  whether or not you’ll get the infection are how susceptible you are and how dry you keep your feet.

While some severe cases of athlete’s foot require a doctor’s care ,most can be effectively treated at home,The following strategies can help you soothe and heal athlete’s foot and keep it from cropping up in the future.

Move away from moisture.

When you think about athlete’s  foot fungus, remember that it likes moist, warm ,dark environments . All of your treatment and prevention strategies should center around keeping your feet as dry as possible.

Dry between your toes.

“Dont’s just use your damp bath  towel to dry between your toes,”says Schink. “Use a thin ,dry hand towel and thoroughly dry between each toe.” If you can’t get your feet dry enough with a towel ,try drying them with a hand-held hair dryer on the “warm” setting.

Wash those feet. Twice a day ,wash you feet in soap and water , and dry them thoroughly ,says Shaw.

Kick off your shoes,

Go barefoot or wear open-toed sandals whenever you can,”Going barefoot is good of the feet and great for treating and preventing athlete’s foo,” says Schink. Of  course ,it’s not always possible to go barefoot ,especially at work . But you may be able to sneak off those shoes during lunch ,at break time, or when you’re sitting at your dest.

Be persistent. too often ,people stop using the antifungal  preparation as soon as the symptoms of athlete’s foot infection go away .The fungus, however, may still be present .” fungus is slow dividing ,” Robertson explains .” You have to be persistent and use the medication for three to six week to see inprovement.” Ones the infection has cleared keep  using the antifungal cream ,powder or lotion once a day or once a week whatever keeps your feet fungus-free.

Make tea for toes.

To help dry out the infection and  case the inching the accompanies athlete’s foot, Schink  advises soaking your feet in a quart of warm water containing sex black tea bags . “the tannic acid in the tea is very soothing and helps kill the fungus,” he says .

Soak them in Betadine.

If the infection has caused redness and creaks between the toes , the fungal infection may be compounded by a bacterial infection . Robertson suggests soaking your feet once a day for 20 minutes in two capfuls of  batadine (available over-the-counter at pharmacies)to one quart of warm water. After the betadine soak, dry your feet well, and apply antifungal  medication.

Don’t bleach . While the idea is to dry out the infection , avoid home remedies the involve, alcohol, and floor cleaners. “Many people are tempted to use what’s at hand to treat their problem ,” says Shaw .” but harsh chemicals won’t necessarily kill the fungus , and they can really damage your skin.”

Treat your shoes.

If you have fungus on your feet, you’ve got fungus in your shoes . To keep from reinfecting yourself every time you put your shoes on ,Schink  recommeds treating your shoes with Lysol spray or an antifungal spray or powder every time you take off your shoes.

Air’em out .On suny days ,Schink advises taking the laces out of your shoes , pulling up their tongues , and setting them in a sunny ,well-ventilated place . the heat and sunshine will help dry out the shoes ,eliminate odors, and kill the fungus.

Choose shoes with care.

When you have to wear shoes, opt for sandals or other opened -toed shoes if possible .”Choose shoes that don’t make your feet sweat,” says Robertson . Avoid shoes made of  plastic or rubber or shoes that are watertight. These shoes trap perspiration and create the warm , moist conditions perfect for growing a new crop of  fungus.When you must wear closed-toed shoes,opt for natural ,”breathable” materials like leather.

Wear thongs.

When you’re in a public place likely to harbor athlete’s  foot fungus, like the locker room or your favorite gym, wear thongs to limit your exposure to fungus says Shaw, Although this technique isn’t foolproof , it will decrease your rish of athlete’s foot, and it may prevent you from picking up other nasty foot maladies, such as planter warts.

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