What is athlete’s foot?

Athlete’s foot, also known as “tinea pedis” is an inflammatory fungal infection that affects the sole of the foot and the skin between the toes. It is commonly seen in athletes, which explains the name of the disease.

According to statistics, 70% of the world’s population is likely to develop athlete’s foot at some point of their life. While the infection itself is rarely serious, the symptoms can be bothersome.

What causes athlete’s foot?

Typically, the fungi that causes athlete’s foot thrives in moist environments such as swimming pools, communal showers, locker rooms, gyms, etc. Most people get infected from walking barefoot in such areas.

Furthermore, athlete’s foot is contagious and can be easily spread from person to person by direct contact such as touching the affected areas of someone else or stepping on where they have recently walked.

What are the symptoms of athlete’s foot?

Many individuals with athlete’s foot do not realise they have the infection as the symptoms are often not visible enough. People might ignore it thinking that they just have dry skin on their feet.

Nevertheless, some of the most common symptoms include various levels of itching, stinging and burning. The skin may also peel off and in more severe cases, there may be pain, cracking, blisters, and toenails pulling away from the nail bed.

What is the treatment of athlete’s foot?

In the majority of cases, the symptoms are mild and the infection can be treated with over-the-counter (OTC) antifungal medications. They are usually available as tablets, powders, liquids, sprays and creams. Some of the most common topical OTC medications are miconazole, clotrimazole, terbinafine, etc.

Evidence shows that tea tree oil is also very effective in treating athlete’s foot. Based on this, we have developed Yoffee Clear, leading nail fungus treatment solution enriched with antibacterial tea tree oil and restorative argan oil. Using it 3 times a day, you will start seeing improvements within 2-4 weeks depending on the severity of the infection.

Yoffee Clear is now also available as a 3-in-1 Kit for longer periods of treatment.

Yoffee Clear
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How can you help treat athlete’s foot yourself?

As athlete’s foot can usually be treated easily, many people choose to rely on home remedies instead. To make it easier for you, we have created a simple Do and Don’t guide that you can follow to improve your condition.

Do

  • Wash your feet at least once a day with soap and water

  • Dry your feet well after washing them

  • Soak your feet in salt water or vinegar to eliminate blisters

  • Wear clean cotton socks

  • Use your own towel and wash it often

Don’t

  • Scratch affected skin, especially with dirty hands

  • Walk around barefoot, wear flip-flops in public places

  • Wear the same shoes for more than 2 days in a row

  • Wear tight-fitting shoes that make your feet sweat

  • Share towels, socks or shoes with other people