Foot Fungal Infection

If anything, well- groomed nails will only highlight the sad state of a foot (or two!) that could use a dose of tender loving care.

The feet are susceptible to all kinds of minor problems because they take a real pounding. In a lifetime, the average person walks an astounding 115,000 miles, or the equivalent of circling the Earth five times.

Each of those steps results in the transfer of thousands of pounds of pressure from the body to the feet.

Not surprisingly, as many as five layers of skin build up at the soles of the feet to help cushion the shock. Since the soles have no oil glands, those layers of builtup skin are prone to excessive dryness, chapping, general roughness or a foot fungal infection

In addition, our feet spend nearly every waking hour in the dark, cramped, humid environment created by our hosiery and footwear. Mix in a little perspiration, and you wind up with an ideal setting for the development and reproduction of fungi and bacteria.

Let’s run through some of the more common foot problems and see what can be done to (a) keep them from occurring, and (b) treat them at home when preventive measures fail.

Fungal Infections

What causes a foot fungal infection? Fungal infections of the toes, toenails, or fingernails afflict 85 percent of the U.S. population, though most of us don’t understand the true nature of the problem when it crops up. Signs of fungal infection include:

itchy toes
toenail discoloration
thick and/or brittle toenails
separation of the toenail from the nail bed

You are likely to contract a foot fungal infection—such as athlete’s foot—from not wearing socks, especially during athletic activities or when using a public shower. A sweaty foot in the hothouse atmosphere of your shoe invites dirt and fungi to waltz in and multiply at will.

Fungal Defense:

To prevent fungal infections, you should always wear socks—particularly when playing sports—and wash your feet daily with soap and water. When washing, be thorough about cleaning and drying the bottom of the toes and between the toes. These sheltered, easy-to-miss areas often harbor the germs that spark fungal infections.