Facts on Preventing Athlete's Foot

1. Scratch That Itch

You can't help yourself. Your itchy feet drive you crazy so you can't stop scratching. That's how it goes for tinea pedis sufferers. Commonly known as athlete's foot, this fungus thrives in warm, moist areas between your toes or in the "webs" of your feet. From there it spreads to the sides and underneath your toes before making its way to the soles. Common breeding locations for athlete's foot include public restrooms, locker rooms and showers, swimming pools and gyms. Puddles, damp socks, shoes and floors also harbor athlete's foot spores.

2. Know the Symptoms

Different types of athlete's foot infections produce different symptoms. A toe web infection turns your skin soft, moist and white, causes itching and burning and produces an odor. Often the skin between the toes breaks down, peels and cracks. A moccasin infection starts as a minor irritation that leads to dry, itching or burning skin. As it progresses, the skin on your sole or heel becomes thick, scaly and cracked. In extreme cases, infected toenails thicken, crumble and may fall out. A vesicular infection, the least common, starts as blisters on your instep. It also can affect the skin in between your toes, your heel or on the top or bottom of your foot. This type of infection may reoccur in the same location or in another place, such as the arms, chest or fingers.

3. Waterproof Your Feet

Invest in a pair of waterproof shower shoes or flip-flops if you frequent public showers, changing rooms, swimming pools or gyms. Consider well ventilated shoes constructed from natural materials like leather. Stay away from shoes with plastic liners. It takes one to two days for shoes to dry so rotate your shoes accordingly. This reduces moisture build up.

4. Wick Away Wetness

Always keep your feet clean and dry, especially after showering or swimming. Never share a towel or shoes. Doing so increases the chance of spreading the fungus. When you're in locations that foster athlete's foot fungus, wash your feet with an antifungal soap and apply an antifungal (or drying) powder to help prevent another bout of itchy toes. Change your socks frequently to keep dry feet. Look for cotton or wool socks, or those that wick away wetness.

5. Expose Yourself

Kick off your shoes and let your feet breathe when you are inside. Do not walk around barefoot, however, if you suffer from diabetes. Sandals or other open-toed shoes also allow your feet to breathe. Relax on the back porch with a glass of ice water and lemon slice, while you let those tootsies get just a little fresh air and sunshine. Don't overdo the sunshine though you don't need sunburned athlete's foot.