How to Avoid Athlete’s Foot While Staying Fit

There’s no big mystery as to why athletes are constantly developing athlete’s foot. After all, “athlete’s” is right there in the name. However, this isn’t to say that this condition is inevitable for athletes. Although athlete’s foot is very easy to develop and treat, it’s also quite easy to avoid. So, if you’re looking to stave off athlete’s foot while staying fit, take the following pointers to heart.

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Purchase Multiple Pairs of Shoes 

While conserving one’s resources can prove beneficial in a number of circumstances, this isn’t always true in the case of footwear. For example, if you only own one pair of workout shoes, said footwear is likely to be swimming in sweat and bacteria, thereby creating the perfect environment for athlete’s foot to form. So, in the interest of giving your footwear a break and reducing your chances of developing athlete’s foot, take care to purchase multiple pairs of exercise shoes and alternate them on a regular basis. This will help ensure that all of your shoes have ample time to air out and breathe before being worn again, thereby reducing the likelihood of sweat and bacteria buildup. As an added measure, you may also want to consider utilizing disinfectants designed specifically for footwear. Furthermore, to help protect yourself from jock itch and other fungal infections that are common among athletes, look into purchasing antimicrobial athleisure clothing. 

Regularly Change Your Socks 

In addition to alternating your shoes, you should change your socks multiple times throughout the day, especially if your feet do a fair amount of sweating. At the very least, you’ll need to change your socks at least twice a day – once when getting dressed in the morning, and once before going to bed at night. You should also put on fresh socks after working out or engaging in any other activity that’s conducive to sweatiness. 

Socks absorb quite a bit of foot-based sweat, and the longer you wear a pair of socks, the more exposure your feet will have to sweat buildup and assorted bacteria. Conversely, changing your socks on a consistent basis stands to minimize said exposure, thereby reducing the risk of athlete’s foot. 

Protect Your Feet in Public Spaces 

Since athlete’s foot is contagious, protecting your feet in public spaces – particularly areas where people are regularly barefoot – should be among your top priorities. Gyms, locker rooms and swimming pools are often breeding grounds for athlete’s foot, and walking around such spaces with bare feet is liable to result in an infection. Fortunately, you can nip this in the bud by donning protective footwear whenever visiting any of the aforementioned spaces.

For example, when hitting the gym, make sure to keep your shoes and socks on – provided, of course, you aren’t engaged in a workout activity that requires their removal. Furthermore, when visiting a pool, entering a shared shower or changing in a locker room, make sure to have a pair of flipflops handy. Not only will such precautions help you avoid being infected with athlete’s foot, they can also help prevent you from spreading it.     

Don’t Hesitate to Treat Existing Infections

More often than not, athlete’s foot is a fairly minor fungal infection. However, the longer it’s left alone, the more likely it is to spread – and the more uncomfortable it’s likely to become. As such, should you ever find yourself dealing with athlete’s foot, take care to promptly treat it. Most pharmacies – and stores that sell medicine – have a smorgasbord of over-the-counter medications designed to combat athlete’s foot. From sprays to ointments to powders, you’re likely to find no shortage of affordable and effective OTC options for stamping out foot fungus.  

It’s easy to see why so many athletes have simply resigned themselves to regularly contending with athlete’s foot. After all, given how much sweat certain types of exercise produce, it’s natural to assume that the formation of athlete’s foot is inevitable. However, while keeping foot fungus at bay is likely to require some effort, it is by no means impossible. In fact, as you may come to discover, staying in shape and avoiding athlete’s foot don’t have to be mutually exclusive. So, if you’re tired of choosing between skipping workouts and keeping your feet free of fungus, take the advice outlined above to heart.    

Krystal | Sunny Sweet Days
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