Athlete’s foot treatment can go away on its own in several months for a healthy person, or it may not clear up. Usually, an athlete’s foot is treated with a topical ointment for a three-four week phase, but this can vary. This article addresses the common basics foot athletes such as how to treat it and whether it can go away on its own
Do athlete’s foot go away without treatment?
What is athlete’s foot?
One prevalent condition that people have, but are not willing to talk about is athlete’s foot. It is a fungal disease of the skin of the feet and is also known as tinea pedis. It is very common, more so because people spend most of their time in shoes. Fungus causing Athlete’s foot prefer warm, moist and poorly aerated parts of the body- feet are covered most of the time creating such an environment.
Athlete’s foot healing stages
Athlete’s foot though not a severe problem does not go away on its own. Without treatment, athlete’s foot tends to become itchier and worse. Even worse it can turn into a more severe infection if it is not taken care of. You can use antifungal creams and pills to treat the athlete’s foot. For healing stages, it depends on the area of the skin where the fungus has invaded. It is essential to know the symptoms of the athlete's foot since healing stages involves fading away from the signs.
Signs and symptoms of athlete’s foot
Athlete’s foot usually affects the soft, moist parts of the foot such as in between the toes, although it can affect other areas as well. As the infection progresses, the skin becomes scaly and itchy and may have a burning or tingling sensation.
Athlete’s foot may spread to other areas beyond the first affected area and become dry, cracked and even peel off. The infection can also spread to the soles of the feet and the toes. More so it even infects the toenails, in which in this case it is essential to visit a foot care nurse or a doctor immediately.
If an athlete affects the toe, it looks thick, crumbly and discolored. As a result of scratching, the rash can transmit to other body parts of the body such as groin, thighs, and face.
Athlete's foot complication symptoms
Before you decide not to treat your athlete’s foot infection and wait for it to clear on its own, beware that some infections can clear up while others can result in a severe health problem. While athlete’s foot may not be severe, some infections can go more profound than the skin area, and become super-infected with bacteria. If this happens, the fungus can cause pus-containing wounds, and such infections can go deeper into tissues. In severe instances, which have gone untreated for long and become rooted-infected in this way, one could end up having foot surgery.
Moreover, some people can be allergic to fungus and can react to untreated athlete’s foot by getting blisters, on the feet and the hands. It is also possible for the fungal infection to recur after treatment. In more severe cases, a secondary bacterial infection can develop. In this case, the infected foot becomes swollen, painful and hot. The symptoms for such an infection include; pus, drainage, and fever. The fungus can also spread to the lymph system causing infections to the lymph nodes. To avoid such complications, it is crucial to treat an athlete’s foot as soon as the signs start to show.
How long is athlete’s foot contagious?
Athlete’s foot is contagious, and it spreads from one person to another. It can spread through direct contact with an infected person, or by particles left on the towels, shoes or floors. It can also be spread in the showers and the locker rooms because the fungal spores can live and produce in puddles and wet spots especially in the warm water such as bathroom areas.
After the fungus has infected your feet, you can transmit it to other parts of your body by touching. Beware that there is an incubation period- the fungus is present in the body, but you cannot see the athlete’s foot till the outbreak. During the incubation period, you can transmit it to someone else and the, and you can also catch it. The incubation period of fungus is usually one two weeks.
Note that as long as you have the fungus present in your skin, it is possible to transmit the athlete’s foot from one human to another. You also don’t stop being contagious when you start using antifungal medication. Nevertheless, once you start treatment, if you cover the infection, you can significantly reduce the threat of transmitting the athlete’s foot to someone else.
Athlete’s foot remains contagious until all the spores are removed from the skin. But it is hard for the doctor to know when all the fungus have been killed completely. The fungus can survive in clothes, beddings, and any other place as long as there is dead skin cells present and a moist warm environment present. The fungus can survive for as long as half to a full year in a conducive environment.
Should I wear socks to bed with athlete’s foot?
Following infection with fungus on foot, one is supposed to apply an antifungal cream to the infection for treatment. The cream should be smeared after washing and drying the foot just before you go to sleep. The ointment is absorbed by the skin quite quickly, so if you wear socks or not, it does not matter. But the fungus will contaminate the socks, thus it essential to change and clean socks regularly. It is also recommended to wear socks to bed with athlete’s foot to prevent spreading the fungus to the sheets, as it can easily infect other parts of the skin
Do athlete’s foot go away permanently?
Athlete’s foot cure
Athlete’s foot is usually treated by over the counter antifungal medicines or home remedies. But sometimes the infection can be persistent for long periods, and if this happens, you should discuss the condition with a specialist.
The number of times to use the cream and duration varies with specific cream and the extent of infection. For instance, if one has an inflammation, one may need a cream with a steroid, although for a shorter period. And if there is a bacterial infection as well, the patient will need antibiotics. An infection which has spread to the toes or more severe cases of athlete’s foot may require oral antifungal tablets, which a doctor a foot specialist will prescribe.
Who is a threat of being infected with athlete’s foot?
While anyone can get athlete’s foot, the following groups have high chances of being infected:
1. People walking barefoot in places such as locker rooms, swimming pools, or bathrooms can catch fungus easily.
2. People who share towels and shoes with people who have athlete’s foot have high chances of being infected.
3. Wearing tight shoes and socks exposes one to athlete’s foot.
4. Immunosuppression for conditions such as diabetes and HIV makes them be at high risk of contracting athlete’s foot.
How long until athlete’s foot go away?
How long does it take for athlete’s foot to go away?
Unfortunately, there is no specific time for an athlete’s foot infection to go away. Without treatment, it could go away on its own in several months for a healthy person. Or it may not. Athlete’s foot usually is treated with a topical ointment for a three-four week phase, but this can vary. With treatment, a typical athlete’s foot in between the toes which have not infected the toenails there is a chance that it will go away in two to four weeks of the start of treatment. More severe cases and infections in the toenails can require oral antifungal pills. In this case, you can quickly spread the infection until all the fungus is removed.
Common treatments to speed up athlete’s foot healing
To control the spread of athlete’s foot and speed up the healing process, apply anti-fungal powder or recommended cream by your doctor to the affected area. And follow the following practices, they will help you speed up your foot recovery;
- Keep your bathroom surfaces and towels clean.
- Wear sandals or shower shoes when going to the bathroom
- Be attentive to foot hygiene by washing them with soap and water at least once a day
- Dry your feet thoroughly before applying athlete’s foot ointment and after healing
- Buy new socks and ensure they are clean before wearing
- If you have perspiring feet change your socks frequently
- Always ensure you give your feet a chance to allow air circulation. And do not wear closed shoes most of the time.
- Avoid wearing nylon or polyester socks as they make your feet sweaty
Athlete’s foot home remedy
Many natural or home remedies can be useful in killing the fungus that causes athlete’s foot.
Use tea tree oil to cure athlete’s foot
Tea tree oil comes from the leaves of the tea tree. The oil is known to have antibacterial and antifungal properties. Tea tree oil can be irritating to the skin and can thus; people should take care when using it. To treat athlete’s foot with tea tree oil, place a few drops into a carrier oil, such as coconut or olive oil and rub it on the affected area. Alternatively, tea tree oil creams and salves may be accessible at health food stores. Do not use undiluted tea tree oil on the skin.
Use garlic home remedy to treat athlete’s foot
Garlic has a long history of curing some fungi and bacteria. A garlic foot bath using fresh garlic cloves is one way for people to try the remedy. To make a garlic foot soak, crush three to four garlic cloves and stir them into a basin of warm water. Let the feet sit in the bath for thirty minutes, twice a day for about two weeks. However, the powerful compounds in garlic can leave a lasting garlic smell on the skin.
Cure athlete’s foot with talcum powder
You can remove moisture from the feet by drying them with a hair dryer after bathing, making sure that no moisture remains. However, you should be careful not to burn the skin. After drying the feet, follow up by sprinkling them with talcum powder to help absorb sweat. In addition to drying the feet and applying talcum powder, wear wool socks.
Use baking soda to cure athlete’s foot
Baking soda is an effective way to treat athlete’s foot. To make a foot bath, mix about a half cup of baking soda in a large bucket or basin of warm water. Soak the feet for about 15 to 20 minutes, twice in a day. When done, dry the feet thoroughly but do not wash them off.
You can also take the following steps while at home to treat to prevent the spreading of athlete’s foot
- Wash your feet often with and soap and water to speed up the recovery of athlete’s foot
- Immerse your feet in salt water or water diluted with vinegar to clear up blisters developing as a result of athlete’s foot.
- You might also immerse your feet in a tea tree oil solution to help soothe athletes fungal infection.
- Soothe your feet with coconut oil
