Read On How An Online Doctor Helped Ava With Athlete’s Foot!
I am Ava, and swimming is my passion. However, I never realised that would lead to an athlete’s foot.
The last two toes of my left foot were very itchy!
I recently noticed itchy white patches between the last two toes of my left foot. Therefore, I tired a foot soak, properly cleaned the foot and dried it. I thought it might be a bug bite or skin irritation. After that, I applied a sooting lotion and stopped wearing socks to see if that helped.
I checked other areas of the body, and I didn’t have any other symptoms!
Soon my skin started peeling, and the itching worsened. I applied over the counter antibiotic creams to see if that helped. However, the patches seemed to be spreading. I started doing regular foot soaks and exfoliated my skin, thinking that maybe removing the top layer would help, but that didn’t make any difference either.
Sick of my symptoms, I decided to seek help from an online doctor!
Whatever I did, it made no difference. My foot looked hideous and it was only getting worse. So finally, I decided to sign up on your Doctors Online to seek medical advice. I shared a picture of my toes with the doctor and started chatting with the online doctor as soon as I was connected.
The online doctor diagnosed me with an athlete’s foot!
She took a while and asked me several questions. After that she diagnosed me with athlete’s foot. She told me the common symptoms of athlete’s foot including:
- Itching or burning between the toes
- Peeling skin
- Discoloured and thickened nails
- Nails that appear to separate from the nail bed
The doctor told me that I had ‘toe web type’ of athlete’s foot, the common type. Now I understand why she had earlier asked if there was skin peeling on other areas of my feet. The condition is contagious. She told me that another type called Moccasin’s athlete foot affects the bottom of the feet, edges, and heels. The area can be raw for a few days, and then the skin can thicken. It can also affect the nails.
I was provided a prescription to treat athlete’s foot
The doctor told me that an athlete’s foot treatment includes topical antifungals such as miconazole, terbinafine or clotrimazole. Still, in case of severe condition or worsening symptoms, prescription-strength topical antifungals or oral antifungals are also prescribed by the doctor.
The doctor guided me about preventive measures as well!
Some of the measures that help prevent athlete’s foot include:
- Washing your feet with soap and water, and making sure to dry the areas between the toes.
- Washing socks and towels properly
- Using antifungal spray, power or creams
- Don’t share items of personal use such as towels, socks or shoes
- Avoid walking around bare feet in public showers and around swimming pools
- Change socks daily
This is how I could pinpoint the cause. It usually occurs occurs between toes, and swimming pool changing rooms are a common transmission mode.
Within a few days, I was doing much better. I am glad I found this online platform, I was relieved to get rid of an athlete’s foot!
FAQ’s On Athlete’s Foot Added By Your Doctors Online Team!
An athlete’s foot is a fungal infection. It is also known as tinea pedi. The infection results in skin peeling, itching and It usually affects the toes of the foot but can affect the heels, sides, and nails.
Antifungal creams, sprays, powders, and gel are used to get rid of the condition.
Oral antifungal pills are used if topical treatment doesn’t work. Mild symptoms can benefit from essential oils such as tea tree, bitter orange or peppermint.
To treat athlete’s foot topical medications include clotrimazole, miconazole, or terbinafine. Oral pills include fluconazole, itraconazole or terbinafine.
It is spread by skin-to-skin contact or contact with infected surfaces such as towels, shoes or socks.
If you have symptoms such as white patches, skin peeling, itching between toes, you may have an athlete’s foot.
