Foot Doctors Secrets To Preventing travelers Foot

Foot Doctors Secrets To Preventing travelers Foot

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Think about that person in front of you in the line at the airport security checkpoint. Would you let them wear you shoes? If not, you should realized that when you shuffle behind them without your shoes on, it has the same effect. This is exactly how so many travelers pick up preventable foot infections like athlete's foot.

Athletes foot is the most common fungal infection of the feet. Every day, podiatrists see people with feet that are burning, itching and peeling. Although many different species of fungus and yeast can cause the problem, the ways that you as a traveler can prevent it are simple and effective.

The fungus that cause athletes foot thrives in places that are dark, warm and moist. Shoes are the perfect habitat for fungus. Unfortunately for business travelers and vacationers, there are many places in airports, hotels and vacation spots that are covered in fungus just waiting to infect your feet.

Whenever living foot fungus or fungal spores (which are basically seeds for fungus waiting to sprout) stick to bare skin or enter through tiny little openings in the skin, it can take hold and start to grow. As the fungus grows, it pulls water from the surrounding skin.

This causes peeling and itching of the skin as the fungus does damage and causes delamination or peeling away of the skins outer layers. Most often this happens between the toes or on the soles of the feet.

Foot doctors often describe a moccasin distribution pattern with athletes foot infections. This means that the areas of the feet that turn red and start peeling are usually those that would be in contact with moccasins. The skin on top of the foot is almost never infected by this organism.

The best way to prevent athletes foot is simple... dont step in the fungus! When you are traveling, you just have to know where not to step.

The first place you want to protect from fungus is your own shoes. The shoes need to be a safe haven for your feet. If you get foot fungus growing in your shoes, sooner or later you will get some type of foot fungal infection like athletes foot or fungal toenails.

Whenever you are on a trip, your feet are going to sweat a lot. A hurried stressful pace in airport terminals, trying to make that connection while toting a laptop and carry-on bag will make you (and your feet) sweat like crazy.

Since fungus needs moisture to live, you want to do anything you can to reduce the moisture in your shoes. A good place to begin is with well ventilated shoes that breathe while you are on your trip. Shoes that have breathable mesh uppers made of nylon, mesh, or cotton breathe fairly well and let the moisture escape. Leather, plastic and rubber tend to hold the fungus in your shoes encouraging fungus to grow.

Make sure you rotate your shoes during your trip. Have at least two pairs of shoes so you can wear them on alternate days. This will allow them enough time to fully dry out before you wear them again.

If you are very active or if your feet sweat a lot, try changing your socks half way through the day. This has to be one of the most effective ways to prevent the buildup of moisture that can cause foot fungus. Wear synthetic socks and avoid cotton to keep moisture away from your feet. There are also newer socks available that have copper fibers woven into them. Copper seams to decrease the likelihood that fungus will take hold in the sock material.

Because even the most relaxing vacations involve lots of walking through airports, hotels and site-seeing, choose comfortable walking shoes for your trip. Many vacationers opt for sandals or flip flips when on vacation, however these can lead to friction blisters that let the fungus in and start the infection.

Make sure you avoid the fungus hotspots. The carpet you feel under your sock-clad feet while waiting to get through security is a haven for althlete's foot-causing fungus. All day and night, sweaty feet emerge from their shoes and shuffle along the carpet. Everyone steps and stands in this continual stream of perspiring feet and shedding foot fungus. As you trudge through the line, your sweaty socks pick up fungal spores. Then you put your feet back in your shoes that act as incubators to start your own little foot fungus farm.

Unfortunately most airport security checkpoints now require that every pair of shoes goes through the xray machine. But this doesnt mean you cant protect your feet. A cost-effective method is to wear an old pair of socks that are past their prime when you head to catch your flight. Carry a clean pair in your pocket. Take of your shoes, and go through security wearing your old worn out socks. After you get through the checkpoint, take off the old socks and put on the clean ones before you put your shoes back on. Throw the old socks away. Now you can start your vacation fungus-free!

The next place to avoid is the hotel carpet and bathroom. You never know how clean those places are, regardless of how expensive the hotel is. Just because it costs as much as a hospital room, doesnt mean it is just as clean. If you wear socks in the hotel room, just dont put your shoes on until you change socks.

Make sure you also step on the terry cloth mat when you step out of the shower. If possible, get a clean mat with clean towels every day. If you relax in the steamroom or sauna, you just have to wear some flip flops. All of the heat and moisture creates the ideal fungal environment. Fungus can also grow on the tile around the pool and hot tub, but the chlorine in the water actually helps keep it from being as big of a problem.

If your trip takes you to someplace where you can head to the beach, make sure you wear sandals to protect your feet. Dont forget that any tiny little cuts or abrasions are the best way for fungus to get in and start an athletes foot infection.

Now that you understand the basics about foot fungus and where it tends to thrive, you can easily side-step it. Between the airlines and security, travel has enough aggravation. You certainly dont need anything else getting under your skin.

About the Author:
Dr. Christopher Segler is a San Francisco Foot Doctor. His San Francisco Podiatry practice offers emergency housecalls to homes, offices and hotels in the Bay Area for busy people with foot injuries and ankle sprains. You can use the "foot pain finder" to learn more about foot and ankle sprains at www.AnkleCenter.com and www.DocOnTheRun.com.



Article Originally Published On: http://www.articlesnatch.com


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