Fungal Problems

Fungal infections of the foot are usually named according to the organism involved. They can affect the skin or the nails of the foot. A moist environment is very important for a fungal infection to affect the foot. Since your feet continuously gets exposed to the ground and is prone to sweating or walking on wet surfaces, fungal organisms attach to your feet more than other regions of your body.

Symptoms

The following are types of fungal infections that can be found on your feet:

- Toenail Infections

• Infections present on toenails that cause a discoloration, usually a yellow shade. Nails may look brittle, crumble, and feel very rough as well. It is usually associated with Athletes foot as well.

- Athlete's Foot

• It's caused by a combination of fungi and bacteria, causing your skin to become itchy, dry, scaly and red, especially between your toes. Sometimes it causes blisters and cracked skin. For more information on Athlete’s Foot, click here.

Common Causes

Exposure to moist areas or environments with fungal infection present

• Examples include swimming pools, locker rooms, and bathrooms

- Improper drying of skin after sweating or bathing

- Wearing tight socks

• Does not allow sweat to evaporate completely

- Damage to skin like a cut or graze

- Person to person contact through items

• Unwashed bed sheets

Treatment

- Laser treatment for fungal nails

- Topical medications

- Oral medications

- Special socks to prevent moisture

If left untreated, these infections can lead to more serious issues such as blisters and ulcers.