The causes of athlete's foot

Written by Liu Gang
Dermatology
Updated on September 17, 2024
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Athlete's foot is caused by a fungal infection, and while the cause of the disease is clear, the specific process of infection is complex. Casual habits such as wearing flip-flops recklessly, sharing foot basins at home with others who have athlete’s foot, soaking in public baths, swimming, or having pets at home, as pets often harbor fungi, can all potentially lead to the disease. Once the disease occurs, it is imperative to treat it early. Long-term use of antifungal creams, applied for at least one to two months continuously, is necessary to completely kill the deep-seated fungi and prevent recurrence of the condition. After recovery, it is also important to maintain proper dietary and lifestyle habits, avoid wearing flip-flops recklessly, and stay away from public baths and swimming pools.

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Written by Zhu Zhu
Dermatology
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What is the difference between athlete's foot and corns?

Athlete's foot and corns, although both are skin diseases, are quite different with many distinctions. First, athlete's foot is a fungal infection causing dermatophytosis, while corns are skin conditions formed by prolonged standing or chronic friction and pressure. Additionally, the treatment for athlete's foot involves antifungal medications, whereas corns can be treated with the application of corn ointments. It is advisable to wear loose and breathable shoes and maintain good personal hygiene. (Specific medications should be used under the guidance of a physician.)

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Written by Liu Gang
Dermatology
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Does Huoxiang Zhengqi Water treat athlete's foot?

Huoxiang Zhengqi Water is generally used to treat summer colds, dizziness, fever, or diseases accompanied by cold symptoms. It has no special effect on treating athlete's foot. Athlete's foot is caused by fungal infections and is contagious and recurrent. For treating athlete's foot, it is best to use formal medications, otherwise, due to its high contagiousness, it might spread to family members. Currently, commonly used ointments include Naftifine Ketoconazole Cream or Nitrate Sertaconazole Cream, and the treatment usually requires a long course, at least persisting for more than a month. Or after the symptoms have completely disappeared, continue using it for about half a month more, which can generally cure it completely. Towels and basins for washing feet, used daily, must be separated from those of other family members to prevent cross-infection.

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Written by Xia Min
Traditional Chinese Medicine
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Can soaking feet in mugwort leaves cure athlete's foot?

Soaking feet in mugwort leaves has an inhibitory effect on various pathogenic skin fungi and can promote blood circulation through heat conduction. Athlete's foot is a type of fungal infection, especially common in the summer when people often wear sneakers or leather shoes. Feet soaked in sweat for prolonged periods and in non-breathable conditions are prone to developing athlete's foot. In Western medicine, athlete's foot is considered a fungal infection. Soaking feet daily in mugwort leaves can effectively treat athlete's foot and eliminate fungi.

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Written by Zhang Shu Kun
Traditional Chinese Medicine
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Can mugwort ash treat athlete's foot?

Mugwort ash actually cannot help cure athlete's foot, but if you soak your feet in mugwort ash or mugwort over a long period of time, it can significantly help improve the condition. This is because soaking in hot water accelerates local metabolism and promotes blood circulation, thereby effectively relieving and improving the condition. Mugwort itself can achieve the purpose of relieving itchiness and dispelling dampness, which can significantly help in conditioning the body and providing relief. For cases of athlete's foot, it is necessary to manage it through regular physical exercise or daily foot soaks.

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Written by Zhang Da Wei
General Surgery
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How to completely cure sweaty athlete's foot

The occurrence of sweaty feet is actually related to individual physical conditions, such as localized hyperhidrosis which can cause this condition. At the same time, it might be accompanied by a fungal infection, so it is necessary to analyze the specific situation to determine the cause. Generally, antimicrobial treatment can also achieve certain effects, but it requires analysis based on the specific circumstances. Thus, there are unlikely to be major issues if medications are used correctly. Changes generally occur as long as the treatment is appropriate. Therefore, the treatment should be tailored to the patient’s own condition, choosing the medication depending on whether the patient has any drug allergies, etc. As long as there are no such issues, normal exercise is usually fine, although it cannot completely cure the condition. However, it is important to pay attention to lifestyle factors, especially local breathability, which can have a direct impact.