Now summer is in full swing and I’m sure you all can’t wait to go swimming. But before you hit the pool, I think you should read this first. Heat and humidity create the perfect conditions for germs to thrive, and with all the fun and parties that we enjoy with barefoot around poolsides, in backyards or on the concrete, the risk for you to get injuries or an exposure to infection-causing agents are skyrocketing. And the most irritating and embarrassing conditions from this infection-causing agents are Athlete's Foot and Toenail Fungus.

As I mentioned before on my previous articles, Athlete's foot is a skin infection of the foot caused by fungus called Trichophyton. And Toenail Fungus or also known as Onychomycosis, it develops in warm and moist conditions, then it starts to grow under the nail and feed off the keratin in the nail, thus producing nail fungus. The itchy, burning, cracked skin between toes is caused by this fungus that dwell in showers, wet floors, poolsides and sweaty socks. Pretty scary, huh? But don't worry, there are things you can do right now so when the summer comes, you are well prepared to avoid the infections while at the same time you can still enjoy your summer holidays.

1. Foot cleanliness. Anyone who has ever walked barefoot can relate to that when the soles of the feet become soiled. However, even those who wear shoes all the time are still at risk for ‘soiling’ of the feet. This soiling comes not from dirt but from the natural shedding of the skin, combined with sweat residue, sock lint, or shoe debris if one does not wear socks. All of this material provides a good platform upon which bacteria and fungus can accumulate, and eventually this can cause skin infections. By washing the foot regularly, especially in between the toes, the debris and soil that fungus and bacteria accumulates on is removed, and the skin is left with a healthy top surface. Careful removal of soap residue is needed, as is the careful drying of the foot and toes to prevent skin irritation from lengthy water exposure.
2. Another important aspect of good foot hygiene is to keep the feet well moisturized. From time to time, especially in the winter, the foot skin will dry out. For some, this is a result of genetics or diseases which reduce the moisturization of the skin. With drier skin comes more cracks and crevasses that bacteria and fungus can use to enter the skin. The daily application of a good moisturizing cream to the feet can keep the skin moist and its surface smooth. It is important not to place the moisturizing cream in between the toes, as this area is at risk for fungus development that can also follow overly moist toe spaces.
3. When trimming nails, care must be taken not to cut too deep into the skin sides. By cutting the nail too short into the side of the skin, one irritates the skin. A reaction then develops which causes skin inflammation. The inflamed skin becomes irritated against the ingrown nail that did not previously bother it, and pain subsequently is felt. Infection can follow as bacteria becomes trapped within the swollen skin border.
4. Properly fitting shoes are also important.  The basic reason for shoes is to protect the feet from the ground. This protection is at risk when one wears poorly fitting shoes simply for fashion or convenience. Shoes that are too tight will cause skin irritation to occur where the shoe rubs the skin. If the irritated area is over a prominent bone, such as on the toes or sides of the foot, the skin may start a process to protect itself. This process leads to the formation of corns and calluses, which is simply a thickening of the top layer of the skin created to protect the skin. Corns and calluses can cause pain, and in some cases can lead to the development of wounds underneath them. By reducing the shoe pressure on the skin through the use of a properly sized and fitted shoe, the development of corns and calluses can be slowed or even eliminated.

Now, what if you already have the infections? Are there treatments for the conditions? Don't worry, treatments do exist. Click the button below to know more about the treatments.

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