Wash all socks, towels, bath mats, sheets and any other items that may have come into contact with the infection in the hottest water possible. If the fabrics can tolerate it, a cap of Lysol disinfectant in the wash is helpful. Dry thoroughly, and at the highest heat setting possible.
To prevent re-infection if you're in the middle of treatment, you can disinfect your shoes, socks, showers, sheets, floors, bathmats and other high-risk surfaces. Avoid sharing socks and shoes with those that have the infection.
Change your socks daily: Never re-wear the same pair of socks two days in a row. If your socks get wet, change them as soon as possible. You should also put on new socks after exercising or sweating excessively. Wash your socks in hot water, especially while you have athlete's foot.
Make sure that any clothing, socks, towels or bedding that have been exposed to the infected person are washed separately in hot water (at least 140 degrees F). If water isn't hot enough it won't be able to kill the fungus. For any white clothing or materials, you can also use bleach with hot water.
Your spouse is also at risk when sharing bed sheets, socks and shoes. As fungal spores can stay dormant but viable for up to three months in their favoured environments, your family may still remain vulnerable long after you've started covering up your feet or taking other protective measures.
How long is athlete's foot contagious? Although the fungus may disappear during treatment, you may still be contagious and have the infection. That's why it's important to complete the entire prescribed form of treatment, however long the duration.
Wash all socks, towels, bath mats, sheets and any other items that may have come into contact with the infection in the hottest water possible. If the fabrics can tolerate it, a cap of Lysol disinfectant in the wash is helpful. Dry thoroughly, and at the highest heat setting possible.
If you already have athlete's foot, do what you can to prevent spreading the fungus to others. Wear sandals to give your feet some air, keep them dry and protect them when you step into communal areas in public or at home. If you sleep in the same bed as someone else, wear lightweight socks to sleep in.
As athletes' feet fungi can spread in warm, wet places like showers can be a good place for them to thrive. After cleaning your shower, spray Lysol on the surfaces and allow it to remain for a few minutes before rinsing it.
If fabrics are not washed in hot water and disinfected, the fungus can survive in the washer and continue the chance of infection or reinfection. The athlete's foot fungal infection can spread to hands and other parts of the body if left untreated. Q: How do they spread?
Athlete's foot is unlikely to get better on its own, but you can buy antifungal medicines for it from a pharmacy. They usually take a few weeks to work. Athlete's foot treatments are available as: creams.
Imagine waking up and looking down at your feet to discover unsightly fungal nails! Fungal toenails are contagious as well as embarrassing. The pathogen that causes the infection lingers and grows in your footwear, and can contaminate floors, towels, and bed sheets.
Your feet are safe inside shoes or socks -- as long as you keep them dry. Otherwise, let those toes out in the air. Myth 9: Athlete's foot will clear up on its own. Without treatment, athlete's foot will make your feet even itchier and more miserable.
Another common preventive treatment is to spray Lysol into the shoes to prevent fungal growth. Protect your feet in public places. Wear waterproof shoes in public showers, pools, fitness centers and other community areas.
Most commonly, athlete's foot is spread through direct contact with infected skin or through contact with contaminated surfaces such as floors or towels. Although it's not too serious and easily treatable, the fungi can live on surfaces for months to even years.
Along with all the daily bits and pieces your body is shedding, you're also spreading a lot of other things on your sheets. If you have a fungal infection — like athlete's foot — that's going to rub off on bedsheets.
After washing and drying your feet, apply an antifungal product. The antifungal terbinafine (Lamisil AT) has been shown to be very effective. Another option is clotrimazole (Lotrimin AF). You may need to experiment to find the product and formulation — ointment, gel, cream, lotion, powder or spray — that work for you.
Certain conditions, such as eczema and psoriasis, among other things, can also look very much like Athlete's foot. Sometimes, if the skin barrier is compromised, a secondary bacterial infection can occur.
Don't go barefoot in public places. Use a spray or powder that fights fungus on your feet and in your shoes. Don't pick at the skin around your nails. Don't use nail polish or fake nails on your nails.
Athlete's foot is caused by the same fungal infection as ringworm and jock itch. Antifungal drugs can be used to treat it, but the illness frequently returns if precautions are not taken, such as getting rid of infected shoes and socks.
Athlete's foot is caused by the same type of fungi (dermatophytes) that cause ringworm and jock itch. Damp socks and shoes and warm, humid conditions favor the organisms' growth.
Sharing towels, sheets, clothing, or shoes with someone who has athlete's foot also can spread the infection.
Keep your feet and toes covered
Protect your partner from being exposed to fungus by covering your feet at night. If you wear socks to bed, there's no chance your bare feet will make contact with theirs.
Over-the-counter (OTC) creams and powders like terbinafine (Lamisil) and tolnaftate (Tinactin) can get rid of the infection. Home remedies like tea tree oil, hydrogen peroxide, and baking soda can help, too. To cure more stubborn infections, some people need prescription medications like terbinafine and itraconazole.
Use hot water (140°F or 60°C) and your regular detergent for infected laundry. Lower temperatures will not kill the fungus and can transfer spores to other fabrics in the same load. For white cotton socks, you can use chlorine bleach along with hot water to disinfect the fabric.