Athlete’s foot is the true enemy of happy feet! Despite its seemingly harmless name, this unpleasant infection caused by a fungus that lives in moist and warm areas, does not only affect athletes but can strike anyone, causing discomfort, pain, and embarrassing foot odour. 

Sandile Nkonyane from the rural areas of Pongola in KwaZulu-Natal, shares his journey with an athlete’s foot, emphasising his lack of awareness about the condition. 

“If you’re from rural areas, you won’t know you have athlete’s foot until you consult with a medical practitioner, so I had no idea what it was in the beginning.

“I got redness on my feet and inflammation from the athlete’s foot. There was also a wound between my toes with a bad smell, which lasted for two to three weeks. It was very embarrassing because my feet were stinky,” he admits.

Practising good foot hygiene

After consulting a doctor, Nkonyane says he learned that an athlete’s foot is a common and treatable condition and learned the importance of practising good foot hygiene and taking preventive measures to avoid recurrences. 

“I realised that seeking medical attention early can make a big difference in reducing the severity and duration of symptoms. I wish I had known more about athlete’s foot before getting it, but I’m glad I could learn from the experience and take steps to prevent it from happening again in the future.”

After contracting athlete’s foot from using a public shower at the gym, a Limpopo resident who would like to remain anonymous says he was embarrassed to seek help due to how his foot looked and smelled. 

“I had an athlete’s foot for over a month and finally decided to seek medical assistance because I realised the home remedies I saw online were not working.” 

“I had taken many off days at work to avoid people noticing my smelly and itchy feet. The discomfort was overwhelming, and I no longer used public showers and shower with sandals on in my own shower.”

READ NEXT: Swollen feet: How to get rid of the pain and puff

Ways to get athlete’s foot

Podiatrist Vincent Molepo from Johannesburg describes athlete’s foot as a fungal infection that affects the feet, normally infests the web spaces (between the toes), and can also spread to the rest of the foot.

“An athlete’s foot is caused by fungus, which is a microorganism. There are different types of fungus, but the common type is called Trichophyton rubrum, which is 80% the cause of athletes’s feet.”

“The risk factors include walking barefoot, sharing showers, pools, shoes, and clothes with someone who has an athlete’s foot, and wearing dirty and moist footwear, to name a few.”

According to him, the signs of an athlete’s foot vary from one person to another depending on which type of fungus infects the person, but the common signs he notes are peeling skin, itchiness (mostly between the toes), sweating, and a funny, abnormal odour.

“Athletes feet can become serious and very difficult to treat; severe cases can take months or even years to get rid of.”

Podiatrist Vincent Molepo

“If not treated, the fungus can move to the nail and cause a fungal infection of the nail called onychomycosis, which is a nail fungus that causes thickened, brittle, crumbly, or ragged nails.”

READ NEXT: Don’t let corns and calluses ruin your pretty feet

Taking care of your feet

To prevent athlete’s foot, Molepo recommends avoiding communal areas, e.g., showers and pools, avoiding sharing shoes, wearing sandals when using communal showers, keeping your shoes and socks clean at all costs, using anti-fungal foot powders for your shoes, and consulting with your podiatrist if you are not sure if you have it. 

“The golden treatment for athlete’s feet is antifungals, which include antifungal tablets or creams that can be prescribed by your doctor.”

“Also visit your podiatrist for effective management of the conditions, like using laser therapy, especially if the athlete’s foot has moved to the nails. Additional treatment can be using fungi-solve products that can be advertised by your podiatrist.”

Molepo underlines that home remedies are not advised as fungus is difficult to treat, but maintenance is key. This includes sanitising regularly, using antifungal soaps to wash your clothes, and keeping your feet dry and clean, especially in between the toes. 

“It is best to seek professional help if you think you have athlete’s foot, as prevention is better than cure. Taking care of your feet can be beneficial in the long term. Avoid putting lotion in between your toes; rather, just dry in between the toes because moist areas are where the fungus likes to be.”

ALSO READ: Stop the scratch! Beat the itch in your feet

Get the Health For Mzansi newsletter: Your bi-weekly dose of kasi health, wellness and self-care inspiration.