Athlete's foot is a very common skin infection of the bottom of the feet caused by fungus. The fungus that most commonly causes athlete's foot is called Trichophyton. When the feet or other areas of the body stay moist, warm, and become irritated, fungus can thrive and infect the upper layers of the skin. Fungal infections can occur almost anywhere on the body, including the scalp, trunk, extremities, hands, feet, nails, vagina, mouth, and groin. Athlete's foot is caused by the ringworm fungus. Athlete's foot is also called tinea pedis.
The fungus that causes athlete's foot can be found on many locations, including floors in gyms, locker rooms, swimming pools, nail salons, airport security lines, and in socks and clothing. The fungus can also be spread directly from person to person or by contact with these objects. Most people acquire fungus on the feet from walking barefoot on areas where someone else with athlete's foot has walked. Some people are simply more prone to this condition while others seem relatively resistant to contracting it.
It has been called jungle rot by those serving in wars, including the Vietnam War. However, without proper growing conditions, the fungus may not easily infect the skin. Up to seventy percent of the population may have athlete's foot at some time during their lives. Some individuals are inherently more prone to recurrences during their lifetime. Most individuals with athlete's foot have no symptoms at all and do not even know they have an infection. Many may think they simply have dry skin on the soles of their feet.
Common symptoms of athlete's foot typically include various degrees of itching and burning. The skin may frequently peel, and in particularly severe cases, there may be some cracking, pain, and bleeding as well. Rarely, athlete's foot can blister. The fungal infection is often treated with topical antifungal agents, which can take the form of a spray, powder, cream, or gel. The most common ingredients in over-the-counter products are miconazole nitrate and tolnaftate. Terbinafine is another common over-the-counter drug.
There exists a large number of prescription antifungal drugs, from several different drug families. These include ketaconazole, itraconazole, naftifine, nystatin. Some topical applications such as carbol fuchsin, often used for intertrigo, work well but in small selected areas. This red dye, used in this treatment like many other vital stains, is a fungicide. The recommended course of treatment is to continue to use the topical treatment for four weeks after the symptoms have subsided to ensure that the fungus has been completely eliminated.
However, because the itching associated with the infection subsides quickly, patients may not complete the courses of therapy prescribed. Anti-itch creams are not recommended as they will alleviate the symptoms but will exacerbate the fungus; this is due to the fact that anti-itch creams typically enhance the moisture content of the skin and encourage fungal growth. For the same reason, some drug manufacturers are using a gel instead of a cream for application of topical drugs. If the fungal invader is not a dermatophyte but a yeast, other medications may be used.
The infection may spread to the toenails. Here it causes the toenails to become thick and crumbly and may create an unpleasant odor. Toenail infections are difficult to eradicate, because the infection is deep within the nail bed. Following the course of treatment with natural treatment will ensure eradication of the fungus and help prevent further infection. Natural treatment eliminates athlete's foot fast with guaranteed result. The certified organic medicinal plant extracts in plant medicine are nature's strongest remedy for athlete's foot.
Its pharmaceutical strength ingredients eliminate the Tinea fungus while rejuvenating skin. Natural treatments are lipophilic and can be absorbed into your bloodstream easily. When treating sensitive skin make sure to use treatments made from certified organic medicinal plant extracts - free from toxic herbicides, pesticides and fertilizers. The ingredients of plant medicine are medically proven to have a powerful yet safe anti-fungal activity. This oil is extremely effective and will cure athlete's foot with no incidence of recurrence. To learn more, please go to [http://www.fonworld.org].