Athletes foot

What is athlete’s foot?

• Who gets athlete's foot?

  Anyone can get it however, active people, for instance, who take part in sports can be more susceptible, as well as those who work in warm, damp environments.

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• How does the infection occur?

  The infection and its symptoms are caused by a contagious fungus that thrives in warm, moist environments. The fungus can be picked up easily, for instance by walking through a communal shower or changing room at the swimming pool, gym or sports hall. In fact, any place where people walk barefoot can be a source of infection.

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• What are the symptoms of athlete's foot?

  The most irritating symptom of athlete's foot is itchy feet, but if left untreated the skin may start to flake or become cracked and painful. Occasionally it may become infected with bacteria, which you notice by an unpleasant odour.

  It is important to check your feet regularly because, despite the name, anyone can get athlete's foot and it's actually quite common. Some people leave their athlete's foot alone in the hope that it may vanish, but unfortunately without proper treatment this is not likely to be the case.

  Relieve Athlete‘s Foot with Canesten.

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• The people disease that anyone can get

  Fungal infections of the skin are simply among the most common ailments. Surprisingly, studies show that as much as 25 % of the population has athlete's foot. That means every fourth person suffers from athlete`s foot. Among swimmers and miners, the frequency is even higher.  

  The good news is that you don't have to be embarrassed. Nevertheless, you should still do something about it!

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• Some facts about athlete`s foot

  Athlete`s foot is one of the most common ailments of all.

  Every fourth person suffers from athlete`s foot.

  The fungi are transmitted by way of infected flakes of skin.

  The most typical places for athlete`s foot to be spread are swimming pools, public sports facilities, hotel rooms, saunas, and locker rooms, or even in the home, where it can be spread from one family member to another.

  Athlete`s foot is easy to treat with modern anti-fungal products.

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• Only healthy feet look good

  Unfortunately, too few victims of an athlete`s foot infection do anything about it, although it is easy to treat with modern anti-fungal products. The idea of hiding feet in shoes and socks seems tempting. Unfortunately, an athlete`s foot infection is accompanied by not only an ugly appearance and an unpleasant smell, but also the symptoms of itchiness and burning. As if that were not enough, there is also the possibility of the infection spreading to the toenails or of having family members contract the disease. For all these reasons, healthy feet are an essential part of a person`s well-being. Don`t wait any longer to free your feet of athlete`s foot!

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• How to recognize athlete’s foot?

  Typical signs of athlete`s foot are the redness on the skin and grayish white flakes, as well as the itchiness and burning sensation especially between the toes. The diseased skin may be pale, discolored, swollen, damp, or torn. Just walking may become painful. Athlete`s foot usually appears in between the fourth and fifth toes, but other parts of the foot can be affected as well. If the infection goes untreated, the fungus may eventually spread to the nail. In the infection of the nail, a change in coloration can occur (to an off-white or brownish coloring) or even a change in the nail`s shape, i.e. the nail thickens.

  Check your feet regularly, and above all, in between the toes. Remember: The earlier you find symptoms and begin treatment, the faster you will be rid of athlete`s foot.

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• The four most important athlete`s foot symptoms

  • Itching
  • Redness
  • Grayish white flakes
  • Burning Most often between the fourth and fifth toes

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• The treatment is really simple

  At the first sign of athlete`s foot, you should begin a targeted and consistent treatment so that the infection does not spread any further. In order to do this, an anti-fungal medication is necessary. This kind of a product, such as Canesten®, can be obtained at your pharmacy without a prescription.

  Canesten®, a state of the art anti-fungal product, contains an active ingredient that is particularly effective against dermatophytes, which are the most common pathogens in athlete`s foot infections, and also against yeasts, moulds, and some bacteria. Canesten® can be purchased as a cream, a solution, an atomizer spray, and an aerosol spray for acute and preventative treatment, or as a powder as a follow up measure.

  The newest product in the Canesten® line, Canesten® Extra, needs to be applied just once a day, since the active ingredient persists in the skin for a particularly long time. Aside from that, Canesten® Extra works simultaneously against the inflammation associated with athlete`s foot and the unpleasant itchiness and burning symptoms.

  So that athlete`s foot completely disappears, the therapy must be carried out regularly and for long enough. Therefore, it is advisable to wait for two weeks after the disappearance of visible symptoms on the skin until you stop treatment. The athlete`s foot should be healed after a total of between 3 and 4 weeks.

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