| Athlete's foot is a fungus that is easily transmitted | | | | changing your socks half way through the day. This is |
| among unwary travelers. By following some simple | | | | one of the easiest ways to keep your feet dry and |
| advice, you can make sure you don't contaminate your | | | | fungus free. Wear synthetic socks and avoid cotton to |
| feet in your hotel room or the barefoot extravaganza | | | | keep moisture away from your feet. There are also |
| known as the airport security checkpoint. | | | | newer socks available that have copper fibers woven |
| Athlete's foot is the most common fungal infection of | | | | into them. Copper seams to decrease the likelihood |
| the feet. Every day, podiatrists see people with feet | | | | that fungus will take hold in the sock material. |
| that are burning, itching and peeling. Although many | | | | Because even the most relaxing vacations involve lots |
| different species of fungus and yeast can cause the | | | | of walking through airports, hotels and site-seeing, |
| problem, the ways that you as a traveler can prevent | | | | choose comfortable walking shoes for your trip. Many |
| it are simple and effective. | | | | vacationers opt for sandals or flip flips when on |
| The fungus that cause athlete's foot thrives in places | | | | vacation, however these can lead to friction blisters |
| that are dark, warm and moist. Shoes are the perfect | | | | that let the fungus in and start the infection. |
| habitat for fungus. Unfortunately for business travelers | | | | Make sure you avoid the fungus hotspots. The carpet |
| and vacationers, there are many places in airports, | | | | you feel under your sock-clad feet while waiting to get |
| hotels and vacation spots that are covered in fungus | | | | through security is a haven for athlete's foot-causing |
| just waiting to infect your feet. | | | | fungus. All day and night, sweaty feet emerge from |
| Whenever living foot fungus or fungal spores (which | | | | their shoes and shuffle along the carpet. Everyone |
| are basically seeds for fungus waiting to sprout) stick | | | | steps and stands in this continual stream of perspiring |
| to bare skin or enter through tiny little openings in the | | | | feet and shedding foot fungus. As you trudge through |
| skin, it can take hold and start to grow. As the fungus | | | | the line, your sweaty socks pick up fungal spores. |
| grows, it pulls water from the surrounding skin. | | | | Then you put your feet back in your shoes that act as |
| This causes peeling and itching of the skin as the | | | | incubators to start your own little foot fungus farm. |
| fungus does damage and causes delamination or | | | | Unfortunately most airport security checkpoints now |
| peeling away of the skin's outer layers. Frequently the | | | | require that every pair of shoes goes through the xray |
| infection starts in the moist area between the toes of | | | | machine. But this doesn't mean you can't protect your |
| on the bottom of the foot. | | | | feet. One simple solution is to wear an old worn out |
| Foot doctors often describe a "moccasin distribution" | | | | pair of socks to the airport. Carry a clean pair in your |
| pattern with athlete's foot infections. This means that | | | | pocket. Take of your shoes, and go through security |
| the areas of the feet that turn red and start peeling | | | | wearing your old worn out socks. After you get |
| are usually those that would be in contact with | | | | through the checkpoint, take off the old socks and put |
| moccasins. The tops of the feet and ankle don't | | | | on the clean ones before you put your shoes back on. |
| usually become involved. | | | | Throw the old socks away. Now you can start your |
| Fortunately for you, the most effective prevention | | | | vacation fungus-free! |
| measures are also very easy... don't step in the fungus! | | | | The next place to avoid is the hotel carpet and |
| When you are traveling, you just have to know where | | | | bathroom. You never know how clean those places |
| not to step. | | | | are, regardless of how expensive the hotel is. Just |
| You have to make sure to guard your shoes against | | | | because it costs as much as a hospital room, doesn't |
| fungus. The shoes need to be a safe haven for your | | | | mean it is just as clean. If you wear socks in the hotel |
| feet. Any time you get live fungus or fungal spores in | | | | room, just don't put your shoes on until you change |
| your shoes, you run the risk of getting fungal toenails | | | | socks. |
| or an athlete's foot infection. | | | | Make sure you also step on the terry cloth mat when |
| No matter what you do, when you travel, your feet will | | | | you step out of the shower. If possible, get a clean |
| prespire. A hurried stressful pace in airport terminals, | | | | mat with clean towels every day. If you go down to |
| trying to make that connection while toting a laptop | | | | the sauna in the athletic facility, make sure you wear |
| and carry-on bag will make you (and your feet) sweat | | | | shower shoes. All of the heat and moisture creates |
| like crazy. | | | | the ideal fungal environment. Fungus can also grow on |
| Since fungus needs moisture to live, you want to do | | | | the tile around the pool and hot tub, but the chlorine in |
| anything you can to reduce the moisture in your shoes. | | | | the water actually helps keep it from being as big of a |
| A good place to begin is with well ventilated shoes | | | | problem. |
| that breathe while you are on your trip. Shoes that | | | | If your trip takes you to someplace where you can |
| have breathable mesh uppers made of nylon, mesh, or | | | | head to the beach, make sure you wear sandals to |
| cotton breathe fairly well and let the moisture escape. | | | | protect your feet. Don't forget that any tiny little cuts or |
| Leather, plastic and rubber tend to hold the fungus in | | | | abrasions are the best way for fungus to get in and |
| your shoes encouraging fungus to grow. | | | | start an athlete's foot infection. |
| Make sure you rotate your shoes during your trip. | | | | Now that you understand the basics about foot fungus |
| Have at least two pairs of shoes so you can wear | | | | and where it tends to thrive, you can easily side-step it. |
| them on alternate days. This will allow them enough | | | | Between the airlines and security, travel has enough |
| time to fully dry out before you wear them again. | | | | aggravation. You certainly don't need anything else |
| If you are very active or if your feet sweat a lot, try | | | | getting under your skin. |