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The short answer is, yes it can come back!  Fungal infections can be difficult to eradicate, and because they are contagious, they can recur.  The good news is there are steps you can take to lessen your chances of reinfection.

Fungus & feet

Fungus likes to live where it’s warm, dark and moist!  Our socks and shoes are the perfect environment for fungus to flourish and infect the nails and skin.  Sweaty feet or a compromised immune system can both increase a person’s risk for developing a fungal infection.

Fungus & nails

Also known as onychomycosis (on-ih-koh-my-KOH-sis), fungal toenails can be uncomfortable, thickened, misshapen, discoloured, crumbly and smelly.  Onychomycosis can be a source of embarrassment and insecurity and can even lead to skin breakdown due to excess pressure on the nail bed.  Toenail fungus is evident in the nail plate or the toenail itself, but the infection resides underneath in the nail bed.

Fungus & Skin

Athlete’s foot is a fungal infection of the skin and is also known as tinea pedis.  Athlete’s foot can occur anywhere on the foot but is especially common in between the toes and on the bottoms of the feet where the moisture level tends to be higher.  A fungal infection on the bottom of the foot is known as moccasin tinea pedis as it typically covers the sole and sides of the foot like a moccasin or slipper.  The skin is typically itchy and may appear dry, scaly or may peel and is often mistaken for dry skin. The skin in between toes may be white, peeling, cracked, itchy, have a burning or stinging sensation, and can even appear inflamed.

Steps you can take to keep fungus from coming back:

  1. Wear something on your feet when in public spaces, such as pools and change rooms.
  2. Wear a fresh, clean pair of socks daily and if feet are sweaty, change socks when necessary, even midday.
  3. Moisturize your feet regularly with an emollient or skin softener, to keep your skin intact and free of cracks and dry fissures; avoid the skin in between the toes.
  4. Avoid sharing foot care tools, such as nail clippers or files.
  5. Wash feet daily and make sure to dry well in between the toes.
  6. Make sure your shoes fit well and accommodate all of your toes.
  7. Allow shoes to air out between wears.
  8. Choose shoes that are made out of natural fibres and are breathable.
  9. Spray the inside of shoes with disinfectant spray to kill microorganisms.
  10. Consider using a light disinfection system, such as ShoeZap or SteriShoe, to keep fungus at bay inside your shoes. Visit Shop.bioped.com
  11. If you’ve had a fungal toenail infection and it was treated with photodynamic/photodisinfection light therapy, maintenance sessions are important.
    1. This involves visiting a BioPed medical footcare clinician every 2 months for 6-12 months.

Call or Book for a Consultation

If you think you might have a fungal infection of your skin or nails, give your local BioPed a call today to find out how we can help you and your feet!  To find a BioPed Registered Chiropodist or Advanced Footcare Nurse, visit www.bioped.com/locations.