Athlete’s foot is a fungus that is easily transmitted among unsuspecting travelers. By following a few simple tips, you can ensure you don’t contaminate your feet in your hotel room or at the barefoot spectacle known as airport security.
Athlete’s foot is the most common fungal infection of the feet. Every day, podiatrists see people with burning, itchy, and peeling feet. Although many different species of fungus and yeast can cause the problem, the ways that you as a traveler can prevent it are simple and effective.
The fungus that causes athlete’s foot thrives in dark, warm, and moist places. Shoes are the perfect habitat for fungi. Unfortunately for business travelers and vacationers, there are many places in airports, hotels, and vacation spots that are covered in fungus just waiting to infect your feet.
Anytime live foot fungus or fungal spores (which are basically fungal seeds waiting to sprout) attach themselves to bare skin or enter through tiny openings in the skin, they can take hold and start growing. As the fungus grows, it draws water from the surrounding skin.
This leads to flaking and itchy skin, as the fungus damages and causes delamination or peeling of the outer layers of the skin. Often the infection begins in the moist area between the toes or on the bottom of the foot.
Foot doctors often describe a “moccasin distribution” pattern with athlete’s foot infections. This means that the areas of the feet that become red and begin to flake are usually the ones that would be in contact with loafers. The tops of the feet and ankles are usually not affected.
Fortunately for you, the most effective prevention measures are also very easy… don’t step on the fungus! When you’re on the go, you just have to know where not to step.
You have to make sure that you protect your shoes against fungus. Shoes should be a safe haven for your feet. Anytime you have live fungus or fungus spores on your shoes, you are at risk of getting toenail fungus or an athlete’s foot infection.
No matter what you do, when you travel, your feet will breathe. A stressful, fast pace in airport terminals, trying to make that connection while carrying a laptop and tote bag will make you (and feet) sweat like crazy.
Since fungus needs moisture to live, you should do everything possible to reduce moisture in your shoes. A good place to start is with well-ventilated shoes that breathe while you’re on the go. Shoes that have a breathable mesh upper made of nylon, mesh, or cotton breathe quite well and let moisture escape. Leather, plastic, and rubber tend to retain mold on shoes, which encourages its growth.
Be sure to rotate your shoes during your trip. Have at least two pairs of shoes so you can wear them every other day. This will allow them plenty of time to dry completely before using them again.
If you are very active or your feet sweat a lot, try changing your socks in the middle of the day. This is one of the easiest ways to keep your feet dry and fungus free. Wear synthetic socks and avoid cotton to keep moisture away from your feet. There are also newer socks available that have copper fibers woven into them. Copper stitching to decrease the likelihood of fungus taking root in the sock material.
Since even the most relaxing vacation involves a lot of walking through airports, hotels, and sightseeing, choose comfortable walking shoes for your trip. Many vacationers opt for sandals or flip flops when on vacation, however this can lead to friction blisters that let the fungus in and start the infection.
Be sure to avoid fungus hotspots. The carpet you feel under your sock-clad feet as you wait to clear security is a haven for the fungus that causes athlete’s foot. All day and night, sweaty feet emerge from your shoes and shuffle across the carpet. Everyone walks and stands in this continuous stream of sweaty feet and flaking foot fungus. As you walk down the line, your sweaty socks collect fungal spores. Then he puts his feet back in the shoes that act as incubators to start his own foot fungus farm.
Unfortunately, most airport security checks now require every pair of shoes to go through the X-ray machine. But that doesn’t mean you can’t protect your feet. A simple solution is to wear an old, worn-out pair of socks at the airport. Carry a clean pair in your pocket. Kick off your shoes and walk through security in your worn-out old socks. After passing the checkpoint, take off your old socks and put on your clean ones before putting your shoes back on. Throw away the old socks. Now you can start your holidays without mushrooms!
The next place to avoid is the hotel carpet and bathroom. You never know how clean those places are, regardless of how expensive the hotel is. Just because it costs as much as a hospital room doesn’t mean it’s as clean. If you wear socks in the hotel room, just don’t put your shoes on until you change your socks.
Be sure to step on the plush mat as well when you get out of the shower. If possible, get a clean mat with fresh towels every day. If you go down to the sauna in the sports facilities, be sure to wear shower shoes. All the heat and moisture create the ideal fungal environment. Fungus can also grow on the tiles around the pool and hot tub, but the chlorine in the water actually helps prevent it from being as big of a problem.
If your trip takes you somewhere you might hit the beach, be sure to wear sandals to protect your feet. Don’t forget that any small cut or abrasion is the best way for fungus to enter and start an athlete’s foot infection.
Now that you understand the basics about foot fungus and where it tends to thrive, you can easily avoid it. Between airlines and security, traveling has quite a few aggravations. You certainly don’t need anything else to get under your skin.