Are your feet blistering, itchy, and even a bit smelly? If you are not sure what is going on and you have tried washing your feet and applying lotion to heal them without much success, you should see a podiatrist. The podiatrist could help you figure out the reason behind these annoying symptoms. In many instances, the symptoms you are dealing with are a sign of athlete's foot, which is a type of infections that does require treatment.

What Is Athlete's Foot and How Does a Person Get It?

Athlete's foot is an infection that can develop and cause a lot of irritation. The feet often become excessively moist, blistered, and itchy. Even while wearing socks to protect the feet, you may still deal with an itching and burning sensation that is completely uncomfortable. A person can get athlete's foot if they encounter a specific type of fungus that leads to the infection. It is contagious and can quickly spread from one person to the next if they are sharing shoes or walking around barefoot in the same area. For example, if you have used a public shower in recent weeks, you may have come into contact with the fungus at that point.

What Types of Treatment Does a Podiatrist Offer?

The podiatrist will need to have a look at your feet before giving a diagnosis. If it turns out that you do have athlete's foot, the podiatrist may do the following things:

  • Prescribe an antifungal cream to be applied directly to the feet. If you receive the cream, you will likely need to apply it to your clean feet at least twice a day. Most people will apply it once in the morning before going out for the day and once at night before going to bed.
  • Prescribe an oral medication to be taken as directed to treat the condition. If you have a severe case of athlete's foot and the cream is not working as efficiently, the podiatrist may prescribe this medication for you to take orally to rapidly treat the condition.
  • Encourage healthy habits with your feet. Your podiatrist is going to want to help you avoid this fungus in the future and will recommend wearing protective sandals when using public showers or walking around on the beach.

You might have athlete's foot if your feet are blistered, itchy, irritated, and even a bit smelly. If you have this problem, you should see a podiatrist for treatment. The podiatrist may offer different prescription medications as well as helpful tips on how to avoid the condition in the future.

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