What fungus causes athlete's foot?

Fungal infection is the direct cause of athlete's foot. The fungi that can cause athlete's foot include Trichophyton rubrum and Microphyton canis. After getting athlete's foot, you should pay more attention to personal hygiene. Since athlete's foot is contagious, you must not share shoes with others. Also, the skin between the toes is easy to peel off, so be sure to wipe the toes clean after washing your feet, and the shoes you wear must be comfortable and breathable.

Fungal examination is a method of finding hyphae and spores through direct microscopic examination for preliminary diagnosis.

Fungal inspection notes:

When collecting specimens, attention should be paid to the quality of the specimens, as it directly affects the test results. Therefore, collecting specimens from lesions at multiple locations can increase the positive rate. When preparing the slides, any overflowing sealing liquid should be sucked away to avoid corrosion of the lens.

Keeping the infected area clean and dry will help inhibit fungal growth and promote skin healing. The infected area should be washed frequently with soap and water, dried and sprinkled with talcum powder. Avoid powders that contain cornmeal, as it can promote fungal growth.

But how to take care of athlete's foot? Let's find out:

1. Pay attention to your toenails

Toenails are a favorite breeding ground for mold, so clean your toenails at least every 2-3 days. When scraping nail dirt, remember to use wooden products such as toothpicks or matchsticks, and do not use metal pieces for scraping nails.

2. Wear shoes correctly

Shoes should be breathable and wick away sweat, otherwise you’ll create a warm, moist environment for mold to thrive. Don't wear the same pair of shoes two days in a row. Each pair of shoes needs at least 24 hours to dry completely after being worn. And you can often let the shoes dry in the sun. If your feet sweat easily, you should change your shoes twice a day.

3. Sprinkle some powder between your toes

After bathing, let your feet air dry for 5-10 minutes before putting on shoes and socks. To speed up drying, spread your toes and use a hair dryer to dry them. Then sprinkle some talcum powder. If you are afraid of spreading the powder everywhere, you can first sprinkle the powder into a plastic bag, then put your feet into the bag and evenly cover them with the powder.