There are a variety of reasons for which people become afflicted with foot fungus. Although some of us are more susceptible to it than others, foot-based fungal infections are much easier to develop than you may think. Fortunately, stopping foot fungus in its tracks doesn’t have to be a lofty undertaking. Being aware of high-risk areas and changing a few learned behaviors can go a surprisingly long way in keeping foot fungus at bay.

Properly Wash and Dry Your Feet

Even those of us who are meticulous about bathing on a daily basis tend to neglect our feet. We often assume that the soap and water that runs down our legs will find its way to our feet and leave them sufficiently cleaned. While this rationale is somewhat understandable, it’s also deeply flawed. If properly cleaning the rest of your body requires thorough scrubbing, there’s no reason your feet should be viewed as an exception.

With this in mind, take care to scrub your feet and pay special attention to the spaces between your toes the next time you take a bath or shower. This will effectively purge your feet of sweat, dead skin and assorted filth, thereby reducing your chances of developing foot fungus.

Once you’ve finished your bath or shower, take care to thoroughly dry your freshly-cleaned feet. Since moisture is synonymous with foot fungus, it’s in your best interest to abstain from putting on socks, shoes or other footwear until such time as your feet are completely dry.

Since foot fungus can be contagious, it’s strongly recommended that you avoid wearing other people’s shoes, socks and sandals – and avoid letting them wear yours. This is particularly true in the case of footwear that hasn’t been properly washed. For example, if you place someone else’s sweaty socks or shoes on your feet, you’re practically asking for a fungal infection. So, no matter how close you are with someone, you should abstain from sharing footwear – especially if you – or the other party – has active foot fungus.

By extension, you should avoid sharing other articles of clothing, as well as towels. Your feet aren’t the only place fungal infections can develop, and if you regularly share unwashed clothing and/or towels, you’re liable to find this out the hard way.

Properly Clean Your Footwear

Not only should you avoid sharing footwear, you’ll also need to keep your shoes and socks consistently clean. Fortunately, this is far less cumbersome than you may think. To start with, never wear a pair of socks for longer than a day without washing them. Furthermore, whenever your feet become excessively sweaty – like after a strenuous workout – remove the sweat-drenched socks and put on a fresh pair at your earliest convenience.

You should also provide your shoes with ample time to air out. Buying multiple pairs and alternating them can be a great way to prevent shoes from becoming overly germ-laden, make footwear last a little longer and reduce your chances of developing foot fungus.

Promptly Treat Existing Infections

Given how common foot fungus is, it stands to reason that most of us are going to deal with it at some time or another. And as is the case with any other infection, the sooner it’s treated, the sooner you’ll be rid of it. Conversely, refusing to properly address foot fungus can result in the infection spreading and becoming significantly harder to treat.

So, the next time you find yourself saddled with foot fungus, you’d be wise to begin treatment in a timely manner. Fortunately, over-the-counter foot fungus treatments are widely available and affordable on virtually any budget. You’d be hard-pressed to find a pharmacy that doesn’t stock a plethora of creams, gels and powders for this very problem. Additionally, in the interest of avoiding future infections, look into purchasing products that utilize antimicrobial zinc ion technology.

It’s far from difficult to become infected with foot fungus. While some people are far more prone to fungal infections than others, everyone who practices certain behaviors is at risk for developing athlete’s foot and other foot-based fungal issues. However, despite being very easy to develop, foot fungus is also very easy to avoid. So, if you’re tired of dealing with itchy, uncomfortable fungal infections on your feet, take care to heed the advice outlined above.