Untreated athlete’s foot can have a range of dire consequences on your foot, ankle, and overall health. But more specifically, what happens if athlete’s foot goes untreated? That’s exactly what we’ll cover in this article.
That way, you can know to seek proper expert guidance for treatment and therapy for your foot problems and protect your feet for the long term.
Athlete’s Foot 101
What does untreated athlete’s foot look like? The first step in identifying athlete’s foot is always seeing a podiatrist in Marietta.
After all, there are several types of athlete’s foot. But that being said, a common symptom of this condition is primarily having itchiness between your pinky toe and second to last toe. You may also have cracks, and dry or red skin.
This is caused by fungus, which could lead to thick or white skin as well in the area. Blisters could form on your foot, as well as a bad smell coming from the area.
Athlete’s foot can also affect your toenails. It can make your toenails thicker, discolored or even crumbly. This can then spread to your hands and even your groin.
And finally, cellulitis is a serious bacterial infection that can happen as a result of this ailment.
Risk Factors For Athlete’s Foot
Athletes aren’t the only ones who get athlete’s foot. You can get athlete’s foot at the gym, from the public showers, public pool, and more.
Athlete’s foot loves habitats that are warm and damp. So if you regularly wear sweaty shoes without ventilation, then you could be at higher risk.
Additional risk factors are: being male, sharing baths, towels, or bedding with someone that has athlete’s foot, walking barefoot in public, and using public showers.
Precautions To Prevent Athlete’s Foot
There are some things you can do to prevent getting athlete’s foot, such as:
- Avoid thick socks
- Rotate your shoes out
- Wash your socks every time after wearing them
- Wear sandals as often as possible
- Keep your feet cool and dry
- Avoid public swimming areas
- Wash your feet thoroughly
Treating Athlete’s Foot
If you don’t seek out a podiatrist to treat your athlete’s foot for treatment, it could get worse over time.
You may end up with more severe symptoms. A higher frequency of blisters, redness, swelling, and pus can all occur with athlete’s foot left untreated.
Ultimately, athlete’s foot can spread to other parts of your body, and that’s something you certainly want to avoid with a specialist’s recommendations. So you should consider contacting a doctor if you notice any of the symptoms mentioned above.
Conclusion
Visiting a podiatrist in Marietta is your best course of action, so don’t wait long; contact us now, our expert podiatrists understand how to diagnose and treat any kind of foot or ankle disorder, from athlete’s foot to circulation issues and more. Let our board-certified podiatrists assist you in returning to the type of lifestyle you love today. I don’t know if you have athlete’s foot
