There are many things you want to pass on to your family: heirlooms, inheritances, your grandmother’s meatloaf recipe. A case of fungal toenails or athlete’s foot is definitely not on that list. Both conditions are caused by similar fungal infections, so the same measures to prevent the spread of foot fungus will help keep your family’s feet clear in both situations.
Here are some tips to help prevent the spread of fungal infections in your home.
- Do Not Share Shoes – The fungus responsible for athlete’s foot and toenail fungus thrives in warm, damp places. This makes many shoes an ideal living quarters. Do not risk wearing the shoes of those with an infection, or placing infected feet into other’s shoes. Regularly airing shoes out and disinfecting them is a sound move as well.
- Keep Socks and Towels Separate, Too – Socks of those with foot fungus—especially athlete’s foot—should be kept in a separate hamper and washed separately from other laundry. The same goes with bath towels. Washing at a temperature of at least 140 degrees Fahrenheit (or 60 degrees Celsius) will be enough to take care of spores. The laundry hamper itself should be cleaned regularly with an antifungal bleach solution.
- Protect Injuries to the Feet – Our skin often provides a suitable barrier against fungus and other nasties that try to take hold. However, any damage that occurs can provide just enough of an opening for invasion. Keep cuts covered and be more cautious if you have sustained damage to a toenail.
The good news is that fungal infections do not tend to spread like wildfire. The fact that the risk is still present, however, combined with how stubborn and bothersome an infection can be, makes taking some extra protective steps well worth it.
Of course, proper care and treatment is one of the best steps toward preventing the spread of athlete’s foot or fungal toenails. If you need help battling an infection, or would like more tips on how to keep your family fungus-free, please contact Freeland Foot & Ankle Clinic at (989) 695-6788.
