With the hot and humid weather in Hong Kong and sweaty feet, sometimes you may find that your feet are itchy and peeling, or even smelly. You may have unknowingly gotten into trouble with your athlete's foot!

Athlete's foot or Hong Kong foot, also known as Tinea pedis, is a skin condition caused by a fungal infection that can spread beyond the skin of the feet to the toenails and even to the hands. Athlete's foot mould is commonly found in warm and humid environments such as shoes, socks, swimming pools, changing rooms and the floors of public showers.

There are many possible symptoms of athlete’s foot, which include:

itching, stinging, and burning between your toes or on soles of your feet

blisters on your feet that itch

cracking and peeling skin on your feet, most commonly between your toes and on your soles

dry skin on your soles or sides of your feet

raw skin on your feet

discoloured, thick, and crumbly toenails

toenails that pull away from the nail bed

How is athlete’s foot treated?

Depending on the type and severity of athlete's foot, there are different forms of treatment. Patients can purchase their own anti-mycotic medication to treat the condition at home, but must complete the entire course of treatment to avoid a recurrence of infection.

OTC topical antifungal medications include Lotrimin, Micatin, Lamisil and Tinactin.

If you have recurrent attacks despite the use of medication, you should seek medical help from a dermatologist to prevent the condition from worsening.

7 Ways to Prevent athlete’s Foot

-Keep your toes dry as soon as possible after swimming or bathing

-Wear comfortable shoes or sandals

-Wear well-ventilated socks and change them more often, at least once a day

-Use talcum powder or anti-mildew powder on your feet

-Make sure your shoes have been ventilated for at least 24 hours before wearing the same pair again

-Wear flip-flops or sandals in public pools and showers.

Adhering to these precautions can help reduce the risk of contracting an athlete’s foot, but if you do get such condition, do not use folk remedies and seek help from a dermatologist.