Toenails aren’t always the prettiest of things, but when you add a fungal nail infection into the mix, they can become even less attractive. Infections aren’t as rare as you might think, and while it’s possible to hide unsightly, crumbly or yellowing nails, you’re best off trying to treat your nails of the infection with our expert tips. The Healthcare Professional in this video does not endorse any medicine products or brands. The Healthcare professional was paid by Scholl for their time in making this video. WHAT IS FUNGAL NAIL? Although fungal nail infections are common and generally harmless, they can be unpleasant and can take a long time to treat. Fungal nail infection occurs from a particular type of fungus in, under, or around the nail, and can follow a fungal skin infection. WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF FUNGAL NAIL? Infections usually start at the edge of the nail and appear as discoloured white and yellow streaks or flaky white patches on toenails. The streaks often spread to the centre, discolouring more of the nail. In severe cases it can cause the nail to lift away from the skin. Finally, the nail can become brittle and crumble away, causing pain and swelling to the surrounding skin and nail. WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOM TRIGGERS? As fungus often thrives in moist, dark and warm conditions, wearing trainers or shoes that make feet hot and sweaty for long periods of time makes the risk of infection higher. Fungal nail infections are also contagious and can spread in communal areas such as gyms and pools. WHAT CAUSES FUNGAL NAIL? You are more likely to get a fungal nail infection if you: Fail to keep your feet clean and dry. Wear shoes that make your feet hot and sweaty. Walk around barefoot in communal areas such as changing rooms and pools. Have damaged your nails (they are more likely to become infected). Have had another form of fungal infection that can spread, e.g. athlete’s foot. Have another condition like diabetes or psoriasis that weakens the immune system. Live in a hot or humid climate. TOP TIPS FOR AVOIDING AND MANAGING FUNGAL NAIL? You can help protect against fungal nail infections from occurring by: Treating any fungal infection you have, like athlete’s foot, as it can cause a nail infection. Wearing flip flops in public places Avoiding towel, sock and shoe sharing Not sharing nail clippers or scissors. Replacing any old footwear that has been contaminated with fungus. Wearing clean socks every day. Avoiding shoes that make your feet hot and sweaty. Keep your feet clean and dry Please see a GP or Podiatrist if your fungal nail infection is severe and treatment hasn't worked, or if it has spread to other nails. If you have diabetes or any circulatory problems please speak to a Healthcare Professional before self treating. To explore Scholl's related Fungal Nail product online, click here. Schollmed Once Weekly Fungal Nail Treatment 5% w/v medicated nail lacquer. Contains Amorolfine. Always read the label. Scholl Advance Athlete's Foot Cream. Contains Terbinafine. Always read the label. UK/SC/0219/0024
Whether you’ve been upping the ante with your fitness regime, spending more time in the pool and gym showers, or just prefer to live your life in trainers, we can create the perfect warm, dark and humid environments that fungus requires to thrive. And as annoying as athlete’s foot can be, there are simple treatments: topical creams, sprays and lotions. Below are our tips to help look after your hard-working feet so that you can stay active and try to avoid athlete's foot fungus. This is not a diagnostic tool. The healthcare professional does not endorse Scholl products and were paid by the makers of Scholl for their time producing this video. What is athlete’s foot? Also known as tinea pedis, athlete’s foot is a contagious fungal infection that that can affect the skin in between the toes as well as the sole of the feet. What are the symptoms of athlete’s foot? It can appear as dry scaly skin so people could mistakenly assume they have dry skin. Athlete’s foot can make the soles and sides of feet itchy and sore. Common signs include: itchy white patches between your toes; red, sore and flaky patches on your feet, and skin that may crack and bleed. Athlete’s foot can also cause fluid-filled blisters. What are the symptom triggers? Athlete’s foot is very common and anyone can get it. It is estimated that up to one in four people have athlete’s foot* at some point in their lives. It is frequently seen among people who sweat more. However, anyone could get the infection from other people, for example if walking barefoot in changing rooms and showers. *Figures from Patient.info Athlete’s foot. Accessed June 2019 What causes athlete’s foot? Anyone can get athlete’s foot, but certain actions can increase the risk of getting or developing it. These include: Visiting public places barefoot (gym changing rooms, showers and swimming pools). Sharing socks, shoes or towels with an infected person. Wearing tight-fitting, closed-toe shoes. Keeping feet wet for long periods of time. Having sweaty feet. Suffering with a minor skin or nail injury on the feet – leading to a route into the skin. Tips for avoiding and managing athlete’s foot Treating athlete's foot can involve applying regular antifungal treatments (available from pharmacies) often around twice a day to the infected area for as long as the instructions say or as advised by a healthcare professional. Although symptoms tend to go quite quickly, you may need to apply the treatment for up to a fortnight after the rash has disappeared to help protect against reoccurrence. In the meantime, try not to scratch the affected skin as this may spread the infection to other areas of the body. To help avoid athlete’s foot in the future: Alongside your Athlete’s Foot treatment, spray shoes after each use with Scholl’s Antifungal Shoe Spray to kill the fungus and help prevent recurrence (with continued use) If you’re going to the gym or the swimming pool wear flip flops in public areas. Dry your feet after washing them – particularly between toes (dab dry rather than rubbing them). Use a separate towel for your feet and wash it regularly. Take your shoes off when home. Wear clean socks every day – breathable cotton socks are best. Don’t share towels, socks or shoes with other people. Avoid wearing shoes that make your feet hot and sweaty. Don’t wear the same pair of shoes for two days in a row. If the above advice and treatments don’t work, you’re in a lot of discomfort, your feet are red, hot and painful, you have diabetes or a weakened immune system, please contact your local healthcare professional such as a podiatrist for further medical advice. Scholl Athlete's Foot cream contains Terbinafine. For the treatment of Athlete's foot. Always read the label. To explore related products, click here. UK/SC/0319/0049a
The constant pressure of pounding your feet on the ground when you walk or run can cause dry and cracked skin. Although it can be tempting to live your life wearing flip flops or walking around barefoot, the constant exposure to the air can only exacerbate the effects of the air to the skin on your feet. This is not a diagnostic tool. This healthcare professional does not endorse Scholl products and were paid by the makers of Scholl for their time producing this video The HCP does not endorse any medicine products or brands. What are cracked heels? Also called fissures, cracks around the heels can look unpleasant. As hard, dry skin builds up on the heel, the epidermis can crack, in some severe cases the cracks can bleed and become infected. What causes cracked heels? Cracked heels often begin as dry skin at the back of the heels. In more severe advanced cases the cracks can split open and develop into crevices that can bleed. Sometimes very deep wounds can become infected. Anyone experiencing bleeding or infection should contact their healthcare professional. Are there any genetic or lifestyle factors that play a part in this condition? Dry skin on the heels often appears when the skin rubs against shoes causing calluses to form, or from exposure of feet to relatively high environmental temperatures, for example during the summer. When this happens the epidermis around the heel loses its moisture making it less flexible and making it more prone to cracking when walking. Older people, people with diabetes and those who spend long hours on their feet are particularly prone to cracked heels as they place more pressure on their feet. Using soaps and detergents with harsh chemicals and spending a lot a time in dry environments (with air conditioning or central heating) can also play a significant role in cracked heels. When should I seek medical advice? Though it’s usually simple to treat dry, cracked heels at home using a pumice or foot file in the bath or shower, followed by moisturising cream, people with diabetes should seek further advice from a local podiatrist before self-treating. If you don’t see an improvement after a few days, if the problem gets worse, begins to bleed or you suspect it is infected, or you have difficulty putting weight on your foot it is important to speak to a healthcare professional. Tips for protecting against and managing cracked heels You can help get relief at home by trying the following: Wearing well-fitted, supportive shoes. Avoid wearing flip flops or going barefoot as constant exposure to the air encourages dry skin. Buffing away any dead skin in the shower or bath with a pumice or specialist foot file. Applying a rich moisturising cream to feet before bed. Slip on a pair of cotton socks afterwards to encourage the lotion to sink into your skin. All information presented on these web pages is not meant to diagnose or prescribe. In all health care matters, please contact your healthcare professional. To explore related products, click here. UK/SC/0319/0049c
