What is Athlete's Foot?

Athlete's Foot is one of the most common medical conditions affecting the toes. Almost everyone suffers from it at some stage in their lives. Yet although it is regarded by clinical experts as a relatively minor complaint, it can nevertheless cause a great deal of irritation and discomfort if not treated promptly and effectively.

What causes Athlete's Foot?

Athlete's Foot is caused by a type of fungus which thrives in the warm, moist conditions typically found between the toes. The fungal cells multiply rapidly in this environment, leading to the white, soggy skin and itchy sensation between the toes which are so familiar to Athlete's Foot sufferers.

The condition is especially common between the fourth and fifth toes of the foot, mainly because these areas can be difficult to dry properly after showering or swimming.

Another cause of Athlete's Foot can be when the foot comes into contact with flakes of infected skin shed by other people. This can often occur in places such as school gymnasia, or sports changing rooms, which is probably how the condition acquired its name.

If left untreated, Athlete's Foot leads to itching between the toes. The condition can become extremely sore, and because it affects a part of the body which is constantly flexing and moving, the discomfort can be very hard to ignore. That's why fast and effective treatment is so important.

What treatments are available?

Many of the treatments for Athlete's Foot are based on imidazoles. These are active ingredients that prevent fungal cell reproduction by weakening the cell's wall. By doing so, they effectively inhibit the infective cells from multiplying, and arrest the spread of the condition.

Treatments such as Toepedo are formulated with salicylic acid and benzoic acid. These two ingredients complement each other to bring rapid relief from Athlete's Foot. The benzoic acid penetrates the infected cells, creating a chemical imbalance that causes the cell to stop functioning and halting the infective process. The salicylic acid acts as a stabiliser for the benzoic acid and also has a mild keratolytic (skin peeling) action to help remove infected skin.

Toepedo - the ten-minute toe job!

Toepedo's speed of action is a major reason behind its popularity with Athlete's Foot sufferers. In an independently-conducted clinical trial, nearly three-quarters of patients reported relief from itching and half reported relief of soreness, within just 10 minutes of a single application. After one week's treatment, 89% reported relief from itching, 77% from soreness, and 68% from broken or inflamed skin. After two weeks, the respective figures were 97%, 94% and 85%.

Important! Before using Toepedo cream, make sure you read the instructions carefully.