How to Avoid Athlete’s Foot and Staph Infections in the Locker Room

Going to the gym is generally a good thing for your health. However, the germs that cause athlete’s foot and staph infections are common in locker rooms. A little attention to hygiene can help you enjoy all the benefits of the gym while avoiding these annoying infections. 

At Step By Step Foot and Ankle Center in West Covina, California, Dr. Artin Shakhbandaryan loves to hear that patients are keeping themselves healthy at the gym. But he also knows how prevalent bacteria and fungus are in locker rooms.

If you’re a gym-goer, keep reading to learn more about athlete’s foot and staph infections and how to avoid them. 

Avoiding athlete’s foot

Warm, wet places like showers and bathrooms are the perfect breeding ground for the fungus that causes athlete’s foot. When you go barefoot into a place where the fungus is present and come into contact with it, you can get athlete’s foot. 

Just coming into contact with the fungus is enough — you don’t have to have a cut on your skin. 

Athlete’s foot causes a scaly, itchy rash. If you have it, you might also feel a burning sensation or have sores between your toes. 

The best way to avoid athlete’s foot is to keep your skin from making contact with the locker room floor. Flip-flops can do the trick. Pack a pair in your gym bag and wear them in the shower; when you get dressed, stand on a towel. 

Thoroughly wash your feet after exercise, especially between your toes, and make sure your toes and feet are dry before putting on clean socks and shoes. 

If you develop athlete’s foot, don’t worry. It’s treatable with an over-the-counter antifungal cream. If that doesn’t work, Dr. Shakhbandaryan can prescribe medication. He may also suggest treating the insides of your shoes with an antifungal foot powder. 

Avoiding a staph infection

Bacteria cause staph infections. The specific bacterium is commonly found on the skin and is usually harmless. However, if you have a cut, hangnail, or something as small as an ingrown hair, the bacteria can enter your bloodstream, leading to an infection in your heart or lungs. 

Red, painful, swollen boils on your skin are a common sign of a staph infection. Draining the infection and taking antibiotics are the usual course of treatment. Some types of staph, such as MRSA, are resistant to antibiotic treatment. 

As with athlete’s foot, wearing flip-flops at the gym is the best way to prevent a staph infection. Also, put down a towel before you sit on a bench. And keep any cuts or open wounds clean and covered when you’re at the gym. 

If you have symptoms of athlete’s foot or a staph infection, schedule an appointment by phone or online today at Step By Step Foot and Ankle Center. The sooner you get treatment, the sooner you can get relief.