Why Is It Important To Wear Thongs Around The Pool And In The Showers?

With pool and holiday season finally upon us it’s important to make sure that we are pulling out the thongs from the back of the cupboard to avoid picking up any nasties.

‘So what exactly are these nasties?’  you might ask.

Well, I am referring to those dreaded fungal infections of the skin and nails known as tinea pedis and onychomycosis.

Fungal infections will typically occur as a result of showering and walking on warm damp surfaces that fungus loves to breed on. By wearing thongs we reduce the chances of this occurring.

Typically it has been found that those who swim and walk around barefoot are more prone to developing fungal infection. If you think that you may have picked up a fungal infection recently you may notice the following symptoms occurring:

• Itchy skin
• Flaky skin especially between the toes and the balls of the feet
• Small red dots which sometimes may appear as if filled with pus
• Disclouration of your nails to a yellowish/ brown colour
• Increased thickness to the nails

So if you or someone you know is about to travel and they enjoy the pools, this summer make sure you remind them to wear thongs or shoes to avoid developing a fungal infection.

Or if you have developed  fungal infection but are unsure about the best way to fight it off, book in today for an assessment.

This article was written by Lauren, one of our skilled Podiatrists. To book in with Lauren either give us a call or book online and select ‘Lauren’ as your practitioner.