Contents:
- Medical Video: Easy Ways to Overcome and Prevent Water Lice
- How to treat water lice at home
- How to prevent water lice
Medical Video: Easy Ways to Overcome and Prevent Water Lice
Do you know? Although the name is "water flea", this skin disease is actually not caused by fleas. Water lice, or in their medical language called tinea pedis (athlete's foot), are caused by fungal infections. Water flea infections usually strike the feet which are always in humid conditions. As a result, the skin of the foot will be peeled off, cracked, and has fluid-filled resilience, especially between the toes. Not only that, you will also feel itching on your palms and toes. So, how to treat water lice, and how to prevent it?
How to treat water lice at home
The main water flea drug is antifungal cream, which you can buy at a pharmacy or drug store without the need to redeem a doctor's prescription. For example, Lotrimin (clotrimazole), Micatin (miconazole), and Lamisil (terbinafine).
Here are step by step ways to treat water lice with the antifungal cream of your choice:
- Wash feet thoroughly under running water.
- Pat with a towel until the legs are completely dry.
- Apply a thin cream on the skin of infected feet, for one to two times a day.
Continue treatment with a cream for at least two weeks, or according to the instructions on the packaging and the doctor's advice. Occasionally troubled feet soak in warm water plus 1-2 tablespoons of vinegar. Soak for 10 minutes, and dry the legs well afterwards. You can repeat soaking in vinegar water one to two times a day.
If your foot condition doesn't improve after four weeks using non-prescription creams plus home remedies, you should consult a doctor. The doctor is likely to prescribe a stronger dose, prescribe a different type of drug, or add a medication to drink.
How to prevent water lice
As explained above, water lice attack the feet which are always moist. You will also be easily infected with this one infection if your feet come in direct contact with the surface of the floor that is susceptible to mold contamination. So, how to prevent it is by:
- Wear closed footwear when you walk on a damp surface, such as swimming pools, gyms and changing rooms, and also in hotel rooms.
- Try to always keep your feet dry wherever and whenever. Because the fungus can grow in a warm and moist area like in closed shoes.
- If the weather is quite hot, wear sandals or flip flops which allows the skin of the foot to be safe from contamination of germs but can still breathe freely. However, do not use shoes or sandals that the inner soles are made of plastic or rubber. This material can make your feet sweat more easily.
- Avoid wearing wet or damp shoes. Don't forget to change shoes every day and dry them properly before using them again.
- Routinely wash your feet with clean water and soap every time you finish your outdoor activities. Also make sure to really dry your feet after you wash them.
- Always use socks made of cotton fabric so that sweat can be absorbed properly. Avoid using socks with rubber material that makes sweat easily trapped inside. In addition, don't forget to change socks every day, especially if it's wet.
- Try not to borrow towels, shoes and socks with other people who have water fleas. Because the fungus can move through items that are used simultaneously. The good thing is, don't do any personal items with other people even though you and he don't have a fungal infection in the foot.
