Staying ahead of athlete's foot

The fungus that causes this itchy rash thrives in the warm, dark, wet environment between your toes. The key is keeping your feet dry.

� Select well-ventilated shoes

Wear sandals, leather shoes or athletic styles with ventilation holes that allow feet to breathe. Avoid shoes made of synthetic materials, such as vinyl or rubber.

� Alternate shoes

Don't wear the same pair every day. Change wet shoes imme-diately. Don't store out-of-season styles in plastic.

� Protect your feet in high-risk areas

Wear waterproof sandals or shoes around public pools, showers and locker rooms.

� Wear acrylic socks

When wearing closed-toe shoes, wear socks made of synthetic fibers such as acrylic or polypropylene that wick away mois-ture. Cotton socks tend to absorb moisture from your feet.

� Change damp socks

If your feet sweat, change your socks twice a day.

� Use antifungal medications

For recurring infections, use an antifungal medication such as clotrimazole (Lotrimin AF), terbinafine (Lamisil-AT) or miconazole (Micatin, Zeasorb-AF). If an infection lasts longer than four weeks, see your doctor.