How to Prevent Foot Infections in Public Showers

Public showers are a common place to catch a foot infection such as athlete’s foot. Since the shower is a damp, warm environment, foot fungus and other types of viruses can be present. These infections can easily spread from one person’s feet to the floor of the shower then onto your foot. 

Foot Infection Prevention Tips

When showering in a locker room or other public shower, there are precautions to take in order to avoid a foot infection. Some prevention tips include:

• Wear shower shoes or flip-flops. When walking in the shower or surrounding area, wear shower shoes or flip-flops to protect your feet.
• Use your own shower products. Bring your own soap or body wash so you do not use ones that may be contaminated by another person. Soap can be dropped on the shower floor where a fungus is present then transferred to your feet and body. If you bring your own, you can know that it is safe to use. Bring and use your own personal towel as well. 
• Wash your feet daily. When showering, be sure to wash your entire foot with soap. This is important so you can wash away any harmful bacteria that may be on your feet.  
• Completely dry your feet. Be sure to dry your feet completely after showering and before putting on socks and shoes. Fungus can thrive in warm, moist areas so keeping your feet cool and dry can help prevent an infection.
• Pre-treat your feet. Apply an anti-fungal powder or spray on your feet to kill off any fungus or bacteria that you could have picked up in the shower.

Treatment Options

Athlete’s foot and other foot infections can be easily treated. The most common symptom of a foot infection is itchy feet. Treatment is commonly an anti-fungal medication such as a cream or ointment. If an over-the-counter treatment does not help or the infection spreads, your podiatrist can examine your feet and recommend a prescription-strength medication.

Contact Us With Questions

If you think you have athlete’s foot or are concerned about foot infections and have questions, Greater Washington Advanced Podiatry can help. We offer a free initial consultation and can help create a customized plan to address your concerns. To set up an appointment, fill out our convenient contact form or call us at (301) 515-FEET.