Athlete's foot, also called ringworm of the
foot, should have medical attention if it persists. It is caused by a fungus, a
microscopic plant growth, which thrives on dead cells of the foot, particularly
under warm and damp conditions that may be found on the skin between the toes.
Swimming pool walkways, locker rooms, and public showers are sources of
infection. For primary prevention, shower slippers should be worn whenever
possible. Other means of prevention include keeping the feet clean and dry.
If you have a tendency toward athlete's
foot, dust the feet with talcum powder after washing and drying. Wear clean
socks daily. Persistent athlete's foot, if untreated or inadequately treated,
may lead to more serious bacterial infection (streptococci); so if you have a
persistent problem, let a physician help you to eradicate it and prevent
recurrence. Other ringworm diseases may develop under the nails, on the scalp,
on the skin, and in the genital area. All may be spread by way of contaminated
clothing, an infected pet, a barber's unsterilized tools, or dirty combs and
brushes. Personal cleanliness and refusal to use anyone else's unwashed clothing,
towels, or toilet articles offer the best protection against ringworm ailments.
SKIN
GROWTHS A wart, produced by virus invasion, is a small growth of epidermal skin
cells. Don't attempt to treat a wart yourself. There are satisfactory methods
of getting rid of warts, including application of chemical sub- stances or
painless burning off of the growths with a special needle. These methods are
not safe unless employed by a skilled physician. Birthmarks include pigmented
moles and the vascular types such as "strawberry marks." Never
attempt to remove either kind yourself. Your physician can advise you about the
precise nature of the mark, whether it may be expected to disappear
spontaneously on its own (as some do), whether and when any special treatment
may be needed, and when it is simply most practical to conceal the mark with a
cosmetic preparation such as Covermark.
Your physician may feel that it is best to
remove moles located on the palms, soles, or genitals. Any mole that starts to
grow or bleed should be seen promptly by a physician. Keloids are tumors that
do not become malignant. They appear in scars, and should not be cut out, as
they usually will reappear in the new scar tissue forming after the cutting
out. A physician can remove them with dry ice or radium. Harmless yellow
tumors, called xanthomas, are caused by deposits of fat in the skin. If
unsightly, they can be removed by your physician. Keratoses are soft brown
spots that may appear in middle age. Later, they become hard, in which case it
is usually good practice to have them examined by your physician.
