Keeping Fungi Away Whether at Work or Play

You may not be aware of it, but fungi is everywhere. In fact, many of them live naturally in our body, mainly in the mouth, GI tract, and skin. Thankfully, most of them are harmless, so we never even know they’re there. ¹

However, the few of them that can cause disease spread quickly through the air via spores. That’s why it’s fairly easy to be exposed to fungi at work and play, where people tend to be in close contact for long periods of time. ²

Common Symptoms of Fungi Infection

The key symptoms of a fungal infection include skin that looks red, swollen or bumpy. They can also look like a rash, and feel itchy and uncomfortable.

In your nails, fungi can cause discoloration, making them appear yellow, brown, or white. Alternatively, they can also make the nails appear thick or cracked.

How to Keep Fungi Away, Whether at Work or Play

Since fungi is everywhere, it is impossible to avoid them–especially if you are physically active.² However, there are some things you can do to reduce your risk of developing a fungal infection. These include:

Maintaining Good Personal Hygiene

Maintaining good personal hygiene at work can be challenging if your job includes constant field work. If this is the case, always bring a toiletries kit with you to help keep yourself clean. You should also bring a fresh change of clothes with you, in case you get doused by unexpected rain or you get sweaty from the sun.

As for playtime, make sure not to reuse your dirty clothes and towels. Also, try to shower immediately after physical activity, as fungi love moist, sweaty skin. Additionally, you should never borrow someone else's towels or clothes–especially if you have some cuts on your skin.

And if you do have open wounds, wash them and dry them thoroughly, as fungi love moist skin areas.

Don’t Wear Clothes You’ve Sweated in For a Long Time

Sweat buildup in your clothes keeps them damp for a long time. And fungi thrive in such conditions. If your work or play involves being out in the field for hours at a time, it’s advisable to bring a towel to help keep you dry. Or better yet, always bring clean clothes with you so you can easily change into them when you become drenched in sweat.

This same tip also applies when you’re traveling, especially in hot, humid countries.³ Make it a point to change clothes as needed. While it may be a bit inconvenient, remember that getting a fungi infection while stuck in a remote area is an even bigger inconvenience.

Treat Fungal Infections Early

Fungal infections don’t go away on their own. So once you develop one, address it immediately, before your symptoms worsen and it spreads to other parts of your body.

If your work or hobbies involve getting moist or sweaty for extended periods of time, make sure to always have an antifungal medication on hand. Many of them come in an easy to apply cream format, like Clotrimazole (Canesten®). Clotrimazole (Canesten®) eliminates itch, stops fungi growth, and kills it (when used as indicated).

Just apply Clotrimazole (Canesten®) to the affected area 2-3x a day to get relief from fungi symptoms. And make sure to keep applying for 2-4 weeks to ensure the fungi is completely gone.

With regular use, you too can say “Bye, Fungi, Bye Kati-tiis!”, whether at work or play.

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