If you ever pulled off your socks and notice the cracking skin of your feet and dismissed it as athlete’s foot, think again. Some of the same
warning signs:
- Instead of a rash that builds up skin, boot rot tears down the skin
- It is caused by a fungus in the same category as botulism, tetanus and gas gangrene and it loves moist feet
- Middle stage: small bumps appear, they are dark in color, and are accompanied by red skin
- Might notice a rotting smell due to the fact that your feet are rotting
- Late stages looks like gas gangrene and may spread to other parts of the body if not treated
Prevention:
- Most important part if you pulled your socks off your feet and they crack, you are at risk.
- First rule is to change your socks regularly. Wear white cotton socks, cotton socks soak up the sweat and breathe much better than man-made fibers, socks with reinforced toes and heels are a plus.
- Make sure your feet get an hour a day bare
- Every traveler should get some hand sanitizer once a day, more for hot climates, and slab a generous amount in between toes. It is a simple antibacterial product that also dries out your feet
- Bonus: hand sanitizer can prevent athlete’s foot, boot rot, staph, and a host of other fungus and bacteria that loves feet
- Jungle boots are a light weight breathable boot sold in most surplus stores and range from $40-200, they are created specifically to keep jungle rot from infecting soldiers
- Boot rot is highly infectious
Treatment:
If your skin on your feet is cracking, you may be able to cure it yourself (suggest seeing a doctor though if you are at middle or late stages)
If you go to a doctor, a topical antibiotic anti-fungal cream will mostly be prescribed.
Home remedies:
30 minutes of water than 30 minutes of sun back and forth (it will take a few days to notice improvements)
