Fungal infections can range from mildly annoying to all-encompassing, and while some are relatively easy to treat, others are likely to stay with you for years. Despite how cumbersome serious fungal infections can be, they’re surprisingly simple to prevent.

A little bit of effort on your part can go a long way towards keeping fungal infections at bay. Anyone looking to bid a long overdue farewell to the said infections can benefit from the following pointers. Followed wholeheartedly, each one of these is sure to work wonders and rid you of this nuisance.  

Avoid Sharing Clothing And Towels 

If you share towels, clothing or any other personal items with other people, it’s in your best interest to stop. No matter how close you are to someone, sharing such items – especially if they’re unwashed – is practically asking for trouble.

In addition to being unhygienic, the sharing of personal items can result in such fungal infections as ringworm, jock itch and athlete’s foot, to name a few. So, regardless of how confident you are in someone’s personal hygiene, you’d do well to avoid sharing personal items with them.   

Avoid Reusing Unwashed Clothing And Towels 

Many of us have a habit of re-wearing unwashed clothes and reusing unwashed towels. While this may strike you as an efficient way to get additional use out of these items, such behavior is extremely unhygienic and highly conducive to fungal infections.

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So, even if it means doing laundry more often than you’d like, avoid using unwashed towels or wearing unwashed clothing. Every towel and article of clothing you own should only be worn/used once between washings.   

Bathe On A Regular Basis 

While bathing on a regular basis may seem like a no-brainer, a fair number of us regularly skip baths and showers without a second thought. In some instances, this is done because we’re in a hurry. Other times, we simply don’t feel dirty enough to warrant bathing.

However, regardless of how dirty you feel, daily bathing is an important part of personal hygiene, particularly for people who do a fair amount of sweating. For good measure, make a point of bathing after every activity that facilitates excessive sweating.

For example, every visit to the gym or strenuous workout should be followed by a good shower. The sooner you wash away all the sweat, the less likely you are to experience certain fungal infections. Furthermore, once your bath or shower is complete, take care to dry yourself as thoroughly as possible, as residual moisture can set the stage for fungal infections.  

Be Mindful Of Tight-Fitting Clothing 

While tight-fitting clothes can help show off our figures and accentuate muscles, they’re not always the best choice for people who are looking to avoid fungal infections. Overly-tight clothing has a tendency to trap sweat – which, in turn, can result in fungal infections.

As such, make sure to look for clothes that provide at least a little bit of breathability, as well as clothing that incorporates antimicrobial technology

Promptly Treat Any Fungal Infections You Develop 

As is the case with other ailments, early treatment can make fungal infections considerably more manageable. The sooner you get on top of a fungal infection, the sooner you can be rid of it. Fortunately, many fungal infections are very easy to treat and don’t typically require professional medical attention.

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For example, athlete’s foot and jock itch can often be cured with over-the-counter creams that are affordable on virtually any budget. However, it’s important to understand that these infections will not simply go away on their own.

The longer you wait to treat fungal infections, the more severe they’re likely to become and the more likely you are to pass them on to others. So, rather than subjecting yourself to months – or years – of discomfort, start treating any fungal infections you develop at your earliest possible convenience.

By the same token, you should be mindful of any fungal infections the people with whom you cohabitate develop and encourage them to begin treatment immediately.

While not all fungal infections are considered serious, even minor ones are generally something to be avoided. In addition to being unsettling to look at, fungal infections stand to cause a considerable amount of discomfort, especially if they aren’t treated in a timely manner.

As such, it’s in everyone’s best interest to take preventative measures against fungal infections and stamp them out before they even occur. Fortunately, with the pointers outlined above, this shouldn’t prove difficult.