Advice for your customers
It's common for people with athlete's foot to suffer further bouts of infection. Partly, this can be due to customers not using treatments for long enough, but it can also be because they pick up a new infection. Educating customers of the importance of making simple changes to their usual routine can help prevent future infections:
- Keep feet and toes dry - fungi need a damp, moist environment to thrive
- After washing feet daily, dry thoroughly paying particular attention to the area between the toes
- Wear cotton socks and shoes from natural materials (e.g. leather) as these help the feet breathe and stop them getting sweaty and damp
- Change socks and tights daily
- Don't wear the same shoes every day
- Don't share bath towels
- Don't walk around barefoot in communal changing areas, wear shoes or flip-flops to protect feet
- Wash hands after applying treatment to prevent the spread of infection.
Help customers understand their antifungal treatment
If treated correctly, customers need only put up with athlete's foot for approximately four weeks. If left untreated however, the problem can continue for months and customers are more likely to experience complications such as fungal nail infections. So, it's important to emphasise to customers the need to use treatments correctly. To help you, we have created some simple questions customers may ask and the advice that you can offer them
- Advise customers to start treating symptoms as soon as they appear.
- The number of times they have to apply a treatment depends on the product and formulation, some will be two to three times a day while others can be just once a day. Sufferers with very itchy skin might prefer applying the cream several times a day as it will help to soothe the itching and irritation.
- The treatment should be applied directly to the affected area and also to the 4-6cm of healthy skin around the infected part of the foot or to the next unaffected toe web.
- The reason for this is that there may be fungi lurking in healthy skin, even if there is no sign of infection.
- In general, they should carry on using the treatment until the athlete's foot has cleared - and for another week or two to get rid of any lasting fungi. This can be anything between one to two or up to four weeks. Check individual packs for exact directions of use.
- Check if the consumer was satisfied with their treatment.
- If not, discuss the range of products and formats available and the benefits of the different formulations and how they will suit their needs.
- Make sure the customer is aware of how to apply the treatment, dosage instructions, length of the treatment and the need to continue treating even after symptoms have disappeared.
- Some customers may be more comfortable applying a single-dose product while others will be happier using a product two or three times a day. Applying the cream more frequently will help to cool and soothe symptoms, especially itching.
This type of information can be passed onto the customer by showing them the product packaging and patient information leaflet.
