Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California.

There is a certain amount of misinformation and myths reported in the media and widely believed by parents, coaches and athletes in the open water swimming world.

Occasionally, it is difficult for the newcomer to distill fact from fiction, reality from rumor, especially if they do not ask the reasons why. Some of the previously held sacrosanct beliefs among swimmers included the following:

1. When there are dolphins in the oceans, the swimmers is safe from sharks (read here).
2. Most body heat escapes through your head in the water (read here).
3. Commercial jellyfish ointments will prevent jellyfish barbs from firing into the skin of open water swimmers.
4. Black wetsuits lead to shark attacks (read here).
5. Shark risks increase at dawn and dusk (read here).
6. More people have been in space than have swum across the English Channel (read here).
7. Flip-flops should be worn in showers and around pool decks to prevent

But according to Dr. Lyle Nalli, a lifelong swimming podiatrist from Huntington Beach, California, it is best to walk around pools and gyms without flip flops.

“Lots of people think that you can pick up diseases from walking barefoot around pools and gyms and locker rooms,” explains Dr. Nalli.

“But walking on rubber flip flops is like wrapping your feet in cellophane. But the skin on the bottom of the foot has ridges and those are pressed firmly against the flip flops. Your skin does not breath.

Yes, the pool decks, shower floors and locker room floors have bacteria, algae, mold, fungi and various other contaminants that are brought in by various means and then flourishes in the wet or moist environment.

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Also, when you consider that people coming in from the outdoors wear their street shoes right into the locker room, and the locker room leads to the shower…well, you can assume that outdoor contaminants are making their way onto the public shower floor, too. Those contaminants might include dog feces…human sputum…pesticides…E. coli bacteria…coliform bacteria…ringworm…we could go on.

True, the floors in public showers and locker rooms usually are cleaned with strong detergents that eliminate most germs—but how frequently and thoroughly they are cleaned can vary greatly from establishment to establishment.

CAN FLOOR GERMS INFECT YOU?

If you have an open sore on your foot and you step on a germy floor, pathogens may indeed enter your body and cause infection. You’re also at increased risk if you’re allergic to molds, since those thrive in damp environments. Otherwise, Dr. Gerba said, the chances are pretty slim that you’d get an infection from walking barefoot on surfaces that harbor pathogens such as those listed above—so that’s good news.

However, one germ that can exist in public showers truly is worth worrying about—the fungus that causes tinea pedis, better known as athlete’s foot. This infection can be transferred very easily from one person’s feet to a shower floor and then from the floor to someone else’s feet—even if that second person has no open sores on his or her feet. Though athlete’s foot is not life-threatening, the cracked, itchy skin that it causes between toes can make you miserable—so it’s an infection you definitely want to avoid.

For that reason, Dr. Gerba agreed that the old warning about public showers is true—it is a good idea to wear flip-flops or other waterproof sandals in a public shower or locker room. So the next time you’re tempted to bare it all at the gym, look down—and make sure that at least your feet are covered. Also follow these tips to keep your feet germ-free…

After showering, dry your feet thoroughly—including between your toes—with a clean towel to help prevent athlete’s foot.
If you have had athlete’s foot in the past, you clearly are susceptible to it—so consider applying an antifungal foot powder before you put your shoes back on.
Even when you’re not showering at the gym but are just getting in and out of your sneakers, sit on a bench and keep your bare feet in the air so they don’t touch the floor. Better safe than sorry!

Locker rooms, saunas, indoor and outdoor pools and any other damp, warm public places are breeding grounds for the fungus that causes Athlete’s Foot. This foot infection is not only painful, but it is also highly contagious.

So if you want to avoid contracting an Athlete’s Foot infection that causes burning and itching, along with dry, cracked feet, you might want to think twice about walking around barefoot at the local gym. Make sure to bring flip-flops with you, and wear them the moment you pull off your gym socks. They should be worn when walking to and from the pool and even in the sauna and shower.

Carpeted areas in a locker room are also never completely free from the risks of Athlete’s Foot. The fungus can breed deep in the fibers of carpet and other fabric mats, as well as on rubber surfaces.

It is also important not to let anyone else use your flip-flops or other sandals, even if they are family members living in the same household. Athlete’s Foot does not care if you are married or have children. The infection can spread quickly among those living in the same household using the same swimming pool, shower, or floors, so if one person is fighting the fungus, the other members of the household should take heed and steer clear of sharing.

Need more tips on how to avoid contracting Athlete’s Foot? Look no further than the Philadelphia podiatrists at Healthmark Foot and Ankle Associates. Simply call them today at 610-565-3668 to schedule an appointment or to order your free copy of their book, The Foot is Not An Island.

Copyright © 2016 by World Open Water Swimming Association