Gym Cooties

Got cooties? Healh clubs house plenty of them, even in the most pristine facilities. How ironic is that? Fungi and bacteria love to hang-out in moist warm places: locker room floors, shower stalls, on workout equipment, areas surrounding swimming pools and hot tubs, in steam rooms, and snuggled up in sweaty clothing and towels. Just about any warm damp area in the gym is a perfect breeding ground for cooties.

Two of the most common cooties that like to camp-out in the locker room area are tinea pedis and onychomycosis. Tinea pedis is better known as athlete's foot, which is a fungal skin infection marked by cracked or blistering skin that often includes burning and itching sensations. Onychomycosis is a fungi that causes yellow brittle nails of the hands and feet. Fortunately, both of these diseases are easily treatable with over-the-counter medications. But stubborn cases may require the attention of a doctor.







But even if you manage to stay clear of the above mentioned diseases, you still might have an unlucky encounter with the human papillomavirus which causes plantar warts. These unsightly warts can appear alone or in clusters on the bottom of the feet. Cooties just love the floors of gym locker rooms and shower stalls. They also thrive equally well on both carpeted and tiled surfaces.



Don't be scared, here are a few tips on how to avoid gym cooties:


Don't dare stand or walk barefooted on any gym floor surface including the floor of the shower stall. When the sneakers come off the shower shoes should go on.

Don't sit barebutt on the benches in the locker room. Place a towel underneath of your bum.

Don't dry off sensative areas of your body with the same towel that you dry your feet off with.

When using gym equipment create a protective barrier between you and the areas of contact with a towel.

If your towel hits the floor, ditch it and get another towel.

Clean and cover any cuts immediately after you notice them. Even the tiniest break in the skin can provide a pathway for gym cooties.

Many clubs provide antiseptic spray bottles and paper towels to wipe equipment down; use it to clean behind yourself as well as others.

If you're sick, stay home so that you don't spread the infection to your gym mates.

If possible, avoid showering at the gym all together, and make a B-Line straight for your own shower at home.

Avoid touching your face after handling weights and other items around the gym that could be laden with germs and bacteria from people with colds. So wash your hands thoroughly.

Use antifungal powder on your feet and inside your shoes.

Change or wash the inserts of your shoes occasionally.

Wear synthetic socks.

Keep these tips in mind, and you can leave the gym in good health without the company of a gym cootie.