Athletes Foot

[sunnysue]

How can I get rid of Athletes Foot. It is all over the sole of both feet and now beginning to creep up the sides and top of my feet. I've had for about 15 years, seen doctors and chiropidists, tried Daktarin, Boots Athlets Foot cream, Scholl spray, moisturisers, Dead Sea Salts, Permanganate of Pot Ash, Cydal Soap and a cream the doctor gave me, but nothing seems to work. Any ideas?

[andy hughes]

I assume you bathe your feet every day and change your cotton socks daily, and in view of everything you've tried, it looks like you have an allegy, possibly dietary. Try removing various ingredients in your diet - sugar, salt, dairy produce (swop to soya milk) and give each one a couple of weeks, and see if that works. If all of that fails, ask your GP to refer you to a dermatoligist at the hospital - this is obviously something deeper than basic Athletes Foot, and needs proper assessment.

[ravenhair]

You need a course of anti-fungal tablets from your GP. If nothing contact-based (creams, sprays etc) works, you have to start to treat it from within. I got some anti-fungal tablets and it cleared it up within two weeks and I've never had athlete's foot since.

[Hamish]

Athletes Foot is a fungal grown which occours due to moisture and warmth trapped on the feet, esp between toes. Keeping you feet dry is a preventative but as ravenhair says an antifungal will be needed to remove the problem properly. All the best,

[Stewart]

sunnysue I hate to be pessimistic, but I should alert you to the possibility. I had a similar problem, maybe not so severe, which lasted for many years. Last year I found out I was diabetic and I altered my sugar intake accordingly. Since then my athlete's foot disappeared almost overnight. Other symptoms were other occasional mild fungal skin infections and thirst. Worth checking I reckon.