by Dr. Ronald D. Worley, DPM

The Foot Doctor of La Jolla ©2011

Athlete's Foot, also known as Tinea Pedis, is a fungus infection of the skin's superficial layers. It is characterized by peeling between the toes, plantar (bottom) of the foot skin, and may have mild to intense itching and burning present.

The areas uncovered by the peeling may appear red and weepy or seem totally dry. A foul odor may be present from the decay of the infected skin (and/or toenails) killed by the fungus.

Fungus needs an environment of darkness, warmth, and moisture to begin infecting and area. The interior of shoes provides an almost perfect environment.

Most treatments for fungus infections of the feet and toenails fail to hold up. This is due to the parasitic nature of the infection whereby the organisms responsible are protected by the fact that the body has no blood supply into the infected skin and, later, toenails.

Advanced nail fungus

Fungus can live in shoes and carpets for years in spore form. Simply vacuuming or mopping the area periodically cannot adequately protect you from fungus tracked in from out of doors. Bathrooms, swimming pool areas, and gymnasiums are particularly guilty of spreading athlete's foot fungus as well as wart viruses. Fungus and wart viruses are contagious to all occupants of a household.

Toenail fungus usually coexists with athlete's foot after it has a chance to get beneath the toenails and begin digesting your nails causing thickening, turning the nails yellow, black, brown, or even green. Most advanced nail fungus is a
mixture of these colors with yellow being the predominate color.

Fungal toenails frequently have a foul odor due to the fungus rotting the nail. The appearance of fungal nails can be horrifying. One graphic image in this newsletter actually shows maggots hatching beneath an infected toenail! Uninfected people may think the victim has a hygiene problem. (Soap and water will not kill fungus.) The infection begins with the tip or corner of the nail turning white and detaching from the nail bed once the infection begins rotting the nail. This is the time to seek treatment to prevent further damage.

The suggested steps to follow are taken from our post-treatment instructions to prevent reinfection. Most failures of treating athlete's foot and fungus infected toenails come from getting reinfected after treatment.

1.  Purchase a spray container of "Lamisil (Terbinifine) spray" or "continuous spray".  In my opinion, based on over 35 years of treating these problems, this is the best fungicide to spray on your feet and nails. Spray on your feet and nails every day before putting on your socks/stockings. Be sure the container says Terbinifine 1%. Lamisil makes other anti-fungal products that have other less effective ingredients.

Lamisil spray is too wet to put in your shoes. Shoes should be allowed to dry for 48 hours or use Steri-shoes, ultraviolet shoe trees, available on our website, www.TheFootDoctor.info. With Steri-shoes, once placed in your shoes, a button is clicked and 45 minutes later your dry sterilized shoes are ready.  

2. Spray your shoes with an aerosol spray (Lotrimin or generic chlotrimazole) before putting on your shoes or immediately after taking them off. Be careful not to breathe the vapors.

3. If your feet are really sweaty, use Mexsana powder in your shoes or on your feet once the Lamisil spray is dry.

4. Don't go barefoot! Wear flip-flops if you don't want to wear shoes around your house. Don't wear those fuzzy-on-the-inside slippers.

5. These suggestions should help to keep you fungus-free if you are diligent.  If the extra chores to keep your feet healthy seem daunting,  consider that it will only take about an extra minute or two each day.

6. If you are already infected, you should see a podiatrist immediately or dermatologist if no podiatrist is available.

I will continue the series on "How to Prevent..." in the next newsletter.

For your foot health and comfort,

Dr. Ronald Worley