Athlete’s foot, also known as tinea pedis, is generally more common between the toes or on the sides of the feet, and is mainly manifested as papules or vesicular papules. Over time, it can cause thickening and keratinization of the skin, accompanied by itching, which is more pronounced when heated.

Athlete’s foot is caused by bacterial infection, so in treatment, it should maintain a certain degree of comfort and breathability to prevent the growth of bacteria.

External antifungal Chinese medicine preparations can be used, such as the commonly available Gentian Violet and Terbinafine Cream on the market today. If the treatment improves, it is necessary to continue external application for more than two weeks to prevent recurrence.

If the external medication is not very effective, it may be necessary to take antifungal drugs internally, but antifungal drugs have certain side effects and should be used under the specific guidance of a physician.

Spray

The spray is a product with high sales volume in the current market, mainly due to its quick effect, ease of use, and rapid itching relief. The disadvantages include its limited applicability to mild to moderate patients, incomplete bacterial elimination, and a short recurrence cycle (usually 3-5 months) affected by cleanliness and hygiene.

Ointment/Cream

Cream/Cream, similar to sprays in terms of advantages and disadvantages, but the cream is more uniform and more complete than the spray, but it has less effect on hidden bacteria, and the duration of action is longer (4-6 months), affected by hygiene. Examples: Gentakning, Weidaning

Granules

Granules are the most complete way to remove athlete’s foot, using warm water to wash the feet, with more comprehensive antibacterial effects, a long duration of action (6-12 months), affected by hygiene, but there are many taboos. Examples: Red Box Zujunqing, Zuguang Fen

Effective ways to treat athlete’s foot are commonly used in combination, granules with multiple effects on antibacterial, sprays and creams as auxiliary. Using a spray to disinfect the socks is the most suitable. For mild athlete’s foot, soaking the feet in vinegar can also be very effective!

Generally speaking, athlete’s foot is a bacterial infection of the feet. If it is not controlled immediately, it will spread to other parts. The treatment mainly uses antifungal drugs, and athlete’s foot can be divided into three types: ulcerative, blistery, and keratotic athlete’s foot.

1. Ulcerative type:

Commonly found between the third and fourth, and the fourth and fifth toes. Initially, the interdigital area is wet and cold, with white spots or small blisters, which dry up and scale off, leaving a moist, red erosive surface after peeling off the white scales. It is itchy and prone to secondary infection.

2. Blistery type:

Commonly found on the edges of the feet. Initially, it is a thick, round small blister, which can combine into a solid blister. The blister fluid is completely transparent, with no erythema around. It is itchy and scratching often leads to secondary infection such as erysipelas and lymphangitis.

3. Keratotic type:

Commonly found on the heels. The skin is hard and dry, with scaling, itching, and prone to cracking. This type has no blisters or suppuration, and the history of illness is slow, difficult to heal for many years.

Treatment methods for athlete’s foot:

1, Ulcerative type:

First soak in a solution of potassium permanganate or 0.1% Lysol solution at a concentration of 1:5000, then apply gentian violet or athlete’s foot powder, twice a day.

After the moisture is absorbed, apply Athlete’s Foot Relief or Fungus Enemy Cream externally, twice a day.

2, Blistery type:

Apply miconazole antifungal solution or sodium salicylate tincture once a day after washing the feet with warm water. After the skin is dry, apply Athlete’s Foot Relief or Fungus Enemy Cream.

3, Keratotic type:

It can be externally applied with benzoic acid ointment of prickly ash or replaced with sodium salicylate ethanolic solution of prickly ash, applied three times a day. It is best to wrap the medicine with a plastic film after applying it, so that the medicine can penetrate the thin skin, which is beneficial for the peeling of the thin skin.

Three, Misconceptions about Athlete’s Foot Treatment:

1, Refusing medication treatment:After the skin is stimulated, the itching becomes more severe, leading to a polarization of scratching more to relieve itching, and itching more to scratch, until the skin is scratched to relieve the itching. This allows bacteria and dirt in the hands and under the fingernails to fall into the affected area naturally, which is very likely to cause secondary bacterial infection. Therefore, once athlete’s foot is detected, it is necessary to treat it as soon as possible.

2, Random medication and application:Many people feel that just by looking at advertising promotions and buying some medicine at a pharmacy, they can be treated. In fact, this is highly likely to lead to misdiagnosis and delay in treatment. Patients should first be diagnosed by a dermatologist in a regular hospital and then treated scientifically according to the doctor’s strong recommendations.