# athletes foot **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 27, 2007, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athletes-foot/397657 "2007-03-27T07:00:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![uglyduckling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e99b99/32.png) [@uglyduckling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/uglyduckling)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2007, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athletes-foot/397657/1 "2007-03-27T07:00:32Z")
Is there any real doctors out there, I have been to the doctor for athletes foot, nothing has been cured I tried the spray and antibiotics, nothing helps. I was told by a various number of people to pee on your feet. TRUE OR FALSE ---
**Author:** ![Madd\_Maxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Madd\_Maxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Madd_Maxx)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2007, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athletes-foot/397657/2 "2007-03-27T11:36:45Z")
I regularly pee on my feet in the shower. I also haven’t had athlete’s foot since high school. It maybe just a coincidence, but I think it helps. ---
**Author:** ![MLS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MLS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MLS)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2007, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athletes-foot/397657/3 "2007-03-28T00:09:07Z")
IANAD, but if it’s genuinely athlete’s foot fungus, antibiotics will not help. If there’s a secondary bacterial infection, yes, they’ll help that, but not the AF fungus itself. I was told (by a doctor) that the sticky opaque creams are better for AF than the sprays. If what your doctor’s prescribing isn’t helping, and he/she can’t think of anything else to try, maybe it’s time to ask another doctor. AF is very persistent – I was told by my doctor that it takes a long time to completely go away, and if you don’t keep up the treatment religiously it can come back worse than ever, since you’ve killed off the weaker fungi and left the really strong and resistant ones. But of course, to answer your question, peeing on your feet might help – it also might give you stinky feet. But it’s free. ---
**Author:** ![Carnacki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b5e925/32.png) [@Carnacki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carnacki)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2007, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athletes-foot/397657/4 "2007-03-28T00:26:48Z")
[QUOTE=MLS] IANAD, but if it’s genuinely athlete’s foot fungus, antibiotics will not help. If there’s a secondary bacterial infection, yes, they’ll help that, but not the AF fungus itself. I was told (by a doctor) that the sticky opaque creams are better for AF than the sprays. If what your doctor’s prescribing isn’t helping, and he/she can’t think of anything else to try, maybe it’s time to ask another doctor. AF is very persistent – I was told by my doctor that it takes a long time to completely go away, and if you don’t keep up the treatment religiously it can come back worse than ever, since you’ve killed off the weaker fungi and left the really strong and resistant ones. But of course, to answer your question, peeing on your feet might help – it also might give you stinky feet. But it’s free. [/QUOTE] The last time I tried to pee on somebody’s feet, it was definitely not free. ---
**Author:** ![pinkfreud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pinkfreud/32/17603_2.png) [@pinkfreud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkfreud)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2007, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athletes-foot/397657/5 "2007-03-28T00:36:13Z")
[QUOTE=uglyduckling] I was told by a various number of people to pee on your feet. TRUE OR FALSE [/QUOTE] False, according to [this](http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/Mar2003/1048960363.Me.r.html). ---
**Author:** ![Dragwyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dragwyr/32/2855_2.png) [@Dragwyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragwyr)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2007, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athletes-foot/397657/6 "2007-03-28T00:51:42Z")
I’ve had athlete’s foot off and on for the past 10 years. I’ve found that the sprays work just as well as the creams, but you have to include them as part of a total anti-fungal regiment on your part. This includes the following: - Wash your feet. Whether you shower or bathe, get some soap, lather it up and wash your feet and between your toes. - After your bathe, dry your feet and between your toes. - Put the anti-fungal spray or cream on the affected areas. - Keep your feet dry during the day. I use Gold Bond Medicated foot powder to help with that. - Once you have gotten rid of the foot rot and your skin has healed, keep up with washing and drying of the feet. Doing all that I’ve been able to keep the fungus from coming back. Good luck. ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2007, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athletes-foot/397657/7 "2007-03-28T07:44:13Z")
**Dragwyr** ’s advice is spot on. The key is DRY DRY DRY. The foot must be dry when applying the medication. Then keep the foot as dry as possible during the day. Gold Bond is an excellent powder but Dr. Scholls has worked for me too. CHANGE YOUR SOCKS. I am one of the worlds worst to go to bed in one pair and wear them… um… longer than I should. 😛 I myself have a terrible time _not_ scratching, especially when I’m asleep. Following a regimen such as **Dragwyr** points out helps. Good luck ! ---
**Author:** ![if6was9](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e47c2d/32.png) [@if6was9](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/if6was9)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2007, 8:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athletes-foot/397657/8 "2007-03-28T08:01:01Z")
Like has been said, keep 'em clean and dry dry dry. The stuff that really worked on mine (30 years ago…) was Absorbine Jr. The green liquid stuff. Is that still around? ---
**Author:** ![if6was9](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e47c2d/32.png) [@if6was9](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/if6was9)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2007, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athletes-foot/397657/9 "2007-03-28T08:06:05Z")
[http://www.epinions.com/well-Medicine-OTC-All-Absorbine\_Jr\_Antifungal\_Liquid](http://www.epinions.com/well-Medicine-OTC-All-Absorbine_Jr_Antifungal_Liquid)