# I pit athlete's foot **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 27, 2006, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-athletes-foot/374408 "2006-09-27T20:01:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DaddyTimesTwo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@DaddyTimesTwo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaddyTimesTwo)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2006, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-athletes-foot/374408/1 "2006-09-27T20:01:55Z")
and foot fungus in general. I’m on the second month of the battle (maybe even into the third. I don’t rememer not itching my toes!). The problem, see, is that even though I finally have some good medicine (ertaczo), if I skip an application of said cream, I wake up at 4AM scratching the several layes of skin off my toes. I mean, I was asleep! I wasn’t conscious! But oh man does it itch! I have eczema, too, and it’s nothing compared to this. There was a day when I wanted one of this big hairy rasps to just scrape all the skin off my toes. If it was just bones then it wouldn’t itch, right? Oh man. And it fakes me out! It dries up, starts to fade, and then **itches even more!!!** It was almost gone a week ago, I fell asleep before I put some medicine on it and scratched myself so much it spread to a couple new toes. Stoopid fungus. ---
**Author:** ![Beefalo\_Bill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Beefalo\_Bill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beefalo_Bill)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2006, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-athletes-foot/374408/2 "2006-09-27T20:16:10Z")
[QUOTE=DaddyTimesTwo] and foot fungus in general. I’m on the second month of the battle (maybe even into the third. I don’t rememer not itching my toes!). The problem, see, is that even though I finally have some good medicine (ertaczo), if I skip an application of said cream, I wake up at 4AM scratching the several layes of skin off my toes. I mean, I was asleep! I wasn’t conscious! But oh man does it itch! I have eczema, too, and it’s nothing compared to this. There was a day when I wanted one of this big hairy rasps to just scrape all the skin off my toes. If it was just bones then it wouldn’t itch, right? Oh man. And it fakes me out! It dries up, starts to fade, and then **itches even more!!!** It was almost gone a week ago, I fell asleep before I put some medicine on it and scratched myself so much it spread to a couple new toes. Stoopid fungus. [/QUOTE] I’ve had the stuff at the top of my butt crack for almost a year now. STOP CRYING! ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2006, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-athletes-foot/374408/3 "2006-09-27T20:17:00Z")
Is that “atheletes ass”? ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2006, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-athletes-foot/374408/4 "2006-09-27T20:19:16Z")
Pe in the shower. It’s free. And it works. ---
**Author:** ![Beefalo\_Bill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Beefalo\_Bill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beefalo_Bill)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2006, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-athletes-foot/374408/5 "2006-09-27T20:25:43Z")
[QUOTE=JohnT] Is that “atheletes ass”? [/QUOTE] I don’t think there’s a name for it … but it does itch like hell. If you see me leaning against a pole, I ain’t resting. ---
**Author:** ![DaddyTimesTwo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@DaddyTimesTwo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaddyTimesTwo)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2006, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-athletes-foot/374408/6 "2006-09-27T20:35:19Z")
**Beefalo Bill** , I have no response for this. Sounds uncomfortable. And icky. ---
**Author:** ![Marienee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@Marienee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marienee)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2006, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-athletes-foot/374408/7 "2006-09-27T21:09:17Z")
My eldest child picked up some kind of horrible fungal foot crud on vacation. It got so bad he missed a week of school because he could not walk. He reports that brining the foot before you put the medicine on it works – that is, soak your foot in very strong, hot salt water in a bucket for about ten minues, then dry it very thoroughly and then put the medicine on. He was far more likely to sleep through the night during that time with the salt. My father is also given to foot crud; he swears by a solution of chlorine bleach. Eldest says it doesn’t help with itching. YMMV, but salt is cheap; it’s worth a shot. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2006, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-athletes-foot/374408/8 "2006-09-27T22:32:36Z")
I’ve suffered from it most of my life. It seems to “bloom” for me in the spring and fall. Most of the time OTC stuff works if I am diligent. ---
**Author:** ![indecisive1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/41988e/32.png) [@indecisive1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/indecisive1)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2006, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-athletes-foot/374408/9 "2006-09-27T23:58:12Z")
[QUOTE=Beefalo Bill] I’ve had the stuff at the top of my butt crack for almost a year now. STOP CRYING! [/QUOTE] Arrrrrgggggg! Could that be my problem? ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2006, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-athletes-foot/374408/10 "2006-09-28T03:08:14Z")
I caught a nasty case of it when I was eleven at the local pool. I remember we had a throw rug in our living room and I used to flip over the corner and rub my foot against the netting on the bottom, because that was the ONLY thing that stopped the horrible itch. I also had nasty cuts and gashes from doing so, but dammit, that itched so fucking BAD. I don’t know what was worse-athlete’s foot or plantar warts. ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2006, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-athletes-foot/374408/11 "2006-09-28T12:23:22Z")
Do your feet sweat a lot? Mine do, and no matter what type of shoes I buy they sweat, I even have a pair that is made of mesh and I still sweat. I’ve been taking off my shoes whenever I can, even at work, and my atheletes foot seems to have really gone away. ---
**Author:** ![DaddyTimesTwo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@DaddyTimesTwo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaddyTimesTwo)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2006, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-athletes-foot/374408/12 "2006-09-28T13:39:31Z")
[QUOTE=Edward The Head] Do your feet sweat a lot? Mine do, and no matter what type of shoes I buy they sweat, I even have a pair that is made of mesh and I still sweat. I’ve been taking off my shoes whenever I can, even at work, and my atheletes foot seems to have really gone away. [/QUOTE] It’s fading, finally. And, yes, my feet sweat a lot, which has made it all more difficult. They key has been using a anti-fungal foot powder in my socks every morning. I was really inconsistent earlier so it didn’t work. I’ve used it every day for almost a week and it’s almost gone and not that itchy in the afternoons. And, **Guinastasia** , I understand completely about the rug. I’ve spent too much time the last few weeks talking myself out of scraping my toes along the carpet, or pretending I’m not really scratching. Nothing like immediate, gratifying itching relief followed be a week of weeping red sores. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![slortar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@slortar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slortar)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2006, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-athletes-foot/374408/13 "2006-09-28T14:02:11Z")
[QUOTE=Beefalo Bill] I’ve had the stuff at the top of my butt crack for almost a year now. STOP CRYING! [/QUOTE] Pee in the shower. It’s free. And it works. Of course, you’ll need to either have extremely long junk or pee straight up, very hard. Or find someone to pee on you in the shower. 😃 Seriously, ever since I’ve started taking swim lessons, I’ve been fighting athlete’s foot. I don’t even really itch any more, but it’s always there. F’ing annoying. ---
**Author:** ![Ceejaytee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ceejaytee/32/2956_2.png) [@Ceejaytee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ceejaytee)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2006, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-athletes-foot/374408/14 "2006-09-28T18:28:14Z")
My 4-year-old, when he was about 2, had athlete’s foot. The culprit: pajamas with feet. These are now banned from our house. Can you have athlete’s foot without visible crud? He’s complaining about the bottom of his foot itching, but I can’t see anything. He does have sweaty feet; maybe I should have him go barefoot in the house. ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2006, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-athletes-foot/374408/15 "2006-09-28T18:57:21Z")
Try adding [toe socks](http://www.footsmart.com/Product.aspx?ProductId=2332) to the solution. They help keep the spots between dry and they keep the little piggies from playing with each other while they’re sick. I would not recommend bleach. It just burns off the top layer of skin. Use a [footie brush with special soap](http://www.codymercantile.com/images/6940p.jpg) in the shower. Can’t remember what kind of soap that is, I think it has tea tree oil in it. Dry well afterwards then apply your meds. ---
**Author:** ![Marienee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@Marienee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marienee)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2006, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-athletes-foot/374408/16 "2006-09-28T19:22:47Z")
[QUOTE=Patty O’Furniture] Try adding [toe socks](http://www.footsmart.com/Product.aspx?ProductId=2332) to the solution. They help keep the spots between dry and they keep the little piggies from playing with each other while they’re sick. I would not recommend bleach. It just burns off the top layer of skin. Use a [footie brush with special soap](http://www.codymercantile.com/images/6940p.jpg) in the shower. Can’t remember what kind of soap that is, I think it has tea tree oil in it. Dry well afterwards then apply your meds. [/QUOTE] But if I put toe socks in a salt solution, they’ll be wet. 🙂 I hasten to add, my father uses a solution of bleach, that is, a splash of clorox in a bucket of water. I wouldn’t suggest painting your feet with bleach wither. Thoughit does do an admirable job on bathtub mildew I don’t think irritated skin is exactly the place for it. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2006, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-athletes-foot/374408/17 "2006-09-28T21:59:07Z")
Last couple of times I got athlete’s foot, Lotrimin Ultra(butenafine) and Lamisil(terbinafine) worked wonders. Twice a day for a week, and it was gone. Lotrimin Ultra is the same thing, both active ingredient-wise and concentration(1%) as the prescription cream Mentax. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2006, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-athletes-foot/374408/18 "2006-09-29T00:10:44Z")
Pee on your feet in the shower. It works. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2006, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-athletes-foot/374408/19 "2006-09-29T01:57:24Z")
If it makes you feel any better, I have _ringworm_. I’m a public librarian and I caught it from my patrons, I’m sure. (A few months ago it was pinkeye.) It’s like the grossest case of wandering spots or something. I’ll think it’s all over and then another little one will appear. In fact, I found one on the back of my shoulder that had obviously run its course and died all without me ever noticing because I couldn’t see it! The worst or possibly best part is that I also gave it to my boyfriend, who may never forgive me. ---
**Author:** ![Sierra\_Indigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Sierra\_Indigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sierra_Indigo)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2006, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-athletes-foot/374408/20 "2006-09-29T02:57:32Z")
This whole thread makes me itchy… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-athletes-foot/374408.md?page=2)