How can severe athlete's foot be treated to eliminate it completely?

Written by Liu Gang
Dermatology
Updated on January 13, 2025
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Athlete's foot is a disease caused by fungal infection, where most patients can be completely cured with routine treatment. However, some patients do not treat it normally or use non-standard medications, which can exacerbate the condition and may even lead to symptoms such as erosion and exudation. When experiencing severe athlete's foot, topical medications are still necessary, such as Naftifine Ketoconazole Cream, which needs to be applied to the entire sole or between the toes. In addition, it is appropriate to combine some oral antifungal medications, such as Itraconazole capsules. The combined treatment of oral medication and topical drugs tends to be more effective. When treating this disease with oral medication, liver function must be normal. If transaminases are elevated, oral medications should not be taken. If oral medications cannot be taken, some traditional Chinese medicines can be used for foot soaks, such as decoctions of Sophora flavescens and Phellodendron amurense, which have a supportive therapeutic effect.

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Written by Qu Jing
Dermatology
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Is peeling skin on the feet without itching athlete's foot?

Peeling of the skin on the feet without itching is considered to be a type of athlete's foot characterized by excessive keratinization, commonly occurring on the soles, toes, and heels. The affected skin appears dry, with clear hyperkeratosis, thickening, rough surface, scaling, and deepened skin lines. In winter, cracks can occur, possibly leading to bleeding and pain. This type of athlete's foot generally does not exhibit marked itching symptoms. Besides the hyperkeratinotic type, common forms of athlete's foot include the blistering scaly type and the macerated erosive type, both of which typically have more pronounced itching symptoms. The blistering scaly type often appears on the fingertips, sides of the feet, and toes. Initially, this condition presents as pinhead-sized blisters deep in the skin, with clear fluid and a thick, shiny wall, which are not easily ruptured. These blisters may be scattered or cluster and can merge into larger blisters. Tearing off the blister wall reveals a honeycomb base and a fresh red erosive surface. After several days, the blisters dry up, leading to a ring-like scaling, with lesions continuously spreading outwards. During stable phases of this condition, scaling predominates, and itching becomes more apparent. The macerated erosive type, also known as the interdigital type, is frequently observed between the toes, especially between the third and fourth or fourth and fifth toes, and is commonly associated with hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating) and prolonged wearing of rubber footwear. It is more prevalent in the summer and significantly itchy. If a secondary bacterial infection occurs, there may also be an unpleasant odor.

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Written by Liu Gang
Dermatology
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What vitamin is lacking in athlete's foot?

Athlete's foot is a disease caused by fungal infections, and it is not related to a lack of vitamins or trace elements. Once it occurs, it is highly contagious and recurrent. Contact with others or wearing each other's slippers can lead to cross-infection. Once it appears, it is advisable to apply antifungal cream as early as possible. The treatment should be prolonged, lasting at least one month, or even more than two months, to potentially kill the deep-rooted fungus completely and prevent recurrence. During the treatment of athlete's foot, it is also important to regulate one's diet and lifestyle habits. Avoid public baths and swimming, try not to keep small animals at home, do not wear others' slippers, avoid spicy and stimulating foods, and do not stay up late.

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Written by Liu Jing
Dermatology
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What should I do if I have severe athlete's foot?

The so-called athlete's foot, also known as tinea pedis, is an infection caused by dermatophyte fungi. It requires symptomatic antifungal treatment, enhanced cleaning of the foot skin, frequent changing of shoes and socks, keeping the feet dry, and oral antifungal medication. Before taking the medication, it is necessary to test liver and kidney function and peripheral blood count. If there are no contraindications to medication, drugs such as oral terbinafine hydrochloride tablets and itraconazole dispersible tablets may be prescribed, along with topical antifungal medications like naftifine ketoconazole cream, luliconazole cream, or miconazole cream applied to the affected area. The treatment should follow the principle of adequate dosage and duration. Typically, the course of treatment needs to last three weeks or more to achieve a complete cure. (Please follow the doctor's orders when using medication.)

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Written by Qu Jing
Dermatology
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What does it mean if there is fluid in athlete's foot?

Athlete's foot, also known as tinea pedis, commonly manifests in three types: vesicular, hyperkeratotic, and intertriginous. The vesicular type is characterized by blistering and scaling, typically occurring on the tips of the fingers, the palms, and the sides of the feet. Initially, the skin lesions appear as small, scattered blisters the size of a pinhead. The blister fluid is clear, and the blister walls are relatively thick. These blisters can cluster and merge to form larger blisters, eventually losing their walls to expose a honeycomb-like base and a raw, eroded surface. After several days, the blisters can dry out and flake off. As the condition progresses and exudation increases, it can develop into the intertriginous type, which primarily affects the web spaces between the fingers or toes. It is more common in people who sweat excessively, soak their feet in water, or wear rubber shoes for extended periods, particularly during the summer. The skin becomes soaked and appears whitish, with a soft surface that peels off easily, revealing a moist red eroded area with exudate, often accompanied by cracking and significant itching. When secondary bacterial infection occurs, there is typically an odor. If not promptly controlled, it can lead to secondary infections, producing pustules and ulcers, and may also lead to acute lymphangitis, lymphadenitis, cellulitis, or erysipelas. In severe or recurrent cases, it can also induce local eczematous changes and disseminated dermatophytosis.

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Written by Zhu Zhu
Dermatology
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Can water blister type athlete's foot be punctured?

For vesicular athlete's foot, if blisters appear, it is advised not to puncture them because the blisters contain fungi. Puncturing them can cause the infection to spread to others. Additionally, once the blisters are broken, it is more susceptible to secondary bacterial infections, resulting in a combined fungal and bacterial infection. If vesicular athlete's foot occurs, it is crucial to promptly treat it with antifungal cream.