Athlete's Foot & Maceration Treatment Process

TREATMENT PROCESS

This is my current treatment process for treating athlete's foot or maceration (dampness) between the toes. My video may reflect previous treatment plans. 

• Evaluation - Determine if you have an athlete's foot and evaluate previous treatments. If unsure, obtain a skin sample. 
• Skin Sample - Take a skin sample to verify the organism before treatment. Return to office in 2-3 weeks.
• Review Options - We will review the skin sample and treatment options at the follow-up. If the condition is severe, I may use an oral antifungal for one month, but most of the time, we use topical medications, as noted below. 
• Fungus Treatment Length - Usually, treatment takes 2-3 months, and we will sometimes have to change the treatment method if ineffective. 
  • Between Toes - If the fungus is between the toes, we typically recommend lamb's wool and an antifungal gel to space between the toes. A gel has a base of alcohol that evaporates and leaves only the medication between the toes. 
  • Foot & Skin Fungal Infection - I prefer an antifungal cream if the athlete's foot is only on the bottom of the foot or sides. 
• Maceration Treatment - At times the maceration or dampness can be caused by excess moisture. I recommend a combination of lamb's wool to dry out the area and either Castellani paint or Gentian violet. Both of these are drying agents used between the toes and you can apply them with a cotton tip applicator. 
• Prevention - Preventing recurrence can be through periodic follow-up visits and/or shoe sterilizers and preventive measures. I recommend using topical Terbinafine 1% one week per month to prevent the recurrence of athlete's foot, which can lead to reoccurrence.

RESOURCES 

• Shoe Recommendations - Here are my shoe recommendations and shoe-related resources.

PRODUCTS 

Here are some of the best recommendations I have found on Amazon for athlete's feet.