athletes foot your advice please

Could you apply the surgical spirit with a sponge on a stick, or even a cotton wool ball on a bamboo cane?

That soundsA very very expensive way to do things and not very practical how will you lug a 5 litre foot bath to empty it And keep it
Similar thinking to midgety why not get one of those grabbers things you can get kids ones shaped like a hand that open and shut (They re next to nothing to buy) and pick up the Soaked cotton wool and dab it on that way

Canestan cream will be better and easier to apply. Go barefoot as much as you can.

If you can reach your feet to put Lamasil on, I suggest you simply soak cotton wool pads in surgical spirit and tuck them between your toes. Then use your toes to swab the opposite foot.

Using a whirlpool thingy with surgical spirit, which is mostly methylated spirit, can cause an inflammable cloud which could be ignited by a spark from the electrical mechanism of the whirlpool. Burning your feet off in a fire caused that way would solve the athlete’s foot problem, but it’s a bit drastic.

Oh, and the fumes from surgical spirit are poisonous as well.

I agree - don't mess about with surgical spirit.
Do you live alone? If not ask the other person to help you.
My husband has the same problem and uses Canestan. He puts it on every day and changes his socks every day.
With men it can spread to another area.

Canasten cream first, as Teetime advises, then Scholl foot powder to seal it around and in between the toes to prevent the cream sliding off as it warms to the temperature of your foot.
In warm weather leave socks and tights off is best I find for athlete’s foot.

More of a problem to reverse is fungal toe nails.
It has taken over a year of twice a week proprietary brand (and expensive) liquid treatment to get the nails back to good health. No more varnished toe nails for me, I shall let the air get to them.

Canestan cream often does not work, Resistance increasingly common and often requires prolonged treatment. Lamisil FIRST everytime - see the relevant information here:

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8186134/

Best treatment for athletes foot, wash your feet twice a day, wear sandals for the air to circulate. If you need to wear shoes try to wear leather, wear socks made from pure cotton, change them every day.
A mild steroid cream applied to the affected area would be beneficial too.

Mycota cream and powder are very good for athletes foot.

Having suffered from this for many decades, I now have it under much better control, by treating it as soon as I get the first itch. Careful washing on soap and warm water, ensure any flannels or towels are only used once and then washed separately from other washing.

Dry very carefully and thoroughly. Then apply a good quality specialised anti-fungal ointment or cream (I use Daktarin). This will need to be repeated three or four times each 24 hours in the first day or two, then can slowly be reduced to twice a day. Nightime, you may like to ensure you can keep the infected foot outside of any covers. Cold air does help the condition. If you do wear socks or any sort of foot covering, ensure they are changed at least each day and washed separately. As much as possible keep infected foot/feet up when sitting down.

Yes, this does damage the nails badly - I have given up trying to improve mine, too many years of infection, but do keep them painted in the summer months when I am wearing open toed sandals to hide the damage.

The main thing is not to try to ignore first signs - treat immediately and quickly. Usually can completely clear this up within six to seven days. Beware, that it can move along the feet during that time, so use cream between all of the toes on the infect foot throughouty.

Good idea after washing feet to finish off with a cool hairdryer to ensure totally dry. Fungi like warm, moist surroundings

Thanks for all your advice.
I spoke to my Podiatrist and he said dust(talcum power) was a no no as it blocks the pores.
First thing in the morning I have a shower then dry my feet.
I hve yet to try the dryer treatment.
I have managed to put the Surgical spirit between my toes after the shower and keep my cotton socks OFF and no cream.
I then wash my feet again in the afternoon using my whirly pool, and use surgical spirit again and then apply the cream.
Ref the surgical spirit,I didn't know it was that explosive although I was and have been putting the Surgical spirit on in the consevatory and it DOES stink.
Finally where I sit on my carpeted computer area,I vacumn the carpeted every day.

I always use a disinfectant fabric conditioner when I wash socks, to prevent athlete's foot etc spreading. I think Dettol do one in the UK.

As you can't boil or bleach socks, and can usually only wash them at a low temperature, it's the only way to prevent bacteria, fungi, etc. being carried on to the next wear - no good trying to cure the problem if you put it back every time you put your socks on again.

Better, of course, as someone said, not to wear any socks at all.

Then, however, you also need an antibacterial spray for your shoes. These usually also prevent fungal infections.

Your podiatrist’s information on talc may be considered somewhat inaccurate by many specialists. Talc doesn’t block pores, and properly applied helps to absorb moisture from the skin, allowing it to stay dry. Talc with added anti-fungal medication is a proven treatment for athlete’s foot (tinea pedis), though the efficacy of anti-fungal medication varies depending on which fungus has caused the infection.

talc contains silica which is a lung irritant. It also makes floors like a skating ring.

I had a fungal nail infection on my big toe and a friend suggested putting tea trea oil on it twice a day. I didn't really expect it to work as I know fungal nail infections are notoriously hard to get rid of. I used the tea tree oil for about 2 months and am pleased to say that it did work, my nail is now completely normal and all signs of the infection have gone!

I swear by Canesten cream for everything. I haven't had athletes foot, but, I paint my toenails by putting my feet on the toilet seat, (btw, sanitising the seat before and after).

if you sit at your computer with bare feet, place a towel on the floor where your feet rest.
and yes washing laundry with disinfectant will help.

I too have suffered from athletes foot for many years. I've used all the creams etc. I now use Tea Tree and Mint Shower gel rubbed neat over my feet especially between my toes. Leave for a few minutes then rinse off and dry feet well. I then fold a sheet of loo roll long ways about 3 times then thread up and over between my toes usually at bedtime. Hardly have athlete foot flare ups now

infoman relatively small amount of surgical spirit in a small spray bottle should do the trick if you find it hard to reach your toes.

No nurse would advise putting any kind of powder( talc is now a proven carcinogen) where skin touches skin. On a lighter note, get a dog to lick your toes, worked for me. Never had athletes foot since.

Wear socks. That might sound daft but I stopped getting athletes foot after I stopped wearing sandals on bare feet. It's too cold where I live to do that.

If you think about it, wearing sandals or other shoes on bare feet means that sweat has nowhere to go so it creates the damp conditions that AF likes. If you wear a fabric layer on your feet it can absorb the sweat and remove it at least to some extent.

Anyway, it has worked for me. Haven't had athletes foot for years now whereas I used to get it a bit every summer.

Oregano oil eventually sorted it for me. It was recommended by a massage therapist and it worked when nothing else did.