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I am being colonised by a fungal infection

194 replies

Beachingtons · 05/03/2026 12:58

Help!

In late January DD2 brought athlete’s foot home from nursery. I thought it was hand, foot and mouth at first, but she was scratching intensely and crying about it at night, so when it didn’t clear up by mid-Feb using OTC creams, I took her to the doctor and she was prescribed an anti fungal cream. She cosleeps.

By this point, I’d developed a rash on both sides of my groin that was SO intensely itchy, especially at night. I started applying Canesten immediately. I saw the pharmacist who said it could take two weeks to go. After two weeks, it was still awful and had spread further and to my armpits. It’s keeping me awake at night and I’m regularly taking ibuprofen to relieve the itch. I cried on the phone to the doctors, who brought me in to have it swabbed, but haven’t had the results yet.

This week, I started using Daktarin. This has taken the itch from my groin and it seems to be healing there, but it’s still spread to my armpits, knee pits, and today I’ve noticed new patches under my watch strap.

Things I have been doing for weeks:

  • no exercise, sex or anything remotely sweaty
  • keeping DD’s feet covered
  • showering daily or twice daily
  • replacing towels and clothes on every use
  • wearing only loose cotton, and no underwear/bra unless necessary
  • using Head & Shoulders on my hair and the patches
  • wearing cotton pyjamas at night, changing bedsheets every couple of days
  • drinking diluted apple cider vinegar
  • applying either Canesten, or now Daktarin, three times a day to washed skin

I’ve had ringworm a few times in the past but it’s gone within a few weeks with Canesten application.

What the hell is going on?!

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
Cheeseandmorecheese · 05/03/2026 15:49

This Pharmbanner tee tree anti fungal body wash was very helpful for my son’s recurring fungal infections. For best results leave it on for a few minutes before rinsing it off.

Amazon

Amazon

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tree-Body-Wash-Antifungal-Dermatitis-Prone/dp/B0DJRVDMZ7/ref=ast_sto_dp_puis?rdc=1&th=1&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-am-i-being-unreasonable-5499377-i-am-being-colonised-by-a-fungal-infection

Beachingtons · 05/03/2026 15:43

Fiftyandme · 05/03/2026 15:38

Oregano oil, diluted.

Only thing that works on my athelets foot and only thing that worked when I once had over 140 lesions of ringworm develop on my body over a three day period. None of the OTC or prescription stuff has ever worked.

Wow, do you have any immune related conditions?

Although I think the Daktacort is starting to do something, I am really concerned that it still seems to be spreading.

OP posts:
Ineffable23 · 05/03/2026 15:42

I had to take 4 weeks worth of terbinafine for something that sounds like this. Not much fun but did work. The doctor didn't actually even swab it but it looked fungal to me and presumably also to them, and the meds knocked it on the head.

I had tried fluconazole, canesten etc and no luck with any of it and it was so itchy I was nearly scratching my own skin on.

Twasasurprise · 05/03/2026 15:40

I'd definitely consider getting another fluconazole capsule while at the pharmacy. Sometimes it can take a repeat treatment, especially if used in conjunction with the daktacort and nizoral. They are all antifungal. (Plus the cortisone steroid in the daktacort.)

Hopefully you have treated all shoes too. Medicated foot powder should work and make sure they dry out inside after each wear. I fill socks with bicarb or cat litter or unused tea bags to put in my children's trainers and school shoes to absorb moisture.

Hopefully you'll get some relief soon.

BloominNora · 05/03/2026 15:39

PruthePrune · 05/03/2026 15:34

There is a good documentary about what fungal infections can do, google "The Last of Us"...

😂

Fiftyandme · 05/03/2026 15:38

Oregano oil, diluted.

Only thing that works on my athelets foot and only thing that worked when I once had over 140 lesions of ringworm develop on my body over a three day period. None of the OTC or prescription stuff has ever worked.

Beachingtons · 05/03/2026 15:38

PruthePrune · 05/03/2026 15:34

There is a good documentary about what fungal infections can do, google "The Last of Us"...

Don’t, between that and the play Spores on R4, I’ve been feeling a lot like patient zero. 😂

OP posts:
PruthePrune · 05/03/2026 15:34

There is a good documentary about what fungal infections can do, google "The Last of Us"...

Enyastar · 05/03/2026 15:34

Tea tree oil is your friend. Apply 2 or 3 drops in oil and rub in. 3 times a day.

Rhubarb24 · 05/03/2026 15:33

It's not suitable for kids, but I've found Lamisil daily for a week, or Lamisil Once is the best for athlete's foot. I always thought that hydrocortisone cream/steroids can make fungal infections worse.

Eurax is good for itching.

Betterbeanon78 · 05/03/2026 15:28

.

Betterbeanon78 · 05/03/2026 15:23

.

Rhubarb24 · 05/03/2026 15:17

Howdoidoit100 · 05/03/2026 13:14

It's not scabies is it? I hear that has made a come back. I really don't know much about it but the rash and itching seems consistent with the areas you mentioned. Hope you resolve it soon, must be awful for you.

Sounds like tinea

JH0404 · 05/03/2026 15:12

Oh no poor you this sounds miserable, it made me itchy just reading your post. It sounds like something very stubborn and resistant to over the counter medication. Hopefully the skin swabs will be back soon and your GP will know what to attack it with. I had excessive itching when I was pregnant, it’s more debilitating than it sounds. I hope you get some relief soon

Beachingtons · 05/03/2026 15:11

CointreauVersial · 05/03/2026 14:59

Based on where the rash is, I would definitely say it sounds like athlete's foot which has spread. It likes sweaty crevices. I had it once in my armpits, and boy did it itch. Daktarin saw it off. DH has had it around his unmentionables - I think the polite term is jock itch.

I have also had ringworm (thanks stray cat) and it was very different - on my legs, definite circle pattern.

Scabies is pretty rare.

The other thought is impetigo. That went round the nursery like wildfire a few years ago....but adults rarely get it as their immune systems can normally keep it at bay.

Of course, if your immune system is a bit flaky it will take full advantage. Hopefully your GP can escalate things once they've done swabs. You might need a combined fungicide/antibiotic if the scratching has made the skin infected.

Do you remember how long it took to work? Daktacort is the only thing I’ve got any faith in right now, and I started using it on Monday.

I’ve had ringworm before and it went very easily. Never had anything like this, or athlete’s foot. I hope never again!!! It was absolutely unbearably itchy.

OP posts:
BloominNora · 05/03/2026 15:09

@Beachingtons - no idea on the rash but you said you'd been taking ibuprofen for the itching - have you tried an antihistemine instead - oral and or topical?

Ibuprofen can actually exacerbate itching

Beachingtons · 05/03/2026 15:08

TheSpottedZebra · 05/03/2026 15:04

Oh, apologies, that wasn't OP!

Yes, that wasn’t me! Not on any regular meds.

OP posts:
TheSpottedZebra · 05/03/2026 15:04

Snoozlepops · 05/03/2026 15:00

Where does OP mention lupus?

Oh, apologies, that wasn't OP!

Snoozlepops · 05/03/2026 15:00

TheSpottedZebra · 05/03/2026 14:56

You mentioned Lupus-that could be relevant, surely?
What medication are you on ?

Where does OP mention lupus?

CointreauVersial · 05/03/2026 14:59

Based on where the rash is, I would definitely say it sounds like athlete's foot which has spread. It likes sweaty crevices. I had it once in my armpits, and boy did it itch. Daktarin saw it off. DH has had it around his unmentionables - I think the polite term is jock itch.

I have also had ringworm (thanks stray cat) and it was very different - on my legs, definite circle pattern.

Scabies is pretty rare.

The other thought is impetigo. That went round the nursery like wildfire a few years ago....but adults rarely get it as their immune systems can normally keep it at bay.

Of course, if your immune system is a bit flaky it will take full advantage. Hopefully your GP can escalate things once they've done swabs. You might need a combined fungicide/antibiotic if the scratching has made the skin infected.

TheSpottedZebra · 05/03/2026 14:56

You mentioned Lupus-that could be relevant, surely?
What medication are you on ?

Beachingtons · 05/03/2026 14:50

I have tried diluted tea tree oil swabs at the start but it didn’t help. I will keep an eye out for the body products though, especially if this comes back. 😭

OP posts:
Beachingtons · 05/03/2026 14:49

I’m going back to the pharmacy tonight to get Nizarol shampoo.

It’s not Daktarin I’m using, it’s Daktacort (just checked) which has hydrocortisone in. It’s also got miconazole which I assume is similar to the active ingredient in Nizarol, ketoconazole?

OP posts:
PrincessFluffyPants · 05/03/2026 14:41

Eradicil from V Pharma in every wash load. Expensive but stop reinfection.

I had a rash that wouldn't go away and had to stop cancer treatment for nearly two months whilst it was being dealt with as the GP had misdiagnosed it and it ended up spreading all over my body, even my face (GP prescribed thick moisturisers which just spread it around) luckily my oncologist stepped in and said he thought it was fungal.

Flucanozole, eradicil and canestan cream all worked well together. I now use eradicil in every wash.

Sympathies to the OP, it really affects your self esteem too.

AussieManque · 05/03/2026 14:32

Agree with using nizoral or similar shampoo as a body wash. For my husband who sweats a lot in a hot country and was getting fungal infections in his groin, washing in the treatment shampoo and using anti fungal powder worked best.

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