I am being colonised by a fungal infection

[Beachingtons]

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?!

Where does OP mention lupus?

Oh, apologies, that wasn't OP!

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

@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

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.

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

Sounds like tinea

.

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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.

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

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. 😂

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.

😂

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.

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.

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.

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.

I don’t know why that looks like a giant Amazon logo! Sorry - it was supposed to be this:

I have had something similar recently - groin and backs of knees. GP said it was a fungal infection and prescribed Trimovate. I didn't have the itching, but the ointment worked immediately. However, I find it flares up again if I wear polyester trousers - my skin just doesn't like it!

Weleda calendula nappy rash cream is great for fungal rashes (not just on babies!). Taking antihistamines can help with itching.

Good luck!

I had similar but on my feet's, between my toes. It probably started off as eczema but then got infected and developed into athletes foot. I hate to say this, but it took approx 6 months to get on top of it. I had to use the right product at the right time and eventually it went. I can't remember if I was prescribed antibiotics but I used Daktarin and Betnovate daily until it went.

OMG OP, how awful.

Also, I've had persistent ringworm under my fit-bit watch strap.... are we just breeding new fungii from our step-counters?!?! HORRORS!

Hope you can sort it. X

The steroid that’s in Daktacort may be why you feel the itch improving - but as the rash is still spreading I’d treat myself & household members for Scabies just in case (there’s a lot of it about atm) and ask GP for a course of Itraconazole tablets (antifungal).