Athletes Foot Lady here....again. Please help

[CanIbeRio]

I've posted a lot re my ongoing battle with AF which is now going into month 4

It's a constant cycle of reinfection, leading to bacterial infections. It's all blistered again this weekend and I have the exact same weeping rash I had 6 weeks ago which was diagnosed as strep g infection requiring antibiotics to clear it. I'll be ringing GP again tomorrow for what will be my 4th lot of antibiotics since July

I also have another bug on my skin which is pretty much antibiotic resistant. This one and the strep g infection aren't common infections and seemingly target immuno surpressed people-great. Ive been advised that all the antibiotics and a vinegar soak which was too strong causing chemical burns has a) destroyed my natural foot flora and b) caused newly healed vulnerable skin to be very delicate and susceptible to infection. It is worrying me though that I might have something undiagnosed. I have a blood test this week to check for diabetes

I've been following all the rules for getting rid of AF - I'm Daktarinned to death, washing socks at 90, changing bedding regularly and washing at 60, disinfecting shoes, disinfecting shower every time I use it. Im so fed up

Has anyone been stuck in this relentless cycle of infection/bacterial infection. How did you break the cycle?

Am thinking af asking GP to swab every toe space - maybe i have multiple bugs and this isn't AF. Am also thinking if insisting on a referral to a dermatologist

It's actually beginning to affect my mental health. Im terrified these bugs are going to keep getting into the cracks caused by AF and cause cellulitis or worse, especially if my immune system isn't right at the moment

Thank you if u got this far! Any advice or support would be much appreciated!

you probably have done this: dettol baths
have you seen a podiatrist already? they can work wonders

good that your gp is testing your blood, you can also have your blood sugar checked at the pharmacy.

'nother thought - have you tried steroid ointment to get out of the cycle of inflamed/broken skin?

@bloodredfeaturewall thanks but a bit reluctant to try dettol as it seems the over cleansing of skin is what is causing these what they call opportunist bacteria to cause trouble. I will ask about steroid cream. Thanks

Bit mad, but try putting your foot or feet in live natural yogurt for half an hour every day for a week ? Wash gently in just warm water and leave to air dry afterwards

it’s a fungal infection, isn’t it, and the live yogurt has always worked for thrush for me.

Did you try the Margaret Dabbs Foot Hygiene cream?

Hey have you tried soaking your feet every morning and every night in warm water and a few drops of tea tree oil ? Make sure you dry your feet thoroughly after. Worked better for me - at first I then smothered them in Daktarin activ cream, but now I don’t need to do that. Have suffered with AF for a long time too and had tried everything. Although must admit I didn’t have any broken skin.

I got a severe bout of it following going to a public pool. Ordinary daktarin didn’t touch it, I got the steroid cream from the gp and then a special moisturising wash from the chemist as the cream dries my skin. It keeps trying to come back but I just wash, dry and use the cream 2 a day. Good luck!

Have a listen to the Sliced Bread episode on Fungus Toenail treatments on BBC Sounds

Could not break cycle.

in 2019 my gp refused to help although I would become diabetic through af.

Today I was diagnosed with lymphoedema as primary late stage 2 in both ‘cold rocks of legs’

I can only imagine how I would be if a gp in 2019 had chosen to listen. Now on way to wearing wraps and fighting infections for the foreseeable. Thanks for taking athletes foot so unserious, my greatest advice to anyone else is do not let them fob you off.

Thanks all

@unsync must confess, I didn't try MD - I guess ive been trying tge more medicated route Ipswich- but noted again, thanks

@uglyfeet - gosh, who knew AF could be so damaging. Im so sorry yiu are in this position. I will holler loudly til im heard.

Doc yesterday said she thinks it's impetigo! This us from judging a photo i sent. How on earth can she be so sure unless it's swabbed!! This is what ive pushed for this morning. It looks like the strep g i had before but suddenly its impetigo!! Aargghhhh!!!!!

That should read "more medicated rout iyswim"....not Ipswich!!!

Are the blisters itchy until popped and then weeping?

I ask because there is a condition that presents very similarly to AF called pompholyx or dishydrostic eczema which causes incredibly itchy patches which eventually turn brownish/yellow, burst and weep clear fluid then peel. The itch when they are turning into blisters wakes me up at night, and the relief as soon as they pop is almost instant.

The only thing that helps my AF is keeping my feet cool and dry, so i rarely wear socks and I wear birkenstock sandals from about April to October.

I was recommended a potassium permanganate soak for AF. It sounds like you have multiple issues and I could be pomphlox.

Lamisil once spray is really effective as its active ingredient is terbanafine.

I would also try a topical cream like trimivate which is steroid, anti biotic (or anti infective not sure which ) and antifungal in a combined prep.

shoes and sock are an issue too. Have some dettol spray to try and kill bugs and wear socks and crocs as much as you can to go out in. At home wear socks that can be boiled a. Drie out footwear between wears.

you could also try a oral antifungal course like itraconzole or terbanafine which can be pulse therapy alongside topical treatment.

to be honest I’d get a private referral to a dermatologist if you can afford it. My local one sees private patients at the hospital after his normal surgery. Or there is a bupa or spire.