Chronic athlete's foot when antifungal creams worsen neurological side effects

[ForeverDelayedEpiphany]

I've had a chronic case of athlete's foot i think in both feet now since last July 😳 and obviously it isn't going away. I am extremely sensitive to medication side effects and can't use antifungal cream like Daktarin or Canesten etc at all.

These all aggravate and exacerbate the symptoms of my neurological involuntary movement disorder called tardive dyskinesia that was caused by some prescribed off label antipsychotic that injured me permanently.

I've used Daktarin and Canesten in the past for thrush and a tiny pea-sized amount of antifungal cream gave me an acute dystonic reaction, and internal vibrations/-dystonic movements. It was horrendous.

Tea tree oil cream, mint shampoo, even Listerine on my feet aren't helping much at all now. They kind of keep the symptoms at bay to be milder, but gradually they come back.

To be honest, I know it's something only an actual prescribed antifungal cream will probably cure, but I am so over the stupid, unpredictable reactions I get from taking what most normal people could use without any adverse effects, I am scared to try it.

It is becoming really quite annoying either with the adverse reactions I could have or the general ongoing itchy and burning sensation I'm getting.

It seems I am doomed to have a wonderful chronic case of athlete's foot 😳😢

Have you tried Vic’s vapour rub? It works for fungal nail, so it could work for athletes foot.

Not convinced that is athletes foot tbh. Hard to tell what it is from the photos. If there are craters in your feet I’d wonder about pitted keratolysis as an alternate diagnosis. Maybe get someone professional to have a look?
sorry to hear about all your issues and side effects.

If athletes foot then potassium permanganate works. Old fashioned remedy, recommended by our GP for DH, available from the chemist, it worked. Get the condition checked first.

Tiger balm or paddling in the sea then drying feet in the sun would help if it was athletes foot, but as said above it doesn't look quite like it tbh.

Athletes foot tends to linger between the toes in the damp warm places, not so much on the soles/heels.

Lavender oil is a natural anti fungal. Soak your feet for 20 mins in warm water & 5-6 drops of lavender. Or apply with cotton wool and a carrier oil such as almond oil or grapeseed oil twice a day.

Have you seen a podiatrist to ensure that it is actually a fungal infection, rather than something else entirely?

I can't see the photos but for my athletes I use regular table salt in basin of warm water and let feet air dry or dry using handheld fan because using a towel hurts

Not sure if you already have but you have to treat socks and shoes as well as feet to get rid of a chronic fungal infection.

Do you think it's athletes foot because of the small blisters?

I was convinced I had athletes foot, it looked very similar to yours. Turns out it was actually a type of dermatitis, hemp foot moisturiser cleared it up in the end. I'd been trying creams for athletes foot, which would seem to help but not actually completely get rid of it.

Is it itchy ? Because that looks like dry skin to me

Lamisil once AF spray. Or permanganate soak.

looks like hard skin to me though!?

That doesn't look like athletes foot does when I get it - I'm not an expert, so it may be! - but when I get it it's peeling skin and red raw and a bit damp. It's usually between toes and itches and burns to the point of being unbearable.

Thanks all so far ✨️

I'm convinced it's athlete's foot as it was definitely in between my toes last July, itchy and burning with cracked skin.

I'm sure also it's probably fungal nails too, but only in my big and little toes - they seem to look more yellowy when I shine a torch or bright light on them.

Actually, I probably should have it looked at by a doctor properly, or even a dermatologist. Getting an appointment easily these days at our medical centre is another thread entirely 😳🤣🤣

In the interim until you get it looked it, make sure you do all the basic athletes foot 101 stuff... Natural fibres only (cotton or bamboo are best for socks), barefoot as much as possible, dry feet very very thoroughly (hair dryer is excellent for this), hot wash your socks so you aren't just reinfecting yourself, see if you can get some sunlight on your feet.

i to recommend vicks. i use for a fortnight and it does work.

Vicks will help some fungal nail but not all. Worth a try. I use vinegar on my athletes foot. I soak some cotton pads and leave them on for a while. Probably a tip I got on here. My Dad swore by sea water.

Vicks and tea tree do sod all. The only thing that worked for me in the end were oral doses of fluconazole, but guess you will have the same issue with that OP?

Flexitol foot balm for those dry heels!

Have you tried soaking your feet in a bowl of warm water with some surgical spirit added? Maybe try that a few times and see if it helps.

My DH had persistent athletes foot. Along with antifungal cream he also was advised to wash his socks in a 90 degree wash, wear different shoes every day, spraying them between wearing with an antifungal spray and using a urea foot cream daily. He also had to wash his feet every day and dry between his toes with a hairdryer to ensure there’s no residual dampness.

That looks like dry skin to me. Vicks works for dry skin, athletes foot and fungal nails for me.

If you can book an appointment with a podiatrist/chiropodist. Will cost around £45 and they are far better at feet things than a GP. Just make sure they’re a proper one and not a basic foot care practitioner.

Mine was also between my toes with cracked itchy skin. I would get it checked out as I was convinced it was on two of my nails as well. Turned out it wasn't althets foot but looked a lot like it.

The photos you have posted don't look like athlete's foot. Are the sides of your feet itchy? Looks like dry skin to me. Does filing it improve the appearance?

A podiatrists might be able to help and could be a lot quicker than getting a doctors appointment, though you would have to pay for it.