ATHLETE'S FOOT

ATHLETE'S FOOT
    Athlete's foot is a fungus known as tinea pedis. When the fungus infects the upper body, this is known as tinea corporis, or ringworm, causing raised and reddened rashes with clear centers. Athlete's foot is commonly found in athletic showering areas and long-term athlete's foot often involved the toenails and can totally destroy the nail plate and/or enter the bone. Blistering can occur when the immune system becomes sensitized to the fungus. It can usually be found between the toes where the skin has a greater tendency to crack, blister, or become sore and itchy. The infection will persist indefinitely until treatment is effective.
The general health of the individual tends to determine the magnitude of the infection and extent of the symptoms. The good news is that athlete's foot rarely develops in young children or in those who go barefoot or wear sandals.
    Products with Melaleuca oil are highly effective in the treatment of foot and toenail fungal infections. It is much more effective than griseofulvin, which has been commonly used. If the two are used together, the griseofulvin may lessen in effectiveness. It is also important to note that griseofulvin may be toxic to the liver and liver enzyme functions must be monitored during therapy with this drug.
    Several years ago in a report issued by The Physician and Sportsmedicine it was stated that in some instances irritation was misdiagnosed as athlete's foot when it is really an allergic reaction to a chemical in sneaker insoles. This "contact dermatitis" can be differentiated from athlete's foot because the reaction occurs mainly on the ball, outer sides and top of the foot where it comes in contact With the shoe, Athlete's foot usually appears in the cracks between the toes.
    If you have contact dermatitis, an entirely different method of treatment is required. With contact dermatitis, you must not use any pure Melaleuca alternifolia oil. To be safe, avoid every product that has the pure oil as an ingredient. For additional information, please read the information under Dermatitis.
    * As in most infections, prevention is the best treatment. Always wear shower sandals when in public showers, such as athletic locker rooms and swimming pools. Spray feet with Body Satin Foot Spray and apply Dermatin Antifungal Creme between toes and to bottoms of feet immediately after showering. Body Satin Foot Scrub and Body Satin Foot Lotion can also be used to cleanse and stimulate circulation. Direct sunlight and air-drying the feet after showering or swimming is also a helpful preventive measure. Take the Vitality Pack with Oligofructose Complex, CellWise, and a ProVex product daily, to optimize trace nutrients. Drink 2-3 cups of Melaleuca Herbal Tea daily.
   To eliminate athlete's foot, clean the affected area well with Antibacterial liquid Soap and water. A great foot soak for athlete's foot is to combine Tough & Tender, Liquid Pain-A-Trate, and Renew Bath Oil in a pan of hot water. An alternative would be to use just Tough & Tender or add a little Sol-U-Mel or Renew Bath Oil and soak your feet for about 30 minutes. For a severe case of athlete's foot, put 4 tbsp of Sol-U-Mel in hot water and soak for 20-30 minutes, morning and night for one week. After soaking, apply Dermatin Antifungal Cream as directed. It will kill fungus and bacteria. T36-C5, followed by Renew Intensive Skin Therapy or MelaGel could also be used each morning and night. If there is no improvement after one week, discontinue use and consult your health care provider if you haven't already.
    Be sure to wear clean white cotton (if possible) socks daily. These should be washed only using EcoSense Laundry System. Don't use store-bought laundry products because too often they contain harmful chemicals. Each time you change socks, dribble a few drops of T36-C5 on the clean socks. Rub them together before putting them on. You might even spray the inside of your shoes with a mixture of one-half ounce of Sol-U-Mel with four ounces of water.
    To avoid reinfection, always wear bathing slippers in public swimming pools, saunas, and showers, as well as in dorms and hotels. Dry your feet carefully after washing. Avoid wearing polyester socks and shoes not made of leather. Don't wear rubber boots or tennis shoes the entire day and change your socks every day.
    To help avoid infecting other family members, spray shower and bathtub surfaces, as well as bathroom floors, with Sol-U-Guard Botanical disinfectant. Never use Sol-U-Guard on natural stone surfaces.