Posted by Jost on September 22, 2006, at 22:29:36
In reply to Re: Toes health question » alexandra_k, posted by ClearSkies on September 22, 2006, at 12:00:11
There are prescription medications for athlete's foot-- they work much better than OTC meds, because they're actually curative. The OTC stuff will control athlete's foot, if you keep it up. Maybe it would eliminate it-- but probably not.
I'd get the prescription. Even then you have to be pretty persistent, much longer than you'd think, based on obvious sypmtoms.
Also, there are systemic pills, which have some potential side-effects, so are not to be used lightly. But they might be worth it, if your athlete's foot is spreading or really a problem, or is affecting the growth of toenails, etc. They do really work.
About the nail, if it's really bad, you should have it looked at by a doctor. It's mostly that it could grow back improperly if the damage affects the regrowth of the nail. Unlikely, probably it's okay-- but if it's really broken through, or growing strangely, it should be checked out.
If the shoes didn't work, maybe you need some sort of orthotic in your shoe, to correct for pronation, supination, or arch, etc. If the balance of your step is thrown off, it can exert way too much pressure on your toes, when you walk.
[I know all this not from my own very pristine feet! -- heaven forbid!--but because my SigO has had both problems-- so I've become rather expert while watching. Not that I was *watching* that closely, to be honest, but I did get an earful on the subject.]
poster:Jost
thread:687808
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/health/20060818/msgs/688332.html