Since my college days I have suffered from swimmer’s eczema between my third and fourth toes on both sides. I am now 69 years old and I have never been able to cure it permanently. I suppress it with almost daily terbinafine cream. Is there any remedy that cures this rather than just suppresses it?
Joris Bartstra, journalist with medical diploma
No, you can’t really get rid of it permanently. The spores of the fungi that cause this are everywhere: on your skin, in the bathroom, in your shoes. Even if you completely eradicate a fungus with tablets, it will always come back; especially on those spots that have proven to be susceptible, such as between two toes. It is like a plant that does not grow on a bare rock, but in a crack where a little moisture and soil remains. You can reduce the chance of recontamination by thoroughly cleaning the bathroom with bleach or Lysol and treating footwear and socks with powdered antifungals. It also helps to dry that one spot well and possibly preventively using a fungal ointment or betadine ointment.
Also a health question? Click here and ask the question to an expert!
