Infection may recur with Summer’s approach

May 25, 2012 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I thought I had cured my athlete’s foot by soaking in distilled white vinegar, but was recently told by my podiatrist that it may well return with warm, humid weather this summer. How can I avoid this?

DEAR READER: Athlete’s foot (tinea pedis) is the most common fungal infection. It is closely related to jock itch (tinea cruris) and ringworm (tinea corporis or tinea capitis). It affects the warm, moist areas of the feet, especially between the toes. It is contagious, being spread through direct contact with an infected individual or contaminated surfaces.

Common symptoms include itching, stinging and/or burning between the toes or on the soles of the feet; cracking, peeling skin; excessively [Read more…]

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Pau d’arco trees endangered, benefits questionable

November 23, 2011 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I saw on a discussion site that you no longer recommend pau d’arco as a cure for athlete’s foot. Well, I have to tell you that years ago when nothing else worked, I used this for my son. Finally, his feet were cured. I used it again when he had eczema and it again worked when nothing else did. I have no idea why it would work on eczema, except maybe the oils in the bark did the trick.

Fast forward ten years, the same young man is now in combat in Afghanistan. First, it is so hot that their boots are soaked every day, then it is freezing all the time. After eight months he came home on a visit and his feet and hands looked like they’d been through their own war. The creams and oils and lotions that we had sent just didn’t help. So once again I went back to the old standby, pau d’arco. At the time that he headed back to war his feet weren’t completely healed, [Read more…]

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How to search Dr. Gott’s website

December 18, 2010 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I don’t know how to search your web page for home remedies for athlete’s foot. Actually, I can’t figure out how to search for anything.

DEAR READER: Let’s see if we can take the process step by step with good results. In the address bar at the top of your browser, type in AskDrGottMD.com. This will bring you to the home page of my website. In the top right hand top corner, you should see a box and the word “search” next to it. Click in the box and type in the topic you wish information on. Then click the search button. You will be directed to the appropriate page. [Read more…]

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Store-brand chest rub vs. brand name

February 22, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I consider Vicks VapoRub a wonder drug because I have used it successfully in many ways. However, I have found that store brand versions work just as well. I use Wal-Mart’s Equate medicated chest rub instead of Vicks VapoRub. It costs less and works just as well.

I have used it for nail fungus, athlete’s foot, jock itch, and various insect bites and stings. No medicine cabinet is complete without it. Thanks for recommending it in the first place.

DEAR READER: If the store brands work as well as Vicks, so much the better. Thank you for the tip.
[Read more…]

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