I have been battling a strange foot infection for the past few years without knowing exactly what it is.

Several years ago I went to Basic Training for a USAF Cadet program at Lackland AFB. As trainees we all got the usual bad feet, blisters, chiggers, ringworm over the month and a half we were there. We were on our feet, every day 18+ hours a day it was hard to keep them dry and clean.

We had community showers so most of us came home with athletes foot and a variety of bad foot issues. However most of them cleared up quickly except one which I've unfortunately learned to live with but I'm kind of fed up now.

The infection I have, that I'm pretty sure is a fungus (not a doctor), is definitely not typical athletes foot. It only infects the flat portions of callused thick skin that are under pressure (heel, forefoot, big toe). It started with my right heel and what it does is pit the skin making it resemble a sponge. It will eat away at the skin pretty deeply making the area red and painful at times to walk on. Where the skin is infected there is a pretty strong odor. I can deal with pain, but hate having terribly smelly feet.

Over time it spread pretty aggressively to my other foot and seems unaffected by over the counter fungus creams. I've tried them all, the longest treatment was a dedicated twice a day for about three months to no avail. Over the past two years it had seemed to go away and the infected areas grew new pink skin. Then it reoccurs and spreads again (probably because I have pulled out some set of shoes it still lives in).

I have recently gone to a family doctor who had no idea what it was. He recommended going to a dermitologist but I am commisioning soon and don't have health insurance for a while till I'm on Tricare. I've exhausted google and really don't know what it is.

If anyone has had or heard of this (or wants me to post a picture, it's not gruesome), please I want at least an idea what it is, then how to finally get rid of it.

Thanks,

Matt.

After some searching looks like some others have had this issue on the boards:

http://www.healthboards.com/boards/showthread.php?t=230550&highlight=athletes+foot

Unfortunately it looks like they're just living with it as well. Kind of disconcerting. However I don't beleive it has anything to do with allergies, as it spread like athletes foot through my Squadron's showers.

Sounds "and smells" exactly like pitted keratolysis. You can search for it on the web...there are some good sights. It can be cured in 3-4 weeks. Good luck. Write back to let us know if that sounds like it. Sophie :angel:

Sounds "and smells" exactly like pitted keratolysis. You can search for it on the web...there are some good sights. It can be cured in 3-4 weeks. Good luck. Write back to let us know if that sounds like it. Sophie :angel:

Oh man, just reading the first couple of google sites, I think you hit the nail on the head.

So it's a bacteria, make sense considering the odor.

I'm going to head to the store and pick up one of the suggested topical antibiotics. I'll post later on how it turns out.

Thanks Sophie!

Also, here is a perfect description of what it is: http://dermnetnz.org/bacterial/pitted-keratolysis.html

You may still have athlete'sfoot.There is a vesicular form with little pitsand scaling at the bottom of your feet.It responds very well to topical antifungal creams.