Sue99
05-29-2006, 02:06 PM
How long can the athlete's foot fungus live in shoes that aren't being worn? Is it possible to pick up athlete's foot from shoes that haven't been worn in about a year?
I am EXTREMELY careful about my feet - always wearing flip-flops in public showers, washing my feet daily, using talc, and applying medicine (lately lamisil but I've switched to Lotrimin Ultra), going barefoot at home when possible, and I even throw my socks away after several wearings (of course I wash them too!). Yet I have a chronic recurring problem with moccasin-type athlete's foot - it always comes back. I did control it for eight months, but it came back after I wore some old shoes, and I'm not sure if that is a related factor.
Do I have to throw away all my old shoes? Also - will boiling socks as well as washing them help?
I am EXTREMELY careful about my feet - always wearing flip-flops in public showers, washing my feet daily, using talc, and applying medicine (lately lamisil but I've switched to Lotrimin Ultra), going barefoot at home when possible, and I even throw my socks away after several wearings (of course I wash them too!). Yet I have a chronic recurring problem with moccasin-type athlete's foot - it always comes back. I did control it for eight months, but it came back after I wore some old shoes, and I'm not sure if that is a related factor.
Do I have to throw away all my old shoes? Also - will boiling socks as well as washing them help?
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Misty800
05-29-2006, 10:46 PM
Once you get athelet's foot, it is an ongoing problem, matter of keeping it under control. Fungus can go dormant and raise it's ugly head on down the road.
There are prescription oral meds on the market that may get rid of fungus, however, it does have possible serious side effects. You have to take one pill a day for a year. I was able to take the med but my son was not, caused an all over headache and other symptoms. Even tho I took the med several years ago, I still get breakouts if my feet get hot/sweaty in closed shoes.
I now have 7 pairs shoes and rotate, only wearing a pair every 7 days. I also spray the inside of shoes with Lysol Spray when I take them off. This helps along with shoes being able to dry for 7 days.
Flip-flops are not the complete answer either since the water splashes fungus from the floor up onto your feet, tho, it is better than nothing. If you are in a swimming pool, wear swim shoes.
How long fungus lives in shoes not worn, I am not sure. It could be dormant and the heat and prespiration could activate it again.
Boiling socks should kill the fungus (use white socks, colored will fade). Won't help that much since shoes will still have fungus. Some people put wet socks in a microwave to kill bacteria/fungus. Not sure how they do that.
There are prescription oral meds on the market that may get rid of fungus, however, it does have possible serious side effects. You have to take one pill a day for a year. I was able to take the med but my son was not, caused an all over headache and other symptoms. Even tho I took the med several years ago, I still get breakouts if my feet get hot/sweaty in closed shoes.
I now have 7 pairs shoes and rotate, only wearing a pair every 7 days. I also spray the inside of shoes with Lysol Spray when I take them off. This helps along with shoes being able to dry for 7 days.
Flip-flops are not the complete answer either since the water splashes fungus from the floor up onto your feet, tho, it is better than nothing. If you are in a swimming pool, wear swim shoes.
How long fungus lives in shoes not worn, I am not sure. It could be dormant and the heat and prespiration could activate it again.
Boiling socks should kill the fungus (use white socks, colored will fade). Won't help that much since shoes will still have fungus. Some people put wet socks in a microwave to kill bacteria/fungus. Not sure how they do that.