We're aiming to completely cure our athlete's foot! Absolutely! A diary of our quest to cure it - Nori's story

Hello, nice to meet you. My name is Nori. I'm 34 years old, I work as a civil servant, and I'm also a mother of two.

As the weather becomes warmer in early summer, I'm finding myself going barefoot more often this year.

I've been wondering if it might be athlete's foot, but I've been avoiding looking at the peeling skin on my feet.

Occasionally, I experience itching or develop blister-like bumps.

Athlete's foot isn't something that only affects me, so I need to be careful not to spread it to my family (especially my daughters).
I absolutely want to get rid of this! And I want to live my life with beautiful soles... comfortably barefoot!

Of course, I want to wear sandals to work too! (I'm still wearing socks and flat shoes.)

I'm participating in this project and I want to get properly healed!

Today was my first visit to a dermatologist. Though I was skeptical, I went to see the doctor, hoping it wasn't athlete's foot.

A sample was taken from the side of my right big toe, where a blister had previously formed. Now, the area has hardened into callus, and it was examined under a microscope.

"There are a lot of bacteria here."

「・・・・！！！」

is that so···.

It's disappointing. Just as I thought... But I have to get better! I've changed my mindset.

I will continue to take good care of myself to avoid infecting my family.

It involves daily medication and improvements to the environment.

First of all, I prepared a spare pair of room sandals so I can wash them frequently. I'll do my best!

About a week has passed!

I'll apply the athlete's foot medicine every day and definitely cure it!
On Wednesday, I crawled into bed without even having time to apply anything... (I regret it).

Perhaps that's why... I can't say it's dramatically improved.

Unfortunately, I also have symptoms of athlete's foot on the soles of my feet.

However, I feel that the redness of the peeled-off area has subsided a little.

Wednesday, when I forgot to paint.

Since then, I've made it a point to keep my medicine and socks in the bathroom.

After my bath, I take care of my face with toner and moisturizing cream, then I head straight down to my feet.

I started applying athlete's foot cream.

I put on my socks because I have to take care of the children soon after.

Otherwise, all the medicine you've applied will end up on the floor!

In this way, athlete's foot cream has become a part of my life!

Daughters: "Mom, make sure you put on the athlete's foot medicine properly."
Also, we're not going to wear Mom's slippers anymore!

It's the right choice, but it's a rather sad thing to say...

I need to keep it clean! I'll do my best to make a full recovery!

I have renewed my resolve.

Two weeks have passed.

The peeling marks are still there, unchanged.

Although it is not red,
I'm worried about the small blister at the base of my toe. (Tears...)

I bought five-finger socks.

This is my first purchase, and it's not bad at all!

Hopefully, this will help reduce the dampness in my feet, even just a little.

I'm now truly understanding the words my doctor told me: "Keep at it steadily and patiently until you're cured."

The ringworm fungus that has taken up residence on my feet seems to be quite stubborn.

I will continue treatment persistently.

It's been three weeks since I started applying the medication.

The affected area seems to be getting better!!

No redness or itching.
There are a few blister marks on the soles of my feet.

My toe joints are feeling great! (Yay!)

It's difficult to vacuum on weekdays.
The most I can do is mop cleaning.

But on holidays, I do it carefully (along the grain of the flooring)
I will vacuum. The reason is,
"The fungi that cause ringworm can slough off with dead skin cells, and some can survive for nearly six months."

So, clean regularly!

That's what my teacher told me!!! (Scary!)

I knew the basics, like not sharing bath mats, but
I never imagined that ringworm fungi could be living alongside dust...

By the way, apparently it's okay to do laundry together. What a relief.

I visited a friend who lives in Kamakura.

But of course, I still haven't gotten around to wearing sandals...

I wore socks.

I'm still not at the point where I go barefoot anywhere other than my home.

My battle has only just begun!

I'll do my best!!

It's been four weeks since I started applying the medication.

The affected area is getting better and better.
The blister marks are almost gone now!

Yay! (So happy!!)

However, even in cases where symptoms appear to be healing to the untrained eye, the bacteria can still be present.

I'll patiently continue taking the medication for a while longer!

I saw a magazine related to "reflexology."

I was thinking about how I could take care of my everyday fatigue through self-care.

But as I continued reading, I came across this passage.

"If you have any of these foot problems, refrain from getting reflexology."

And then there's "athlete's foot"...

Apparently, massaging the feet could potentially spread the affected area.

It's impossible for me... (Disappointed)

I was also concerned about my own affected area.
What I'm really concerned about is my family's feet.

Apparently, most cases of athlete's foot in children are transmitted from their parents.

I'm relieved that my children seem to be okay.

I'm also concerned about my husband's feet.

I feel that treating athlete's foot really requires the cooperation of family members.

I'll keep doing my best!!

It's been one month and one week since I started applying the medication.

The affected area has really calmed down. (Yay!)

I'm really realizing how important consistency is.

The clear blister marks have almost completely disappeared.
I apply the medicine broadly to the area around the affected spot, the soles of my feet, and between my toes.

Wearing slippers has become quite a regular part of our household.

I also had my husband try them on.

(According to the doctor, most cases of athlete's foot in children are caused by their parents)
(Apparently, it's an infection.)

Today is a brief sunny day during the rainy season.

It's more dangerous to continue wearing slippers that have germs on them.
Wash it thoroughly and disinfect it in the sun! That's it!!

I go home, wash my feet with soap, and then put on slippers to go about my daily routine.

I've become completely accustomed to the routine of taking medicine and putting on socks after my bath.
Doing something different makes me feel slightly uneasy.

But it's going to be a hot summer. I really want to go barefoot...

I'll do my best to make a full recovery!

If recovery is progressing this quickly, in just one month and one week...
I wish I had done it sooner.

With improvements to the living environment and simple care with medication alone
My big worries have been resolved! I'm so happy.

My appointment with the doctor has been rescheduled for the weekend.

Keep going! Keep going!!

It's been one month and two weeks since I started applying the medication.

The affected area has really healed!! (Tears of joy!)

There is absolutely no itching or pain.

My symptoms were improving, so I went to see the doctor this weekend.

I took off my socks with my heart pounding.
The teacher gave me the wonderful compliment, "You look so much better now!"

After a thorough examination under a microscope, the doctor said, "It's gotten so much better!" (I'm so happy! (Tears!))

"It's a world of difference compared to your first visit. But that doesn't mean there are no bacteria at all." (...!!)

"It would be great if we could keep it up for just a little longer." (Agreed!)

Even if it looks fine to the untrained eye, bacteria may be hiding there.

Apparently, the longer the illness lasts, the longer the treatment takes.

"Even if it looks good, it will only last another month," they said. I will patiently continue the treatment.

But even though it's called "treatment," in my case, it's already become a part of my life.

Washing my feet after coming home and taking medicine after my bath. So, it's not a chore!

We will continue to provide care.
I hope to live comfortably with my healed foot.

I realized that athlete's foot is a disease that can be effectively cured with medication.

If you are reading this diary right now and have a feeling that this might be you
I really hope you'll start it!