Tinea pedis is a dermatophyte infection that occurs on the plantar area of the feet and between the toes, or what people call “foot fungus”. The incidence of tinea pedis is very high in the hot summer months when the environment is humid and sweaty. However, many of our patients believe that tinea pedis cannot be cured and that they will get other diseases if cured, which is actually a misconception. Tinea pedis, a skin disease caused by superficial fungal infection, mainly invades the epidermis, hair, and nail plate. If tinea pedis is left untreated for a long time, it can cause some complications, such as onychomycosis (gray nail) and dermatitis (reticulolymphangitis caused by streptococcal infection in the area where the tinea pedis has a break). In addition, if there are systemic diseases such as diabetes and kidney disease, when a person’s resistance is reduced, it can even cause deep fungal infections that can be life-threatening. So, why do many patients report that they get other diseases when they are cured of tinea pedis? This part of the patient believes that having tinea pedis is a channel to drain the “poisonous fire”, and if the tinea pedis is cured, then this channel will be blocked, and there will be no way to vent the “poisonous fire” in his body, so he will get other diseases to drain this “poisonous fire”. The “poisonous fire” may even be a life-threatening disease. This is a complete misconception! In fact, getting tinea pedis is mostly due to the moist environment (a suitable environment for fungal growth) caused by our wearing closed shoes and sweating, and sometimes it comes from indirect contact infections such as when we share the slippers of a person who has foot fungus, which is actually a superficial fungal infection. According to the clinical manifestations, it is often divided into three types: blister type, scaly keratinized type, and vesicular type, and it is usually found between the third and fourth, fourth and fifth toes, and itching is unbearable! The clinical incidence is very high. Clinically, when we suffer from some other diseases, our body condition changes, such as the temperature increases; our living condition also changes, such as lying in bed, not wearing impermeable shoes and socks, etc.. The fungus leaves its suitable temperature and humidity for growth, and tends to die or non-propagate. At this time, we feel that the foot odor has been reduced, or even “well”. This is the reason why many of us feel better when we are sick. But when our body recovers, we work normally, and our body temperature and living conditions are restored, the fungus that has not completely died resurfaces, making us feel better again when we have foot odor. Therefore, there is no scientific basis for the belief that “curing foot odor will lead to other diseases”, and it is wrong. Although foot odor is not a life-threatening disease, it can significantly affect our quality of life and cause other complications and the spread of fungus, so it is important to cure foot odor in time. Correctly choose azole and acrylamide antifungal drugs, depending on the severity single topical or combined with oral antifungal treatment, at the same time, develop the habit of changing socks diligently, wearing breathable shoes and keeping the feet dry to cut off the way of fungal growth and transmission. Keep away from superficial fungal skin diseases such as foot fungus for good!