In New Scientist's recently published book Does Anything Eat Wasps? there was a question about athlete's foot. I used to suffer this to excess until my father told me to pee on my feet when I shower. I've never had it since. How does this "cure" work?
• Athlete's foot (or tinea pedis) is a skin infection caused by several different ringworm fungi: the most common culprits are Trichophyton, Microsporum and Epidermophyton. Ringworm fungi grow best at 35 °C, so when skin stays moist and warm, ringworm thrive and infect toenails and upper layers of the skin, digesting the keratin there. Ringworm fungi can be picked up from floors or clothing, and can live anywhere on your skin, but without suitable conditions - the warm, moist environment of a sweaty socked foot is ideal - they will not cause a noticeable infection.
Most treatments involve keeping the skin drier or ...
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