Can tinea pedis (athlete’s foot) be disinfected with iodophor?

　　In daily life, many people suffer from athlete’s foot (tinea pedis), especially when treatment is delayed, which can cause significant discomfort and complications for affected individuals. Naturally, numerous treatment options are available. For instance, some people prefer soaking their feet in boiling water infused with mugwort leaves, while others opt for foot soaks using white vinegar. These home remedies can alleviate symptoms of athlete’s foot to a certain extent. But can povidone-iodine (iodophor) be used to disinfect athlete’s foot?

　　Can povidone-iodine be used to treat athlete’s foot?

　　Yes, povidone-iodine can be used for athlete’s foot. It exhibits broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, effectively killing fungi, protozoa, bacterial vegetative cells, and certain viruses. Therefore, povidone-iodine can play a therapeutic role in managing athlete’s foot—particularly since this condition is commonly caused by fungal infection. Affected areas can be gently wiped with a medical cotton ball soaked in povidone-iodine.

　　After wiping, additional cotton balls saturated with povidone-iodine may be placed directly over severely affected areas and covered with gauze to prolong contact time and enhance efficacy. After 10 minutes, the cotton balls may be removed—or left in place—to help maintain isolation between the infected area and the external environment. For routine skin disinfection, povidone-iodine may be applied directly by wiping. When diluted appropriately, it may also be used orally—primarily as a mouth rinse. Should accidental skin contamination occur during application, prompt rinsing with clean water is essential.

　　Patients are advised to use povidone-iodine–soaked cotton balls to isolate affected areas from external exposure. We hope this information proves helpful.