Can dried alum treat athlete's foot?

　　Athlete's foot is also known as tinea pedis. Under normal circumstances, calcined alum can be used to treat tinea pedis. The detailed analysis is as follows:

　　Calcined alum is an irregular crystalline substance. From the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine, this medication is associated with the lung, large intestine, and stomach meridians. It inherently possesses astringent and anti-itch properties and is clinically commonly used to treat conditions such as sore throat and hepatitis. Research indicates that this substance has certain inhibitory effects on Staphylococcus aureus and Proteus bacteria. Since tinea pedis is mostly caused by fungal infections, particularly those involving Staphylococcus aureus, applying calcined alum to the affected area of tinea pedis can help in treatment.

　　However, since this medication is in granular crystalline form, if a patient with tinea pedis has obvious skin ulcers or significant fluid exudation, applying the substance locally may cause a certain degree of stinging discomfort. Additionally, patients with tinea pedis should pay attention to personal hygiene in daily life and avoid sharing foot care items with others to prevent cross-infection.