Today we review a product for one of the most feisty of fungi, the genus Trichophyton, which causes the dreaded, often persistent, athlete’s foot. The product under review is Podosan Athlete Foot. This fungus loves moist, warm areas and is highly contagious upon contact. Typically, sufferers pick it up in spas or gyms where many other people are without shoes in moist conditions.
Athlete’s foot symptoms are a red rash, an intense itch, white and flaky skin, skin ruptures and even blisters containing fluid. The fungus sits under the epidermis so any good product should penetrate the skin deeply so as to eliminate the fungus and not merely manage it.
This product is administered via a dual action system. A foot pen applies the product to the toes and feet, while a spray is used on the shoes.
Ingredients
The foot pen ingredients and compounds are as follows:
- Alcohol denat
- Undecylenic acid
- Urea
- Allantoin
- Panthenol
- Pentylene Glycol
- Olive Leaf Active
- Potassium sorbate
- Sodium benzoate
- Solanum Tuberosum (Potato) Starch
- Phenyllactic acid
- Octanoic acid
- Lactic acid
- Mineral oil
- Isopropyl Palmitate
- Tri-laureth-4 phosphate
- Sodium Carbomer
- Glycerin.
The spray ingredients and compounds are as follows:
- Alcohol denat
- Water
Undecylenic acid is a clinically tested ingredient that is highly effective at eliminating the fungus causing athlete’s foot. In addition, it reduces the symptoms greatly. The acid can work not just topically but under the epidermis to kill the fungus and prevent recurrence of the symptoms. Most products carry this acid at a 10% strength but for optimum results, a medical grade 25% strength is best. It is not known what percentage is contained in this formulation.
The other acids, similarly, are also antifungals. They contain antibacterial properties and also restore the epidermis to its correct pH balance, which helps bring about a natural barrier to fungi and bacteria. Allantoin has anti-irritant properties, soothes skin and helps promote the growth of new, healthy skin. Similarly, most of the other natural compounds contain anti-irritant and anti-oxidant properties. Together with the mineral oil, these compounds should synthesize to work deep down in the epidermis.
Alcohol denat is denatured alcohol. It is a great antimicrobial and astringent, and this would account for why it is found in the pen as well as the spray.
Dosage
Use the pen on your feet. Wash your feet with warm water, soap and an antimicrobial or disinfectant if possible. Make sure your feet are completely dry before applying a drop with a clean towel. Put on a clean pair of socks only after 2 or 3 minutes, and once the drops have sunken in and the foot is dry. As for the spray, use it on your shoe insides about once or twice a week.
You should see results within a week and if the symptoms persist, see a doctor or dermatologist. You may experience mild burning when applying this product due to the acid.
If you experience side effects, discontinue the product and monitor your symptoms. See a doctor should they not abate.
Price
It seems that you can only buy Podoson Athlete Foot from the manufacturer online and a few other outlets. The stated price previously was $16.99 but currently, there is no price. It is not entirely clear what the current retail channels for this product is.
Guarantee
There do not appear to be any kind of statements or information dissemination regarding refunds. We feel that this only adds to the riskiness of the purchase, since the lack of a guarantee statement could only be down to the manufacturer not having confidence in its product, the possibility of strong side effects due to the acids or a lack of retail availability for stocking the product.
Conclusion – Podosan Athlete Foot
We like the dual action method of attacking the fungus. The acid formulations should make this potent for most people, but it also depends on how strong the concentration is. On the whole, the synthesis looks solid.
The main issues are the lack of a guarantee for this product coupled with the fact that it does not seem to be readily available in the first place. The product is likely foreign-made, as the English is sub-standard on occasion, with a few odd grammatical errors and erroneous expressions. Consumer reviews on this product are also non-existent, so the efficacy of this pen-and-spray duo in practise can’t be ascertained with any accuracy.
A safer bet is to buy a product that is readily available, comes with a clear guarantee, and has a formulation to penetrate deep into the skin to cure not only the current infection but to prevent future ones.