Staying clean in camp showers

drsolo wrote:

Naio wrote:
I've only had athletes foot once in my life, but it lasted for about 10 years. The itch was on my foot, but my HANDS broke out in these enormous welts that looked like something out of a science fiction horror movie. The dermatologist said it was an allergic reaction to the fungus.

I got poison ivy on the bottom of my foot. That got infected with a soil fungus. I was advised to get a sun lamp and expose the area for 10 minutes 2-3 times a day, about 12 inches from the lamp. That killed the fungus quickly. But then, like you, I developed what is called an "ID" or allergic reaction on my hands. Little blisters, red and peeling. It was awful. But then I majored in immunology and realized that my outbreaks were due to contact with fungus in the soil, so no more gardening without protective gloves followed by thorough hand washing. Immunity to the fungus is systemic, that is why the reaction showed up on the hands. I suppose if I was laying nekkid on the dirt it would show up elsewhere.