Tinea Manuum and Pedis
Tinea manuum and tinea pedis are superficial fungal infections caused by dermatophytes that affect the palmar surfaces and palms of the hands, or the toe webs, sides, soles, and heels of the feet.
In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), tinea manuum falls within the category known as “goose-palm wind” (e zhang feng). The term first appeared in Waike Qixuan, which states: “Goose-palm wind is caused by eating bayberry and goose meat, and may also arise from exposure to dew. It occurs on the palms, soles, backs of the hands, or feet, and is due to toxins affecting the Heart and Kidney channels.”
In TCM, tinea pedis is called “foot qi sores,” also known as “field-snail sores” or “stinking field-snail sores.” Yizong Jinjian: Waike Xinfa states: “Stinking field-snail sores result from damp-heat in the Stomach channel of Foot Yangming. They often occur between the toes, where white patches develop and become macerated. Itching comes first, followed by pain; when the skin breaks, foul-smelling fluid oozes out. The lesions resemble snails. In severe cases, the entire dorsum of the foot becomes swollen, accompanied by chills and fever.”
TCM Pattern Differentiation and Medication Reference
| Common Symptoms
Clinical Description:
Scattered or clustered vesicles, pinhead-sized, deep-seated and not easily ruptured, or maceration and whitening between the fingers or toes; itching; thirst without desire to drink; pale tongue with a thin white coating; wiry, slippery pulse.
In Plain Language:
- Small, deep-seated blisters may occur singly or in clusters and may not rupture easily. The skin between the fingers or toes may also appear pale and waterlogged.
- The skin may be noticeably itchy, with a strong urge to scratch.
- You may feel thirsty but not want to drink much water.
- The tongue may appear pale with a thin white coating; the pulse may feel tense and smooth.
| Treatment Approach
Clinical Description:
Dispel wind, promote the drainage of dampness, clear heat, and kill parasites.
In Plain Language:
- In TCM terms, this approach aims to dispel “wind” and help eliminate “dampness,” with the aim of easing sensations of heaviness, joint aches, or numbness in the limbs.
- In TCM terms, this approach aims to clear “heat” and expel parasites, with the aim of easing itchy skin, painful or swollen sores, or abdominal pain and bloating.
| Related Products
The products below are provided for information only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Follow the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.
| Common Symptoms
Clinical Description:
Vesicles or pustules with a red halo around them; possible erosion and exudation; a subjective sensation of burning and itching, or redness, swelling, and pain; dry mouth, constipation, dark urine; pale-red tongue with a yellow coating; slippery pulse.
In Plain Language:
- Blisters or pustules may appear on the skin, with redness around them; the skin may become eroded and ooze fluid.
- You may feel burning and itching, or notice redness, swelling, and pain.
- Dry mouth.
- Hard stools and dark yellow or reddish urine.
- The tongue may appear pale red.
- The tongue coating may appear yellow.
- The pulse may feel slippery.
| Treatment Approach
Clinical Description:
Clear heat and resolve toxins, dry dampness, and relieve itching.
In Plain Language:
- In TCM terms, this approach aims to clear “heat” and resolve toxins, with the aim of easing feverishness, restlessness, sore throat, or red and swollen sores.
- In TCM terms, this approach aims to dry “dampness” and relieve itching, with the aim of easing skin rashes, intense itching, or repeated scratching.
| Related Products
The products below are provided for information only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Follow the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.
| Common Symptoms
Clinical Description:
Dry skin, hyperkeratosis and fissures, scaling; pain; thirst, constipation; pale-red tongue with little moisture; thin pulse.
In Plain Language:
- The skin is very dry and may become thickened and hard, with cracks and flaking.
- The affected area may feel painful.
- You may feel persistently thirsty and have hard, difficult-to-pass stools.
- The tongue may appear pale red and dry, and the pulse may feel thin.
| Treatment Approach
Clinical Description:
Nourish the blood, moisten the skin, kill parasites, and relieve itching.
In Plain Language:
- In TCM terms, this approach aims to nourish the blood and moisten the skin, with the aim of easing a sallow complexion, dry skin, or flaking.
- In TCM terms, this approach aims to expel parasites and relieve itching, with the aim of easing skin rashes, intense itching, or repeated scratching.
| Related Products
The products below are provided for information only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Follow the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.
References
- Dermatology and Venereology Branch of the Chinese Medical Association. Survey of Foot Fungal Infections in Outpatients [J]. Chinese Journal of Dermatology, 2002(35): 404-405.
- Wu Shaoxi, Guo Ningru, Liu Weida. Epidemiological Study of Pathogenic Dermatophytes in China—1996, 1998, and 2006 [J]. Journal of Diagnosis and Therapy on Dermato-Venereology, 2011, 18(3): 144-147.
- Zhao Bian. Chinese Clinical Dermatology [M]. Nanjing: Jiangsu Science and Technology Press, 2009: 555-556.