"My feet were killing me ... these new shoes"

"Hmmm, flaking, peeling, that looks like athlete's foot"

"Don't blame Desenex"

"My feet are in pain!"  "I know how you feel."

"Your feet must be killing you."  "Oh my god, they hurt so much."

"You have corns don't you?"  "I do have corns."

"My corns and blisters are so painful"

"Imagine a day without aching, burning feet"

The kicked off high heels, cast aside by the cute girl.  The awesomely cute little bare feet with pristine red painted toenails.  Sure, this was plenty to get his attention and assure a strong wanking session upon arriving home.  After all, he has a foot fetish, and most would succumb to such treats.  A sinister, consuming, sad obsession that has served to debilitate any prospect of a meaningful relationship with a woman for his entire life. 

This was clearly much more, though.  In a mensroom stall, desperately allowing himself out of the confines of his trousers, pulling instinctively, and with more sound than common sense would dictate.  It had never come to this before.  Even in this age of wearing flip flops to the office and switching back and forth with the sexiest of heels.  He had never been reduced to this.  This was different.  This went to the very core.  To the deepest, darkest recess of his fetish.  A place he knew existed, but covered him in shame and worthlessness; self loathing, even.  At its heart, he knew, it is not merely a foot fetish ... it's an athlete's foot fetish.  Foreign to even the most skilled of therapists, dealing with the most perverted patients known.  His most fucked up fantasy had played out minutes before.  Now he finds himself helpless.  Heart rate of 120.  Blood painfully swelling his scrotum.  Grasping at himself, barely aware of his surroundings ... replaying the scene in his mind and trying to grasp whether it could have possibly been real. 

FIELD - CHEERLEADING PRACTICE

Coach:  Good Tara.  Come on Kelly, some more energy; and remember to smile.
Kelly: I'm sorry.  It's hard when my feet feel like they're on fire.  I'm going crazy with this itching. 
C: Oooh, that doesn't sound good.  We should take a look.

BLEACHERS

K: Eww.  My toes are so sore and itchy.  Look, the skin's cracking in between!
C: That's what I was afraid of.  You have athlete's foot.
     Oh Kelly, you have to stop scratching; it just makes it worse.
K: But I can't help it; it really itches.
C: I know sweetie.  Here's what you need.
K: Absorbine Jr?
C: It stops the itching right away and it kills the fungus.  Those are the keys to healing athlete's foot.
K: Ahhh.  I can feel it working already.
     I feel so silly.  Crying about a little itching.
C: This isn't the first time one of my girls got athlete's foot.  I know how awful it can be.
    You can keep that bottle.
K: Don't worry, this is going straight into my purse. 
C: Absorbine Jr. is the only thing I trust with my girls.  Try some.

TENNIS COURT

Mom: You gotta keep your eye on the ball.
Daughter: But mom, how can I keep my eye on the ball when my feet are itching like crazy?
M: Oh?  We better have a look.

LOCKER ROOM

M: Mmmm. Flaking.  Peeling.  That looks like athlete's foot.  Here's what I always use; Absorbine Jr.
     Absorbine Jr. stops itch in seconds.  Kills fungus on contact, to help heal athlete's foot.
D: Mom, I can feel it working!
M: Sure Absorbine Jr. works.  For me and my doubles partner.  Try some.

The 2009 study had 78 female subjects -- all participants in the July session of the CheerAll camp in Arlington -- aged 18 to 23 who identified themselves as having suffered two or more symptoms of athlete's foot in the past three years.
- 26 identified themselves as suffering symptoms at the time of the study ... 23 of these were attempting treatment with OTC medication.
- of 78, 58 had sought some sort of professional medical treatment (including consultations with the camp nurse (44), who generally provided Lamisil cream to treat the main condition and Absorbine Jr. liquid to those who complained of severe itching and/or burning [> 90%]) ... 13 had used prescription medication at some point.
- of 78, 53 identified itching as the most irritating symptom, 19 identified burning, and 4 identified pain/soreness.
- of 78, 18 identified peeling as a major symptom.
- of 78, 67 said their condition had frequently influenced their choice of footwear ... 53 said they always/almost always avoided closed shoes in favor of sandals and flip-flops.
- of 78, 68 said the condition had limited their routine life activities at least once ... 59 identified it as limiting their ability to participate in cheerleading activities on at least three occasions.
- of 78, 24 identified their most severe reaction as "being brought to tears" by the discomfort of the condition ... 14 said they had shed tears due to the condition on at least three occasions.
- of 78, 31 said they generally carry at least one form of athlete's foot treatment with them at most times ... 14 identified Absorbine Jr. or another anti-itch remedy, 11 Lamisil cream, 9 Tinactin cream.
- of 78, 74 said they knew at least one other female in the age category who also has suffered from athlete's foot.
- of 78, 61 identified their condition as "chronic" or "recurring."
- Subject self-identification with statements and images ... of 78:
- 78 ID w "my feet (toes) are itching like crazy"
- 74 ID w "my feet (toes) are on fire"
- 45 ID w "I used to think girls didn't get athlete's foot"
- 69 ID w image A ... CU of bare feet, red nails, alternating rubbing one on top of other on tile floor (1:22)
- 53 ID w image B ... dorm room setting, female in shorts, t-shirt, sneakers kicked off, is sitting on bed in tears clutching her bare feet explaining to friend that her toes feel like they are on fire ... friend tells her that it looks like she has athlete's foot and shares her experiences, how to treat, etc. (2:12)
- 30 ID w image C ... set in bridal shop, female reacts with concern when learning that bridesmaid dress for upcoming wedding will call for her to wear nylon hose ... girl confides to friend that she hates nylons because they cause her athlete's foot to flare up ... girl is surprised when friend admits that she also suffers from it ... they discuss what they hate most about it (itching, burning, skin flakes, "it's so embarrassing," "wanting to scratch all the time," "it just makes me miserable")(2:50)

Girls Don't Get Athlete's Foot

- But mom, how I can keep my eye on the ball when my feet are itching like crazy?
- Oh you poor thing, you have athlete's foot.