Method and a product to reduce and treat problems associated with tinea pedis

#The invention herein relates to a toe-patch, for treatment and prevention of tinea pedis, commonly known as athlete's foot. More specifically the invention relates to a toe-patch that due to its perfect fit comes close to the affected area, making it possible for a hydrophobic material attached to foam to effectively bind to the fungi that cause tinea pedis. Simultaneously with the elimination of the fungi, the toe-patch works as a toe separator creating space between the toes.

#According to the hydrophobic principle of the laws of nature, a system will always struggle towards lowest possible energy consumption. When two water repellent molecules come into collision with each other they will increase the entropy and create disorder. The water molecules that surround the two hydrophobic molecules will force them together by hydrogen bonds between the water molecules although there is no force of attraction between the hydrophobic molecules, and will expel the water molecules.

#Numerous studies during the last few decades have shown that bacteria, the yeast Candida albicans and the fungus Trichophyton rubrum commonly express profound cell surface hydrophobicity. Several structures which render the cell surface hydrophobic have been defined, like the fimbriae of Escherichia coli which mediate adhesion to the intestinal wall, proteins on Candida albicans and T. rubrum which have been called “hydrophobins”, and lipoteichoic acid in the cell wall of Gram-positive bacteria.

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a ring-shaped toe-patch according to the invention herein.

#The invention herein provides a treatment that helps to alleviate tinea pedis and is safe and easy to use. It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a treatment using circular toe-patches made of rubber-foam, attached to a hydrophobic material and for elimination of fungus like T. rubrum. The toe-patch of the invention is ring-shaped and has cuts extending into the patch from the central circle in the toe-patch. Objects and features of the inventions will be more fully apparent from the following disclosure and appended claims.

#The product of the invention is ideal for treatment of tinea pedis. It reduces the number of the fungus T. rubrum without using antimicrobial substances. The product of the invention consists of two bonded layers: hydrophobic cellulose acetate fabric that binds microorganisms and an attached rubber-foam layer.

#The toe-patch device of the invention for treating and preventing tinea pedis, comprises a hydrophobic layer, attached to a foam layer to form a toe-patch. Each toe-patch is circular with an outer diameter, and has a central circle cut through the hydrophobic layer and the attached foam layer. A plurality of cuttings extends into the toe-patch at regular intervals around the central circle.