People’s Pharmacy: Can I use athlete’s foot drugs for my under-breast rashes?

Q. You have written about treating under-breast rash. I use Lotrimin with miconazole for this. When I first experienced the rash, my doctor prescribed a powder with miconazole. The prescription was a very small amount of powder, and the co-pay was not cheap.

One day, while in the drugstore, I walked past the section where the athlete’s foot items were. I noticed that Lotrimin AF Athlete’s Foot Powder Spray contains miconazole. All I can say is, it works for me.

A. Many under-breast rashes are caused by yeast infections that respond well to an antifungal drug such as miconazole. These are the same agents that are effective against athlete’s foot.

There are several Lotrimin products. Some contain other antifungal ingredients, including butenafine, clotrimazole or tolnaftate. Keeping the area dry with powder or zinc oxide cream can help discourage yeast from growing. Avoiding friction with an anti-chafing product may also prevent irritation.

Q. Voltaren gel helped my sore knee. But it also raised my blood pressure to 209/91 and caused AFib. I never experienced anything so scary in my life. Hopefully, I’ll have a full recovery. Now, I need a better way to control my arthritis pain.

A. You are not the only person to report blood pressure elevation after applying a diclofenac gel such as Voltaren. Most people do not experience such a dramatic reaction, but it is worth recognizing that even topical NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) can be absorbed and cause systemic side effects.

Oral pain relievers such as ibuprofen or naproxen are notorious for causing stomach upset. Creams or gels are less likely to do this, but some people are especially sensitive and suffer digestive distress.

You can learn more about a wide range of other options in our “eGuide to Alternatives for Arthritis.” This online resource can be found under the Health eGuides tab at www.PeoplesPharmacy.com.

In their column, Joe and Teresa Graedon answer letters from readers. Write to them in care of King Features, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803, or email them via their website: www.PeoplesPharmacy.com. Their newest book is “Top Screwups Doctors Make and How to Avoid Them.”