Treatment of interdigital foot Erythrasma with ozonated olive oil

This clinical pilot study evaluated the effectiveness of ozonated olive oil as a topical treatment for interdigital erythrasma, a common bacterial skin infection of the feet caused by Corynebacterium minutissimum. Ten patients applied ozonated olive oil twice daily for 10 days, achieving a 100% clinical cure rate, with complete resolution of the characteristic coral-red fluorescence under Wood’s lamp, erythema, fissures, itching, and maceration. Only mild scaling remained in two cases. The researchers concluded that ozonated olive oil is a safe and effective topical alternative to oral antibiotics such as erythromycin, offering antibacterial activity while avoiding systemic medication. The study also highlights ozone’s ability to damage bacterial proteins and lipids through controlled oxidation, supporting its antimicrobial properties. Although the sample size was limited, the results suggest that ozonated olive oil is a promising option for the treatment of bacterial skin infections and warrants further large-scale clinical research.