Pi-Ray America's High-Tech Socks Could Eliminate Athlete's Foot and Other Ailments

TORRANCE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 16, 2002--For the millions of Americans who suffer from Athlete's Foot, foot infections and even excessive foot odor, the cure could be as easy as changing their socks -- if they put on socks made with a new, high-tech fiber.

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Pi-Ray ion fiber has been recently made available in the United States by Pi-Ray-America, a Torrance, Calif.-based company. Recent lab tests have shown that the fiber -- available in a comfortable cotton-polyester blend -- is antifungal, antibacterial and deodorizing -- and several major manufacturing companies have expressed interest in the fiber.

Athlete's Foot is a serious problem according to statistics from the drug company Novartis. Known medically as tinea pedis, Athlete's Foot afflicts more than 26 million Americans, almost one out of every 10 people, each year. Novartis's statistics indicate that up to 75 percent of the U.S. population will experience some of the irritating symptoms of Athlete's foot during their lives.

"Our patented process enables the socks to fight the Athlete's Foot fungus and infections of the feet, while maintaining the comfort of a 70 percent cotton blend," said Pi-Ray President and Registered Nurse Loren Chang.

Lab tests done on fabric from Pi-Ray socks done at BioScreen Testing Service in Torrance, Calif. in July 2002 showed that the socks completely inhibited the growth of the Athlete's Foot fungus.

The Pi-Ray fiber's unique properties come from a patented process that impregnates polyester or nylon fiber with a specially formulated mineral compound. The result is a nature-based remedy to some of the most common foot ailments.

Socks made with Pi-Ray fiber eliminate bacteria in addition to fungus. It is the bacteria, which live on moist areas of the body such as the feet and emit a strong, unpleasant odor, that are the primary cause of foot odor. By eliminating the bacteria Pi-Ray's socks also eliminate foot odor to a large degree.

Tests done by Dr. George Jaresko, an infectious disease therapeutics expert and assistant dean at the University of Southern California School of Pharmacy, and tests at other area labs, confirmed the material's antibacterial properties.

"At the point of contact, there was an inhibition of bacterial growth," Dr. Jaresko said.

According to Chang these antibacterial properties, and the circulation stimulated by the Pi-Ray fiber's emission of far infrared rays could significantly benefit those who suffer from chronic foot infections, such as people with diabetes, who sometimes suffer amputations as the disease progresses, or others, such as the elderly who are often immune suppressed.

"For people from athletes to diabetics who have fungal or bacterial issues with their feet, these socks are the answer," Chang said.

For Information: www.piraqyusa.com , http://www.sockscom.com/: