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Correspondence
Jan 2012

Resolution of Skin Maladies of the Trapped Chilean Miners: The Unplanned Underground Copper-Impregnated Antifungal Socks “Trial ”

Author Affiliations

Author Affiliations: Cupron Inc, Modi ’in, Israel (Dr Borkow); Department of Dermatology, Regional Hospital of Copiapo, Atacama, Chile (Dr Mellibovsky).

Arch Dermatol. 2012;148(1):134-136. doi:10.1001/archdermatol.2011.1280

In August 2010, a collapse occurred in a mine in Chile, trapping 33 miners about 700 m below ground. The miners were discovered 17 days later via a drilled borehole. The underground conditions were very harsh, with high temperatures (>34 °C) and high humidity (approximately 85%). Within 2 weeks, most miners were experiencing skin problems, mostly in their feet. An antifungal cream, clotrimazole, was delivered to the miners through the borehole, but their skin maladies did not improve.

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