Peeling between toes

The spaces between the toes are actually a place that is difficult for people to clean. Many people do not pay attention to cleaning the spaces between the toes. Sometimes when the feet are wet after taking a shower, most people just wipe the skin on the surface of the feet and do not think that there is still moisture in the spaces between the toes. This causes peeling of the skin in the spaces between the toes of some people. Of course, there are not only this one reason for peeling skin between toes. There are other reasons as well. Here we will introduce to you the reasons for peeling skin between toes.

Tinea pedis

Causes

Tinea pedis is a contagious skin disease of the feet caused by pathogenic fungi. Tinea pedis is prevalent throughout the world and is more common in tropical and subtropical regions. In our country, the incidence of tinea pedis is also quite high. There are no sebaceous glands on the soles of the feet and between the toes, and thus a lack of fatty acids that inhibit skin filamentous fungi, and the physiological defense function is poor. However, the skin in these areas is rich in sweat glands and sweats more frequently. In addition, the air circulation is poor and the local area is humid and warm, which is conducive to the growth of filamentous fungi. In addition, the stratum corneum of the skin on the soles of the feet is thicker, and the keratin in the stratum corneum is a rich nutrient for fungi, which is conducive to the growth of fungi.

During pregnancy, women's endocrine changes cause their skin's ability to resist fungal infections to decrease, making them more susceptible to tinea pedis. Obese people are more likely to suffer from tinea pedis due to moisture between the toes and sweat. Trauma to the foot skin destroys the skin's defense function and is also one of the factors that induce tinea pedis. Diabetic patients are also susceptible to tinea pedis because of the disorder of substance metabolism caused by lack of insulin and the increased sugar content in the skin leading to decreased resistance. Abuse of antibiotics, long-term use of corticosteroids and immunosuppressants, etc., which can cause imbalance in the normal skin flora, can also increase susceptibility to tinea pedis.

The incidence of tinea pedis is also related to lifestyle habits. Some people do not pay attention to foot hygiene and the condition of their shoes and socks, providing a good breeding ground for fungi.

Clinical manifestations

The clinical manifestations are blisters, peeling, or pale and soft skin between the toes. Erosion or thickening, roughness, and cracking of the skin may also occur, and may spread to the soles and edges of the feet, causing severe itching. It may be accompanied by local suppuration, redness, swelling, pain, inguinal lymph node enlargement, and even secondary infections such as calf erysipelas and cellulitis. Due to scratching the itchy area with the hands, it is often transmitted to the hands and causes tinea manuum (tinea pedis). When fungi grow on the nails, it causes onychomycosis (onychomycosis). Fungi like moist and warm environments. The hot summer weather and sweating, as well as people wearing rubber shoes and nylon socks, provide a breeding ground for fungi. The condition usually improves in the winter, manifested by cracking of the skin. There are several types:

1. Blister type

It mostly occurs in the summer, and is manifested by the appearance of rice-sized, deep blisters between the toes, on the edges of the feet, and on the soles of the feet. They are distributed sparsely or in groups, with thick blister walls, clear contents, and are not easy to rupture. They fuse together to form multi-chambered blisters. When the blister walls are torn off, a honeycomb base and bright red erosive surface can be seen, which causes severe itching.

2. Erosive type

It manifests as local softening and whitening of the epidermal stratum corneum. Due to constant friction when walking, the epidermis falls off, revealing a bright red eroded surface; in severe cases, the skin between the toes and the junction of the toes and the soles of the feet can be affected, with severe itching, mostly between the 3rd, 4th, and 5th toes. Common in people with excessive sweating.

3. Scaly keratotic type

Symptoms include thickening, roughness, and scaling of the skin on the soles, edges of the feet, heels, and toes. The scales are in the form of flakes or small dots and fall off repeatedly.

treat

1. Those with erosion and exudation between toes

Do not use any strongly irritating medications externally. It is best to allow the wound to dry and astringent before applying medication. You can apply a 1:8000 potassium permanganate solution as a wet compress, then apply external oil or powder, and after the skin is dry, switch to creams or ointments such as terbinafine hydrochloride.

2. If the skin is severely keratinized and thickened, antifungal drugs are difficult to penetrate and absorb

You can first use 10% salicylic acid ointment or compound benzoic acid ointment to soften the cuticle, and then use antifungal drugs. If the skin is obviously dry and cracked, you can soak it in warm water each time to soften the cuticle, and then use antifungal drugs. For those with obvious dry and cracked skin, you can apply ointment locally after soaking in warm water each time, then seal it with plastic film and wrap it with a bandage. Remove it after 24 to 48 hours and then use antifungal drugs.

3. Small blisters on the feet that have not broken

You can first soak it in 3% boric acid solution, and then use antifungal creams such as bifonazole cream.

4. Tinea pedis combined with bacterial infection, in principle, should be treated with local antibacterial agents first

You can use furacilin solution or 1:2000 berberine solution for wet compress. For severe infection, you can take antibiotics orally, such as cephalexin capsules, erythromycin, etc.

5. Systemic treatment

For stubborn tinea pedis, oral medications can be given if there are no contraindications. Such as terbinafine, itraconazole, fluconazole, etc. These oral medications are effective, but attention should be paid to their possible side effects and they should not be used by people with poor liver function.

6. Take your medication consistently

Tinea pedis is a chronic infection in which fungi grow and multiply in the stratum corneum and require long-term medication to completely eliminate it. Therefore, after the symptoms of tinea pedis are relieved, you still need to continue taking the medication. The skin's metabolic cycle is about 28 days, so the medication must be taken for more than four weeks. It is best to conduct fungal examination and culture, and it is considered cured only if the results are negative for three consecutive weeks.

7. Don’t abuse medication

The most important thing about using medicine for tinea pedis is to carry out consistent and regular treatment according to the classification. Do not blindly treat the disease on your own, as this often delays and worsens the condition.

8. Medication should be based on the specific conditions of the disease

Tinctures should not be used on broken areas, and ointments should be used on thickened skin and cracks.

9. When tinea pedis is secondary infected, acute inflammation occurs locally

It cannot be treated according to general tinea pedis treatment, and the secondary infection should be dealt with first. If there is redness or swelling, apply boric acid water or furazolidone liquid for cold or warm compress locally, and if necessary, apply antibiotics systemically.

prevention

1. Pay attention to cleanliness, keep your skin dry, keep your feet clean, wash several times a day, and change socks frequently.

2. Foot basins and foot towels should be used separately to avoid infecting others.

3. It is not advisable to wear non-breathable shoes such as sports shoes and hiking shoes to avoid excessive foot sweating and aggravated foot odor. People with tight spaces between toes can use clean gauze or cotton balls to sandwich the toes or choose split-toe socks to facilitate moisture absorption and ventilation.

4. Do not eat foods that can easily cause sweating, such as hot peppers, raw onions, raw garlic, etc.

5. The mood should be calm. Excitement and agitation can easily induce sweating and aggravate tinea pedis.

6. Tinea pedis is a contagious skin disease. You should avoid scratching to prevent self-infection and secondary infection.