Something strange happening with my feet

[star789]

I had a mild redness on my toe months ago and didn't think anything of it because it was so mild.  Now I noticed it has moved to the tops of some of my other toes on both feet (NOT in between the toes or anywhere else on my foot only on the tops of the toes and on the outside sides of my big and little toes.  I don't even want to call it a rash because it doesn't itch.  It doesn't smell either. I can just tell it is there if I hit the area of my toes affected on something... there is just a feeling that it isn't normal.  I have not used anything new or different on my feet.  I don't have any other foot problems.  I don't think it is athlete's foot because:
+Doesn't itch/smell
+Doesn't look like any pictures I've seen of athlete's foot -- this is red spots.. one or a couple on the tops or sides of each toe.  Some of them look like they are digging into the skin.  The bottom of my foot and the inside of my toes are completely normal.
+I have my own shower that no one else uses.  I also haven't walked around barefoot in a public space in years (including locker rooms/pools).

How long would it take from the time athlete's foot bacteria gets on your foot to the time it takes for you to notice symptoms?  

Is there any anti-fungus pill I can buy without having to see a doctor?  Or any other natural ways to treat it?  But again, I'm just assuming this is what it is.

There is also a slight redness on my hip.  Not sure if it is related but it has also been there for months.  

Also, my cat has been itching for months.  I don't think it is ringworm because there is no loss of hair that is the main symptom of ringworm, but it also doesn't seem like any sort of bug.  

If it isn't athlete's foot, what might it be?  I am 24 and don't take any kinds of medication -- don't have any other health problems that I know about.   Athlete's foot is usually the only thing that pops up if I am looking for foot symptoms. Any help would be appreciated.  thanks

[star789]

thanks for the reply.  What specifically makes you suggest erythrasma?  On researching erythrasma, it doesn't look like any of the pictures below (it is mainly separate spots, not one big patch.  On my hip, they are dots the size of a the tip of a pen or pencil):

http://www.skinsight.com/adult/erythrasma-signsAndSymptoms.htm

And also, if I have had it for a few months, wouldn't it look worse by now?  I have no idea how long it takes for the symptoms to look like the above pictures.  And it also isn't in the web of my toes, only on the tips or the tops of my toes.  

[Yena H Do, DPM]

it sounds like you may have a skin condition termed erythrasma.  it can present differently on different people.
i would ask your podiatrist/pcp to prescribe you erythromycin cream.  apply this twice daily.  this should help.  if not, see a podiatrist or dermatologist to revaluate this.

[star789]

Update on the redness on my hip...

about a week ago, I started putting apple cider vinegar on a cotton ball and soaking the redness on my hip, that has been there for months, once in the morning and once at night.   It definitely changed in appearance.  It is still in the same general area but what was once three groups of tiny red dots that took up less than 1 1/2 inches in diameter went to stronger red dots in completely different spots within that same 1 1/2 inches in diameter.  There are also less dots.  When applying the vinegar, the dots slightly sting but otherwise, I still can't physically feel the dots are there except for the second day I started applying the vinegar, when I could just barely feel like something was there.  I still have no idea what is is, but I just wanted to mention that vinegar has had some kind of effect on it.  I just don't know if it is getting better or worse.  I haven't started trying anything with my toes yet though.