Toes of Torture!

[Tinea Pedis Thomas]

I am a 38 year-old Male that has recurring skin problems on my left foot only. I am in good health and do not have any known medical problems. I do not take any medications and do not smoke, though I do drink socially. I do work out at a gym wear my feet could have been exposed to things in the showers, hot tub, steam room or dry sauna.

The prblem was mostly between toe 2 & 3 for years then as that was improving it began in between toe 3 and 4. Lately it has gotten worse and is not only between most toes, it is at the bottom of each toe and on the top of my foot. I have seen images for the diagnosis 'Tinea Pedis' on the web and several of them really look like what I have but I have no discoloration or problems with my toenails.

This problem has been ongoing for several years and generally did not impair my mobility until now. The skin is either tough or dry at the site of the problem or almost a

[Erick]

Thomas,

   I had the identical same symptoms for over a year. Finally went to a doctor who took a culture.  It came back positive for strep and staph. A perscription of Kelfex cured it...I would strongly suggest you get a culture done.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

A rash on one foot only is not likely to be fungal.  Added to that is the fact that fungal treatments haven't helped.

A toe rash which isn't fungus may be something in the eczema or dermatitis family.  Soaking repeatedly in peroxide or alcohol is very much the opposite of what is likely to help.  You don't need or want to clean your foot that often, since you may well aggravate the problem that way, and dirt is not the issue.

I therefore advise you to avoid repeated cleaning with solvents, to apply a healing ointment like Aquaphor (OTC) several times a day, and to deal with itch by using Sarna lotion as needed (also OTC.)

If after a few weeks of that regimen you're not comfortable, I advise you to consult a skin doctor.  It's worth the price of a visit, I think, once confounding factors like irritation have been removed.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff