What is the meaning of peeling skin between my toes? What causes it? Get more on the causes and their treatments and remedies (how to get rid of the problem) including peeling in babies.
Cause and Treatment
Table of content
Peeling skin or desquamation is the loss or shedding of the outer layer of your skin. Some individuals may develop peeling skin between toes recurrently, with the symptoms getting worse during certain times of the year, while others may not.
What really lead to this kind of [eeling? What are some of the symptoms and treatments? Well, below are the common reasons why you may suffer from this problem as well as respective treatments.
a). Athlete`s Foot
This condition involves foot fungus that normally affects the skin between your toes or on your feet generally. The availability of conducive environment between your toes (dark and moist) will provide a good ground for multiplication of this fungus.
It is worthwhile to note that skin peeling between the toes and an itchiness between toes are the major symptoms of athlete’s foot making it a conditions cause a lot of discomforts. This condition usually develops alongside symptoms such as burning sensation, cracking, scaling, softening and flaking of the affected toes skin as well as redness between toes.
Constantly putting on of footwear usually avails the warm and moist environment for fungus growth. You also need to bear in mind that the signs and symptoms of athlete`s foot will vary from one individual to the other.
Treatment of athlete’s foot
If you discover that it is triggered by athlete’s foot, then one of the best and most effective treatments could be anti-fungal creams. Common Nonprescription antifungals include clotrimazole, miconazole, terbinafine (Lamisil), as well as tolnaftate.
It will also equally be good to use the anti-bacterial soap to wash and scrub your foot properly, to avoid invasion of bacteria on your feet too. Furthermore, application natural products such as aloe vera and tea tree oil have also proven effective.
However, before we could jump to a conclusion it is athlete’s feet you have, ensure you get a proper diagnosis. In addition, you must, ensure the area between your toes is clean and dry. This is a very in ensuring that athlete`s foot does not recur.
Again, to eliminate foot wetness that enhances fungal growth, an individual can apply cornstarch. In severe circumstances where you will develop redness, cracks or pain, be sure to pay a visit to your doctor for a prescription of oral antifungals.
b). Dry environmental conditions
This is the other possible cause is dry skin is also most common during winters. In addition, during summer times, the searing heat will rob the skin between the toes its moisture especially if you have a dry summer time.
If your skin the peeling between your toes is due to dry weather, then it can be worse if you don’t have humidifier inside your home. This kind of peeling can also occur alongside other symptoms such peeling, itchiness and dryness in other parts of the body.
Finally, the dry skin between your toes can be due to excessive washing or just not well-hydrated feet skin.
Dealing with environmental factors
Ensure you get a good moisturizer (lotions, creams, and gels) for your feet during winter or during very dry weather. Also, ensure you drink lots of water.
In addition, put a humidifier in your house as well as applying sunscreens to help you protect your feet and hands from sun exposure. This will help limit the rate of dehydration of the skin in your feet and hands.
c). Toe box dermatitis
Toe box dermatitis is a condition that emerges when the toe box of your shoe insulates your foot and prevent sweat from escaping from your toe. This will also prevent your foot from getting enough air and your foot will be then exposed to increased temperature and excessive moisture.
What does this result in? The skin between your toes will become very sensitive, inflamed, and red and will start to peel.
Treatment of toe box dermatitis
If it is due to toe box dermatitis, change material making up your shoes. You can also stop putting on your shoes more frequently or for a longer period. Furthermore, opt for a rubber toe box that is breathable or open-toed sandals.
Again, if you want to get rid of unnecessary moisture, you can try to use drying agents, powders and sprays.
d). Allergic reactions
This is another common trigger of peeling experienced between the toes. The peeling due to allergies is normally accompanied by itchiness.
Some of the factors that can render your toe skin to be susceptible to allergens may include swimming in chlorinated pools that sometimes times may be a public utility, walking barefooted can also expose the skin between your toe to some allergens including certain shrubs and even insect bites, home cleaning agent, and detergents.
All these factors have the potential to trigger this problem. Skin peeling can also in rare cases, be triggered by allergens that affect other parts of the body or even when they find their way inside your body.
Treatment if due to allergies
If at all you realize that your case is due to your body’s response to allergens, then first, try to establish the types of allergens of which you are victim to and make sure you avoid them. You can then consult your doctor who will most probably prescribe for your antihistamine that would help impede symptoms.
e). Psoriasis
Psoriasis a form of eczema that has been blamed for this peeling among other skin problems. Though the reason behind it is not clear, doctors say that this disorder has a close link with a person`s immune system. They also suggest that psoriasis is also somewhat connected to an individual’s nervous systems.
This disorder can also be induced by several factors including stress, an infection such as strep throat, and certain medications.
According to healthline.com, suffering from this condition have an abnormal growth of skin cells that “accumulate on the skin’s surface, resulting in thick patches of red, dry, and itchy skin.” This can also be accompanied by peeling.
Treatment when due to psoriasis
To relief the symptoms of this disorder, you can use moisturizer and mild soaps. Your doctor can also prescribe for you the following products:
- Creams, gels, or ointments, to reduce itchy, inflamed, or scaly skin
- Salicylic acid, this a peeling agent that softens or extracts thick scales
- Corticosteroids, regularly creams and ointments
Remember, Psoriasis is an immune system condition, so when treatment does not bear fruit, the doctor may recommend more effective therapy as listed below:
- Low-dose retinoid that will reduce cell multiplication
- Methotrexate, which decelerates an enzyme that causes the rapid growth of skin cells in psoriasis
- Cyclosporine, this will slow down the overactive immune system
f). Cellulitis
Though cellulitis (a bacterial infection) is just a minor reason for peeling between the toes, we should also mention it. Cellulitis usually occurs due to bacterial infection and it is commonly developing alongside other symptoms such as warmth, skin irritation, and peeling, redness and fever and pain.
Though Cellulitis is not a serious infection, it can get agitated by some condition and hence it can lead to serious symptoms.
Treatment
Before you bother your doctor about the cellulitis treatments, try preventive measures such as using antibacterial creams or lotion and keeping your feet skin clean. If the cellulitis forces you to see your doctor, then the most likely treatment the doctor will offer your is the prescription of antibiotics.
g). Trench Foot
What is trench foot and what are its causes? Well, trench foot usually develops when your foot is put into a dampen conditions for a long period of time. Those who work in a wet environment with barefoot are more vulnerable to this condition. In addition, wearing rubber boots while working in hot environments can also trigger trench foot.
Just-health.net indicates that trench foot is most commonly seen in the wintertime, but it can also be seen in other seasons. Kindly note that continual exposures to the cold can cause blisters, erythema, or redness, and skin that peels between the toes.
Treatment of trench foot
It should be very clear that most suitable remedy for trench foot if prevention. How can this be achieved? To begin with, you should avoid exposing your feet to cold (wet environments) and try to keep the environment insides your shoes dry.
Secondly, control excessive sweating. Nevertheless, applying warm compresses is recommended because it will help enhance blood flow to the skin around your feet. To sum up, when your notice no improvement of trench foot, visit a doctor.
i). Dry skin between the Toes
The skin on our feet is naturally dry, dissimilar to that on the rest of the body. It has no oil glands, so it depends on various sweat glands to keep our feet moisturized. Dry feet can range from mild, temporary to severe dry skin that causes superfluous problems. Skin can become dry for a number of reasons, but there are measures that can be applied to prevent it, such as maintaining your feet moisturized and evade rubbing or scratching the skin.
Dry Feet Symptoms you must be careful with
Dry feet are generally a symptom of another problem. If you have dry feet, you may develop other symptoms such as symptoms such as itchiness, redness, cracks in the feet rough, flaky, peeling skin and rash.
Why are my feet dry?
Now that dry feet are caused by a lack of moisture, various factors that can lead to dry feet, and they comprise:
- Medical conditions such as diabetes, thyroid disease and so forth
- Cold weather
- Low humidity levels in home, office among others places
- Aging
- Long periods spent in the sun
- Excessively hot showers or baths
- A skin condition that dries the skin
- Soaps that are non-moisturizing
j). More causes
Other possible factors that can initiate or cause this problem include skin disorders, toxic epidermal necrolysis, peeling skin syndrome and a side effect of certain medications.
NOTE, if you are uncertain of what causes this condition, visit a doctor as soon as possible.
In babies
Do you know what can make a baby develop peeling skin especially between his/her toe? If your baby’s in between toes skin begins to peel off, it can be such a discomfort to be baby. Being young and vulnerable, expect pain, sleepless nights and cries if your baby has an itchiness, besides the peeling.
When it occurs on feet or even hands in babies can be caused by direct damage to the skin or by a wide variety of mild to severe diseases, disorders, and conditions. Allergic and infectious causes are common in children. Bear in mind that this can occur anywhere in the body too.
Just like in the case of adults, peeling skin on the feet can occur alone or it can affect the other body parts. Depending on the trigger, it may go away with home remedies or over-the-counter creams or lotions, or it may require treatment of the underlying disease, disorder or condition.
If you try treating it in your child’s home remedies or OTC products and it is not fruitful, please visit your pediatrician to help you out.
Dry peeling skin pictures
More tips and remedies
In most instances, unless caused by an infectious condition, peeling skin between toes is not transmissible. Secondly, the healing process period will depend on the response of the peeling skin to certain medications.
The various remedies and treatment will only be effective if the cause of peeling skin identified. Some of the most effective home remedies.
- You can try soaking your feet in warm water to hasten the relief. A solution containing warm water, 1/2 cup of vinegar and 2 teaspoons of salt can aid clearing up any peeling condition if used frequently. You should also stop over washing your feet since can lead to them to dry and worsen the peeling.
- To prevent it, your feet should be kept dry most of the time. This can be achieved by wearing socks made out of appropriate fibers especially that which is fashioned to keep your feet dry. Natural fibers are considered good absorbent and they can help keep your feet dry.
- You can also combine a spoonful of olive oil and a few drops of lemon or lavender oil to make a moisturizing agent. Be sure to shake it until these ingredients form a thick milky solution. You can then use the solution on your cracked skin between the toes.
- Another good remedy again is the application Vaseline and lemon juice. Note that these products should be applied after you have washed and dried your feet. It would better if you can apply this before going to bed and wear wool socks.
- Other home products that can be applied include honey, aloe vera, Listerine vinegar, coarse rice powder, magnesium Epsom salt, paraffin wax and many more.
- Massaging peeling skin is just but a wonderful idea altogether.
Warning: After applying the above home procedures and your situation does not prove to get better, please visit your medical service provider.
Our list of References
- http://www.just-health.net/Skin-Peeling-Between-Toes.html
- http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/guide/fungal-infections-skin
- http://www.enkivillage.com/skin-peeling-between-toes.html
- http://www.livestrong.com/article/156419-reasons-for-skin-peeling-between-the-toes/
- http://mddk.com/skin-peeling-between-toes.html
- https://www.healthgrades.com/symptoms/peeling-skin-on-hands-and-feet-in-children
- http://www.livestrong.com/article/221155-what-causes-peeling-skin-on-childrens-feet/
- http://www.footvitals.com/skin/dry-feet.html