Do you sometimes get cracked skin between your toes? It’s a really common foot issue and it’s just dry skin, right? Wrong!
A dermatologist has gone viral on TikTok after revealing what the condition really is, and a bit of moisturiser won’t help.
Common foot condition is ‘not dry skin’
“This is not dry skin,” New York-based dermatologist Dr. Mark said while showing a picture of a person’s toes.
“This is also not dry skin,” he continued. “It’s just going to get worse and smellier if you put moisturiser on it.”
“In between these toes look dry and flakey, but this is also not dry skin,” the dermatologist added while showing another image.
“A lot of people with this skin condition wonder why they have dry and flaky skin inbetween the toes, an area that’s not supposed to get dry,” he said.
Dr. Mark then revealed all of the people in the pictures actually have a fungal infection called Athlete’s Foot.
It’s a really common condition, and 3 to 15% of the population is estimated to be affected at any one time.
Make sure you’re checking in between your toes 👀👀 If you have flaky skin in between the toes and on the bottom of the feet, you probably don’t want to use moisturizer on it! #atheletesfoot #tineapedis #dermatologist#greenscreen
Treating and preventing Athlete’s Foot
The common infection is caused by a fungus and symptoms include itching, burning, and cracked, scaly skin between your toes, MedlinePlus explains. You pick up the fungus by stepping on it, usually on damp surfaces like showers, swimming pools, and locker room floors.
It’s not serious, and an over-the-counter antifungal cream usually clears it up very quickly, but prescription medicines may be needed for more serious infections. However, the dermatologist warned that it’s really important to treat Athlete’s Foot before it spreads to the toenails.
A fungal infection of the nail is much harder to get rid of and usually requires “several months of oral antifungal medication,” he said.
To prevent it, MedlinePlus recommends keeping your feet clean, dry, and cool and always wearing clean socks. Also, avoid walking barefoot in public areas, wear flip-flops in locker room showers and keep your toenails clean and clipped short.
Dr. Mark Strom (MD, FAAD) is a board-certified dermatologist at Mount Sinai Doctors Medical Group in New York City. He is currently seeing patients at Mount Sinai Doctors Williamsburg and Mount Sinai Doctors NoHo, and gained his medical degree from the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago.
