Cracked Toes
Dry, cracked toes can be painful and unattractive. Toes that suffer deep fissures and thickened skin due to everyday wear and tear and excessive sweating can even bleed especially if it becomes infected. It can even become difficult to walk and engage in one’s daily activities with such a condition.
However, temporarily going barefoot or wearing sandals instead of the normally enclosing shoes can be helpful. Also, general foot care and pampering can help avoid the formation of more cracks and immediately treating any infections can help avoid further complications on the cracked toes.
What Causes Cracked Toes
The area between the toes is very susceptible to cracks. Cracked toes can be caused by several reasons and some of which are:
- Fungal growth athlete’s foot
- Bathing habits like taking a shower that is too hot may dry out the skin especially the skin of the feet. Showering too frequently may cause the same.
- Wearing shoes that don’t fit properly causing the feet to sweat.
- Bacterial Infection
- Severely dry skin
- Eczema
- Dermatitis which can result from allergic reactions to plants or other irritants.
- Scabies
- Having diabetes may also increase the chance of getting infections in the feet, especially one that has cracks on it.
Cracked Toes Cure
Treatment for cracked toes will usually depend on the severity of the condition. It can be treated at home if the cracked toes are not infected, but if it is, medical treatment is needed. Below are some of the things to do to cure cracked toes:
- Aim to keep cracked skin of toes dry and well-aired to combat fungal infection. Always dry properly after a shower or when sweating.
- Apply topical anti-fungal creams on affected toes until the skin heals.
- Use of an anti-itch cream or powder can help lessen the irritation.
- Always wear white, clean socks of 10 percent cotton or wear open sandals or flip flops.
- Avoid using moisturizers or petroleum jelly on cracked toes. Tea tree oil can be used as an alternative for it is a natural anti-fungal.
- Over-the-counter drugs like oral anti-fungal medications or antibiotics may be taken to deal with foot infections. However, a doctor’s prescription is required.
- For deeper or inflamed cracked toes, Podiatrists or doctors may use specialist treatments to help cure cracked toes.