Cracks in or Between The Toes Symptom, Causes & Questions

Athlete's foot (tinea pedis)

Athlete's foot is a common fungal infection of the feet and/or toes. Warm, moist environments and community showering are common causes of this type of infection.

Rarity: Common

Top Symptoms: foot redness, foot/toe itch, foot skin changes, spontaneous foot pain, peeling between the toes

Symptoms that always occur with athlete's foot (tinea pedis): foot redness

Symptoms that never occur with athlete's foot (tinea pedis): toe injury

Urgency: Self-treatment

Irritant contact dermatitis

Irritant contact dermatitis means a skin reaction that is caused by directly touching an irritating substance, and not by an infectious agent such as a bacteria or virus.

Common causes are soap, bleach, cleaning agents, chemicals, and even water. Almost any substance can cause it with prolonged exposure. Contact dermatitis is not contagious.

Anyone who works with an irritating substance can contract the condition. Mechanics, beauticians, housekeepers, restaurant workers, and health care providers are all susceptible.

Symptoms include skin that feels swollen, stiff, and dry, and becomes cracked and blistered with painful open sores.

A medical provider can give the best advice on how to heal the skin and avoid further irritation. Self-treatment can make the problem worse if the wrong creams or ointments are used.

Diagnosis is made through patient history, to find out what substances the patient comes into contact with, and through physical examination of the damaged skin.

Treatment involves avoiding the irritating substance if possible. Otherwise, the person can use petroleum jelly on the hands underneath cotton and then rubber gloves.

Rarity: Common

Top Symptoms: rash with well-defined border, itchy rash, red or pink, rough patch of skin, painful rash, red rash

Symptoms that always occur with irritant contact dermatitis: rash with well-defined border

Symptoms that never occur with irritant contact dermatitis: fever, black-colored skin changes, brown-colored skin changes, blue-colored skin changes

Urgency: Self-treatment

Allergic contact dermatitis of the foot

Allergic contact dermatitis is a condition in which the skin becomes irritated and inflamed following physical contact with an allergen. Common products known to cause allergic dermatitis include plants, metals, soap, fragrance, and cosmetics.

Rarity: Common

Top Symptoms: foot redness, foot/toe itch, scabbed area of the foot

Symptoms that always occur with allergic contact dermatitis of the foot: foot redness

Urgency: Self-treatment

Skin infection (cellulitis)

Cellulitis is a bacterial infection that can affect the skin of any part of the body. Cellulitis most commonly appears on the legs in adults and on the head in children. It can be the result of any condition that compromises the protective barrier of the skin.

The most common symptoms are a growing region of redness that is warm to touch and painful when pressed. Symptoms indicating that the disease has advanced include fever, chills, headaches, vomiting, and feeling ill.

Antibiotics are required to treat the skin infection, and, importantly, they can prevent the spread of the infection to the lymphatic system or the bloodstream.

Rarity: Uncommon

Top Symptoms: moderate fever, painful rash, red rash, feeling confused and not making sense while talking, abnormally high heartrate

Symptoms that always occur with skin infection (cellulitis): red rash, painful rash

Urgency: Primary care doctor

To diagnose this condition, your doctor would likely ask the following questions:

• Do you have a rash?
• Did you suffer a sudden, physical injury to your toe(s)?
• Did your symptoms start after you were exposed to glues, fragrances, preservatives, hair dyes, soaps, detergents, or other common household chemicals?
• How would you explain the cause of your foot pain?

The above questions are also covered by our A.I. Health Assistant.

People who have experienced cracks in or between the toes have also experienced:

• 18% Pain Between The 2Nd And 3Rd Toe
• 9% Dry Skin
• 6% Foot Peeling

People who have experienced cracks in or between the toes were most often matched with:

• 33% Athlete'S Foot (Tinea Pedis)
• 33% Irritant Contact Dermatitis
• 33% Allergic Contact Dermatitis Of The Foot

Source: Aggregated and anonymized results from visits to the Buoy AI health assistant (check it out by clicking on “Take Quiz”).