This series of educational material is a broad overview of foot problems, and not as detailed as an actual podiatrist visit. I recommend you to see a podiatrist for professional evaluation of your foot and ankle problems. This is for educational purposes only.

This material is from my own experiences seeing patients. Other podiatrists may have different recommendations. Each examination has nuances and details too small to mention in this type of presentation.

What is Interdigital Maceration (Wetness Between the Toes)?

Wetness between the toes (interdigital maceration) is when the skin has too much moisture and that moisture cannot escape. It turns the skin white and eventually the skin breaks down. The breakdown of skin can allow bacteria or fungus to infect the skin. These infections then cause more problems.

Causes

Interdigital maceration is caused by too much moisture between the toes. This can be caused by fungal infection (interdigital tinea), excessive sweating, wet environment for long period of time (wet socks and shoes or being in the water for hours at a time), or chubby toes pushed together by shape or tight shoes that do not allow sweat to evaporate.

Symptoms

- White and then white peeling skin between the toes.

If an infection occurs due to open peeling skin there are more symptoms that may occur.

- Fungal Infection:

o Itching

o Redness

o Clear drainage

o Foul Odor

- Bacterial Infection:

o Itching

o Pain

o Redness

o Yellow, Green, or Clear drainage

o Foul Odor

Often times a person will have both fungal and bacterial infections at the same time.

Treatment

Seeing a podiatrist in person is important to help treat this condition. The causes are varied and there are conditions that are NOT wetness that can present very similar. For example a corn in the webspace looks like wetness but is actually caused by bone spurs in the toes.

My general treatment plan is:

- Evaluate environment and figure out what is causing too much wetness.

- Dry between the toes 3 times a day. Apply a betadine-soaked gauze between the toes at night time. Wear a sock to prevent the betadine (povidone-iodine) from staining sheets and blankets.

- If infection is suspected take fungal and bacterial swabs to test for infections that could require antibiotics.

- Use a UV light (Wood’s lamp) to check for red or green glowing that can indicate specific types of bacterial infection (erythrasma or pseudomonas).

- If only one area is effected take an x-ray to rule out bone spurs.

- If infection is present antifungal topicals and/or oral antibiotics are prescribed according to the culture results.

Warning: do not use steroid cream or lotion for more than 2 weeks at a time. It does not treat the cause of itching and will cause the skin to thin out and become more susceptible to forming wounds.

I hope this educational article has been helpful for you. Feel free to share it with family and friends.

https://afootdoctor.net/fungal-webspace-wet-toe-webspace-interdigital-tinea-itchy-toes