Athletes foot? Itching like mad. Help! Close up pic warning

[Mankyfoot]

Name changed for reasons of grossness.

Does this look like athletes foot? I've had it for a couple of months now, and despite trying all sorts of treatment - anti fungal creams, Lamasil Once, regular washing, changing socks and shoes regularly, airing my feet when at home - it's been getting worse.

The itching is unbearable and it's really sore. I'm taking antihistamines at night so I don't scratch it to bits. Is there anything else I can do to get rid of it, maybe some super-strong treatment I haven't tried yet? Nothing I've tried so far seems to make any difference.

It's on both feet, in the same place on both. At this point I will try pretty much anything to make it go away!

That looks more like something like eczema to me.

I'd not thought of that. I'm 52 and Ive never had eczema or similar skin problems before. I'll look into that possibility.

Has a doctor or pharmacist had a look for you, I had something similar and got prescribed cream

Could it be scabies?

My only other suggestion is Palmoplantar pustulosis. Looks similar.

Looks like Dyshydrosis aka cheiro pompholyx.

Get to the GP for some cream. You need to know it's a bugger to get rid of but not infectious.

I had it a few years ago on my hands and feet, it went eventually though I get occasional outbreaks on my hands when I'm stressed.

It's a type of eczema related to stress, starts as blistery type bumps that itch, if you hurts them they don't itch but then peel, I found best thing was Epsom salt soaks, I had it alllllllll over my hands and feet. I've just got two bumps now, ignore the wrinkly old lady feet, I've had them my entire life and I'm only mid 30's!!!

If you burst them, not hurts them!!!

Thank you all. I've googled and it definitely sounds like Dyshydrosis. Good to know it's not infectious at least. I'll book an appointment with the GP and see what they can do.

Some of the sites I looked at say it's allergy related. Weird, as I've never had hay fever or any allergies as far as I know. I suppose there's always a first time!

Norfolk I have Epsom salts here so I'll give that a try. Doesn't it spread if you pop the blisters? I've had the flaky skin too. It seems to go in a cycle of red rash, itchy blisters, flaky skin then back to the rash. Lovely!

I’ve had similar on my feet and did a couple of soaks in Apple cider vinegar. I just used cheap Aldi stuff with 1 Cup of vinegar to 5 cups of water. It also cleared up a load of dry skin.

It looks like pompholyx eczema, you can get it on your hands and / or feet. I get it on my hands and it starts as small very itchy blisters. You need to see your GP. My hands are like this at the moment.

Ouch that looks so sore. It must be so much worse having it on your hands. At least feet are covered up and protected in winter. Is this something you've had for a long time? What can your GP do to help?
Mine's not letting up so I'm seeing my GP later today about it.

Back from the GP. He wasn't much help
He kept looking at athlete foot websites and saying it doesn't really look like athletes foot. I kept trying to ask if it could be Dyshidrosis, which seemed to confuse him. After 30 minutes he called in a senior GP (I think the first one was a trainee?) who said it's Dyshidrosis and suggested I try an OTC emollient cream from the pharmacy. She also said it's not easy to get rid of but gave no tips for treatment or advice apart from using the cream.

Sounds like they weren't a lot of use mankyfoot

Emollient cream helps but it won't clear it up, you need a steroid cream. You can buy one called Eumovate OTC from a pharmacy. It's not as strong as the doctors can prescribe though. I've got a very potent one from my GP and they have put me on oral steroid tablets and antibiotics too. I've got an appointment with a dermatologist on Thursday as my GP is out of ideas.

Mine comes and goes, if yours doesn't clear up go back as you might need something stronger.

It's also called pompholyx eczema.