Diagnose my toe skin narsties... (photo)

[Fordian]

Sorry, not attractive ties, and yes, much toenail fungus (possibly related).

I have these red, raw patches between my toes, and have had them for way over a year.

I have had Athlete's foot, sorted with Canestan in the past; toe itches sorted with steroid cream from time to time; Australian level fungal infections treated appropriately diagnosed via 'scrape' 20 odd years ago. But this isn't going away. I tea-tree oil my nails and the red skin twice a day though I don't think it's making any difference.

This doesn't drive me mad with itching, like Athlete's foot does; but I'd like it gone. I'd see my GP, but, like most of us, I don't have the time or energy to re-prove that Canestan and steroid cream doesn't work; always assuming there's any chance at all of seeing a GP, of course.

Is there anything else I could try?

I don't have a suggestion for treatment but could this be Covid toes? There might be some remedy suggestions on relevant message boards?

No, definitely not Covid toes. It's dermatology, not circulatory.

They aren't pretty feet! 😂 They're 60!

Try the chemist? They looked at my manky toes and suggested chilblains (I thought it was covid tie). They recommended some cream which they couldn’t get due to stock shortage. It went away in its own after a few weeks.

Tbe fungus that infects your nails also affects the skin, DH had it. He still has manky nails but the skin improved when he changed to wearing shoes that were breathable and had a wide toebox (Birkenstocks in the summer).

It’s all fungal. You need to ask a GP to prescribe anti fungal tablets.

Have you tried a different anti fungal cream, like daktarin? The skin between your big toe & second toe looks broken & sore. I’d be wary of putting tea tree on that.

Thanks.

Should I 'request' a scrape? I think I probably need to, don't I?

My 20-25 year ago Australian experience was a great local paid-for GP who did the old Canestan thing, but took a scrape. Phoned me two days later to tell me I needed an anti fungal, desist with the Canestan!

That probably what I need to do, isn't it?

@Lobworm

Have you tried a different anti fungal cream, like daktarin? The skin between your big toe & second toe looks broken & sore. I’d be wary of putting tea tree on that.

Interestingly, it doesn't hurt at all! I'd imagine it would sting like hell, but doesn't!

Yep see a dr (or a private derm) and get terbinafine tablets. It’ll solve the nail fungus but also the sores that have affected your skin from the fungus.

Are you diabetic?

No, not diabetic. This really is superficial! It's dermatology.

Terbinafine isn't great for your liver, is it?

Terbinafine. It's the only thing that actually works.

It isn't great for your liver, in theory, and you have to have a liver function test before and after. They are careful about it. I had absolutely no ill effects, only a magical cure for lifelong disgusting feet. Obviously that's not a guarantee it will be the same for you but I'm astonished by the difference it's made to my quality of life - much more than I expected for a foot thing - and I would say it is worth it.

I had a five month course of terbinafine which cleared everything up. Any hint of anything new starting and I use hibiscrub once a day for a week. Always sorts it out. Good luck OP!

See a podiatrist, they're medically trained specialists for this sort of thing. I hope you get it sorted soon!

Thanks everyone.