When is athletes foot not athletes foot??

[LittleMy77]

I’ve had an ongoing issue for the last two months with one foot, that is escalating and looks to be worsening with each topical cream I get prescribed

i went to the GP approx 2 months ago with a couple of itchy spots / bumps by my little toe, they thought athletes foot so prescribed me Daktacort. Within 3 days of using it I got a burning sensation and small orange style pimples / blisters and welts round my toes, in what looked like a perfectly formed horseshoe, similar to ringworm but Drs decided it wasn’t

cue another GP visit, a course of antibiotics and different steroid cream. Rash died down a bit but still orange blister pimples, and spread like typical athletes foot, with the skin breaking , where it hadn’t before, she thought possibly pompholyx eczema

another 2 visits / phone call with GP, another different cream, but same issue, and just spreading and itching like mad. I self referred to a private dermatologist thru work healthcare, who thought not eczema, but athletes foot, and prescribed stronger anti fungal cream

its made it way worse, with skin blistering and the blistering / cracking now spreading (possibly from the cream?) I’ve brought forward my next check in with the dermatologist as the state of my foot means it’s starting to be difficult to walk if this continues, and I’m going to request they do a skin culture / test

its driving me mad; I’m not a medical person but I don’t think it’s athletes foot. Or if it is, I’ve got some weird reaction to the cream. But wtf is it?? I had covid 5 months ago so I suspect it’s something to do with that. My GP has been v diligent and has ordered blood tests for immune issues so I’m waiting for results

in the meantime I’m at a loss on what to use on it so it’s not worse. I’m also starting to go slowly mad as I can’t exercise with it (used to swim which I can’t do as the skin is broken and possibly infectious, and can’t run due to the spread on the sole of my foot)

Usually if it’s not fungal, it’s bacterial. Do insist on a culture. And on a test for diabetes. The first course of antibiotics was probably not long enough or strong enough- thus the rash dying down a bit but then returning with a vengeance.

Sounds like Pompholyx to me, I used to get this on my hands-intense itchiness… I wanted to scratch my fingers off!
what worked for me was this… washing with gentle soap, gently Pat dry with soft towel, apply diprobase. If still angry, a few days of steroid mixed with moisturing cream/gel (can’t remember the name right now but will try to). For feet I imagine it would be important to prevent them getting too hot and sweaty so cotton socks, minimal shoes where possible to let them breathe.

ive remembered.. Hydrocortisone ointment-I found this much better than the cream version.

Thanks both! The weird rash on top of my foot has gone, but the side of my little toe and underneath my foot are awful which got worse post using the last strong prescription cream

ive also randomly broken out this morning in what I think are clusters of pompholyx blisters on my hands, like I used to get years ago, anti histamine is helping but im out of patience!

will defo ask for a culture @Discovereads and try the ointment suggested @MrsTopaz, thank you!