Itchy skin between your toes after going back to closed shoes

If the skin between your toes itches or peels, one possible cause is athlete’s foot, a fungal infection. It may also be irritation from moisture or another skin problem. If it keeps coming back, cracks appear or you do not know what is causing it, it is worth having it assessed.

Marta had started watching the clock, thinking about the moment she would get home and take her shoes off.

When she went back to closed shoes in October, she noticed itching between two toes. At first it was a nuisance at the end of the day. Then she saw that the skin was whitish and coming away a little. She dried herself quickly after the shower, got dressed and carried on with her day. At night, the itching came back.

For a few days she thought it was down to her socks. She tried another pair of shoes. And a cream she had at home, without really knowing what it was for.

What she found hardest was booking an appointment. She felt awkward about someone seeing her feet and thinking she did not look after herself.

When she finally sits down in a consulting room, the first thing she says is: “I wash them every day. I am embarrassed that they look like this.”

That worry deserves space. Before examining the skin, it matters to listen to what is happening and to what she has tried to feel better. Being able to say that something embarrasses you also makes the visit easier.

The assessment points to athlete’s foot. She is told what that means, how it is treated and what changes she can make to her routine. If the examination left doubts, or the problem did not respond as expected, the diagnosis would need reviewing and tests would be considered.

Marta leaves knowing what to do and when to come back. With an explanation she understands, and the relief of having been able to ask what she had been keeping to herself for days.

Perhaps you recognise yourself in that part, even if your problem is a different one. Sometimes showing your feet is harder than explaining where they hurt.

In autumn some routines change: more hours in closed shoes, different socks, or going back to training and changing rooms. If warmth and moisture stay trapped inside the shoe, it creates an environment that favours the fungi behind athlete’s foot.

That does not mean every closed shoe causes an infection, or that the problem belongs only to October. The specific details are what matter: whether your sock ends the day damp, whether the shoe is still wet inside the next day, or whether water is left between your toes after a shower.

The Official College of Podiatry of the Valencian Community lists itching, flaking and soggy skin between the toes among the signs worth having checked at the end of summer, and points out that not every skin change is a fungal infection. The time of year is context, not a diagnosis.

Athlete’s foot can cause itching, flaking, stinging and small cracks. Despite its name, it can affect people who do no sport at all.

But white or peeling skin between the toes does not confirm on its own that fungus is involved. Moisture that lingers can soften and irritate the skin; there are also eczemas and reactions to components of footwear that need a different approach. Sometimes several problems occur together.

And if what you feel between two toes is a soft, whitish patch that hurts when pressed or when your toes are squeezed together in the shoe, it may be a soft corn: hard skin that moisture softens, and that is treated differently.

That is why it helps to say how long it has been happening, whether it affects one foot or both, and which products you have used. If a treatment is not working, switching from cream to cream without looking at the cause can drag out the uncertainty.

If you are also worried about a nail that has changed in appearance, mention it: skin and nail may need different care. Why nail lacquer for fungus sometimes does not solve the problem explains that other situation.

While you look for advice, there are simple steps to reduce moisture and look after the skin:

If athlete’s foot is confirmed, many cases are treated with an antifungal applied to the skin. The product and how long to use it depend on the situation: follow the advice of the professional and the leaflet, even if the itching improves sooner. And do not use steroid creams on your own on a rash that has not been diagnosed: they can make a fungal infection worse and change how it looks, which makes it harder to recognise afterwards.

You can start by saying something as simple as “it itches at the end of the day” or “I am worried it will come back”. You do not need to know the name of what you have.

At the clinic in Altea, I carry out the assessment, the treatment and the follow-up myself. First we talk about what you notice, your medical history and the products you have tried. Then I examine the area and explain the next step. If you would like to know beforehand what the place is like, what the clinic is like and what happens during the visit shows you.

Some cases can be identified from the history and the examination. When there are doubts, or it is not progressing as expected, a small skin sample may need to be tested, or another opinion sought.

It also matters that the advice is realistic for you. If you work in closed shoes all day, tell me. Bring the shoes you wear and the names of the creams you have used: with that we can talk about changes you can keep up.

Fungal and bacterial infections explains how skin and nails are assessed and treated at the clinic.

Ask for an assessment if the itching persists or comes back, if the skin cracks, or if the treatment you are following is not giving the expected result. There is no need to wait until the discomfort stops you walking.

If there is significant pain, warmth and swelling, pus or redness that is spreading, seek prompt medical care. With a fever, feeling unwell or rapid worsening, seek urgent care.

If you have diabetes, poor circulation, reduced feeling in your feet or a weakened immune system, get any new lesion checked early. A wound or signs of infection need attention without waiting for a routine check-up. What to check on your feet if you have diabetes explains how to check them every day.

If you feel awkward about showing your feet, you can tell me at the start. If you have tried something on your own, tell me that too: knowing it helps me understand how the skin has changed.

There is no need to try to make it perfect, trim what is peeling or hide what worries you before you come. Your usual hygiene is enough. The clinic is a place where you can talk about these things naturally.

By the end of the visit, I would like you to be clear about what we have seen, what you can do and when it is worth coming back. And to have been able to ask without wondering whether it was a silly question.

If the itching or the cracks keep coming back, you can request an assessment at the clinic in Altea. The clinic reviews the request and confirms the appointment.