Why is the skin peeling between my toes?

The feet take the brunt of almost all of our movement throughout the day, which means the skin in this area is prone to wear and tear. This can sometimes cause the skin on our feet to peel, such as the space between our toes.

Your skin may peel between your toes due to a fungal infection such as Athlete’s foot or an itchy rash caused by contact dermatitis.

Each skin condition has a different set of treatment options. In order to determine what will work best for you, it may be helpful to evaluate your symptoms to determine the underlying cause. 

Several health conditions may cause your skin to peel between your toes, such as:

Athlete’s foot

Athlete’s foot is a common fungal infection that usually starts in the toes before spreading to other parts of the foot. The medical research community estimates that 3–15% of the population is affected by it at any given time. 

The first symptom of Athlete’s foot may be a red, scaly rash that progresses into peeling skin. It is often itchy and painful. The fungus thrives in moist areas, which is why athletes or those wearing tight-fitting shoes may be more prone to it. It’s also very contagious, and easily spread in common areas such as locker rooms. 

There is a wide range of OTC antifungal creams that can treat a fungal infection like Athlete’s foot.

Examples of OTC creams for Athlete’s foot include:

• terbinafine (lamisil)
• tolnaftate (tinactin)
• clotrimazole (Lotrimin Ultra)

Severe cases may require an oral prescription medication, but this is rare.  

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Contact dermatitis

Contact dermatitis can occur when the skin comes into contact with an allergen or something that the body interprets as a threat, such as a chemical. Many shoes contain chemicals that the skin might react to, including glue, rubber, leather, and metal. 

This can cause contact dermatitis to occur from irritation caused by your shoes. It can lead to the following symptoms:

• redness
• swelling
• itching
• blisters

Shoe contact dermatitis is a common condition, and research estimates that it represents about 10% of results for people who get patch allergy testing. 

If your symptoms persist, it may be helpful to take a closer look at the materials in your shoe to see what may be causing your symptoms.

Eczema

Though eczema can occur all over the body, there is a particular type of eczema that affects your hands and feet called dyshidrotic eczema. It usually begins with painful blisters that turn into dry and peeling skin. It can often be quite painful, causing an itching and burning sensation.  

Topical steroids, such as hydrocortisone (Cortef), combined with soaking or cold compresses, typically address symptoms quickly, according to the National Eczema Association.

To aid the healing process for severe cases, your doctor may prescribe a steroid cream.

Cellulitis

Cellulitis is a bacterial skin infection that can commonly affect the limbs, including the feet and toes. Unhealed wounds on the feet — which can include athlete’s foot — cause it. It often results in inflammation and red, painful blisters. 

After these blisters pop, they may peel. You may notice that you also have a fever, as your body fights the infection.

Treating cellulitis requires antibiotics prescribed by your doctor, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. It requires immediate treatment, as it’s possible to spread to other areas of the body.

Examples of antibiotics prescribed for cellulitis include:

• dicloxacillin (Diclocil)
• cephalexin (Keflex)
• trimethoprim (Bactrim)

Are there any ways to prevent peeling skin between toes?

In general, the best way to prevent skin damage, such as peeling between the toes is to keep them dry, well-ventilated, and clean.

It is important to ensure you follow good hygiene practices, such as changing socks often and avoiding going barefoot in common areas. You should also change the shoes you wear regularly. 

When to contact a doctor

If pain and inflammation between the toes persist, it may be an infection. As the infection would require antibiotics, it is important to speak with a doctor immediately, to ensure it doesn’t spread.

Hydrocortisone — an OTC cream containing a mild amount of steroids — can help bolster the skin’s ability to heal. It can also help calm itching. If symptoms persist and it’s unclear the source of the allergen, you may want to make an appointment with an allergist for allergy testing.

Summary

Several conditions may cause your skin to peel between your toes, such as:

• Athlete’s foot
• cellulitis
• eczema
• contact dermatitis

As the toes rub together often during the course, you may occasionally experience skin peeling. But if you notice persistent pain and swelling, it could indicate an underlying problem that requires treatment, such as an infection.

Consider speaking with a healthcare professional to identify what treatment methods may help relieve symptoms.

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