The difference between pitted keratolysis and athlete's foot

Written by Xia Min
Traditional Chinese Medicine
Updated on September 06, 2024
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Palmoplantar pustulosis, corresponding to hand fungus in Western medicine, typically affects adults, but can be contracted by individuals of any age, both male and female. It often affects one hand, but can also spread to both. Symptoms are more severe with blistering in the summer, while in winter, dryness and pain are more pronounced. The characteristic lesions begin with blisters on the palms and between the fingers, with the skin on the palm becoming keratinized, flaky, and blistered. After repeated outbreaks, the skin on the palm thickens, becomes dry and cracked, painful, and hindered in flexibility, resembling a goose's foot, hence the name "goose's foot wind."

Athlete's foot, equivalent to tinea pedis in Western medicine, is named for its symptoms of maceration and itchiness of the soles, accompanied by a distinctive odor. It primarily affects the spaces between the toes but can also appear on the soles of the feet. The main features are blisters between the toes, maceration, oozing, excessive keratinization, flaking, and itching. There are clear differences between these two conditions.

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Written by Liu Jing
Dermatology
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Can athlete's foot blisters be popped?

The term "athlete's foot" refers to the common name for tinea pedis, a skin infection caused by dermatophytes. It can manifest as various types of skin lesions, such as blisters. In cases like blistering athlete's foot, it is important to enhance local cleanliness of the blistered area while avoiding harmful actions such as forcibly picking or squeezing, to prevent secondary bacterial infection of the wound. Symptomatic treatment with antifungal agents is necessary, including oral itraconazole capsules and other antifungal medications. For topical treatment, applying a wet compress of boric acid solution followed by triamcinolone acetonide econazole cream, or a compound Cannale cream can be used, but these should be applied for a short term only. If symptoms improve after three to five days, the treatment should be switched to antifungal creams such as ketoconazole cream or terbinafine cream, with a treatment period of at least two weeks.

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Written by Li Ya Ping
Dermatology Department
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How to determine if it's athlete's foot on the hand

Athlete's foot, medically known as tinea pedis, is a fungal infection. If someone with tinea pedis scratches their feet with their hands, they can transfer the fungus to their hands, resulting in tinea manuum, which is characterized by peeling skin on the hands. However, there are two common conditions that lead to hand peeling. One is tinea manuum, a fungal infection of the hands, often spread from tinea pedis. The other condition is eczema, so it is necessary to differentiate whether the symptoms are due to tinea manuum or eczema. Patients with tinea manuum typically have the infection on two feet and one hand; usually, only one hand is affected initially, not both hands symmetrically. If it is difficult to differentiate, it is advisable for patients to undergo a fungal examination at a hospital, which can confirm the diagnosis if the result is positive for fungus.

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Written by Liu Jing
Dermatology
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Can iodophor treat athlete's foot?

Athlete's foot, commonly known as tinea pedis, is an infection caused by dermatophyte fungi. Antifungal medications are required for symptomatic treatment. However, iodophors, as disinfectants, do not have a therapeutic effect on athlete's foot. Daily enhancement of foot hygiene, frequent changing of shoes and socks, and maintaining a dry and ventilated environment are important. Laboratory examinations, including scraping skin scales from affected areas for microscopic examination of fungi, are necessary. A positive laboratory result further supports the diagnosis of tinea pedis. Treatment involves the application of antifungal creams such as naftifine and ketoconazole. To adequately control symptoms and prevent recurrence, it may be necessary to take oral antifungal medications, such as terbinafine hydrochloride tablets, itraconazole dispersible tablets or capsules, for a treatment course of more than 2 weeks. (Medication should be used under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Qu Jing
Dermatology
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Is peeling skin on the feet without itchiness athlete's foot?

Peeling on the feet without itchiness is generally due to hyperkeratosis type athlete's foot. This condition commonly affects the palmoplantar regions and the heel, where the skin is dry with noticeably thickened stratum corneum. The surface is rough and flaky with deepened skin lines. In winter, the skin can crack and even bleed, potentially causing pain, but usually, there is no itching. There are three common types of athlete's foot. Besides hyperkeratosis type, there are vesicular and interdigital maceration types. The vesicular type usually occurs on fingertips, palms, and sides of the feet, characterized by pinhead-sized blisters deep in the skin. These blisters have clear fluid, thick and shiny walls that are not easily ruptured. Blisters may cluster or spread out and can merge into larger blisters. Once the blister roof is torn off, it reveals a honeycomb-like base and a fresh red erosion. After several days, the blisters dry up, leading to a collar-shaped scaling, with the lesion continuously spreading peripherally, and recurrently characterized by scaling. This type has notably more itching. The interdigital maceration type is common in finger and toe webs, especially among individuals who sweat excessively, wear rubber shoes for prolonged periods, and is more prevalent in summer. This condition also features significant itching and can have a foul odor due to secondary bacterial infection.

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Written by Liu Jing
Dermatology
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Can soaking feet in white vinegar cure athlete's foot?

Using white vinegar for foot soaking is not a treatment for athlete's foot, which is an infection caused by dermatophyte fungus, commonly known as tinea pedis. Standard and effective antifungal treatments are required. It is necessary to enhance foot hygiene, frequently change socks and shoes, keep the feet dry and ventilated, and use antifungal medications such as oral terbinafine hydrochloride tablets. Apply antifungal creams like luliconazole cream and miconazole cream to the affected areas. Adequate dosage and course of treatment are needed to prevent the recurrence of symptoms, often requiring continuous application for more than three weeks. Athlete’s foot is prone to occur in summer as fungi thrive in warm, moist environments. Therefore, cleanliness is considered a fundamental caregiving measure. (Medication should be used under the guidance of a physician.)