Why does the skin on my toes peel off and how to treat it?

Human feet endure a lot of stress every day, since they bear the entire weight of the body. The feet are constantly in motion and it is not at all strange that at a certain period of time, the skin on the toes begins to malfunction, and begins to signal this with peeling and increased dryness. Most people ignore this situation, considering it a minor cosmetic defect. Sometimes, the skin that peels off between the layers can be evidence of a serious illness that can radically change your life without timely treatment.

Improper care

The skin on children's legs is extremely sensitive to negative influences. Dryness and flaking are often provoked by simply washing your feet with running water. For example, when the water is hard or contains a lot of chlorine. Therefore, after bathing procedures, be sure to apply a moisturizing, nourishing cream or baby oil to your feet. If possible, buy a special filter nozzle for the shower that will retain chlorine and mechanical impurities. This will prevent irritation and protect the baby’s skin from drying out. Prolonged bathing in hot water is also bad.

If the skin of a child's feet is peeling, the reason may be tight, artificial shoes, synthetic tights, or socks. When in contact with such materials, the skin “does not breathe” and sweats, which leads to peeling. The area between the toes is most affected.

Dry air has a negative effect on delicate baby skin. Many mothers notice that it is in winter, when there are hot radiators in the apartment, that the child’s palms and feet become very flaky.

You can solve the problem if:

• use moisturizer daily;
• regularly ventilate the apartment or house;
• maintain humidity within 40 - 60% using a humidifier or improvised means (wet towels, radiator sheets).

For intensive hydration and restoration of children's skin, ointments with provitamin B5 - Bepanten, Dexpanthenol - help.

The skin on the legs and toes is peeling: what is the reason?

The legs are the very part of the human body that constantly experiences various loads, and very often suffers from it. Many people have peeling skin on their feet, as well as on their fingers, and there is a need to somehow deal with this problem. But how? First of all, it is necessary to find out the cause, and then eliminate the unpleasant manifestation itself. Today we will talk about this sensitive topic and try to consider all possible factors that cause such concern.

If the skin on your toes peels off: reasons

The skin on the feet and toes peels for various reasons. It is important, first of all, to take into account the very specifics of a person’s “use” of this part of the body.

Many people treat their feet with obvious indifference: they put them in uncomfortable, unnatural, hot shoes, drive them on various surfaces, and generally pay little attention to their condition. Because of this, the normal hydrobalance is disrupted, and the lipid layer (already not so thick) becomes thinner. As a result, the skin simply begins to dry out, and this leads to:

• Peeling and subsequent peeling of the top layer;
• Cracking (especially painful on the heels);
• Development of discomfort (itching, irritation, etc.)

Note that most often the skin on the legs and toes peels due to insufficient or improper hydration , as well as a frivolous attitude towards the condition of the lower extremities (especially the feet). The problem is solved quite simply: use special moisturizing creams, suspensions and other products. But before you apply them to the affected area, wet the skin and treat it with a pumice stone to gently remove all dead cells .

But there are other reasons for the occurrence of the described trouble. And in some cases, diseases can manifest themselves this way . They are provoked by:

• fungi;
• pathogenic bacteria;
• internal problems in the body (allergic reactions, hormonal disorders, metabolic problems).

Such reasons are much more serious, and it is better to solve them in a doctor’s office. The alarm should be sounded in cases where, along with peeling skin, the following symptoms are observed:

• the appearance of a persistent, unpleasant odor that does not go away even after taking a shower;
• severe itching occurs that cannot be stopped by anything;
• nail plates become fragile and break or change their normal color to an “unhealthy” one.

If you observe the symptoms described, we recommend that you consult a specialist to find out what exactly is happening in your body.

And finally, there is another group of reasons due to which the skin on the toes also peels off. Let's classify them as mechanical influences. This is wearing tight shoes or direct contact with synthetic fabrics (socks, tights, stockings). That is why many doctors strongly recommend wearing only natural wardrobe items, especially for those parts of the body that sweat frequently and intensely. If ignored and left uncorrected, it can cause a chronic condition where the flaking will never go away.

Another reason should definitely be mentioned

• lack of certain vitamins in the body,
• various eczemas,
• sun or heat burns,
• the formation of calluses and even
• Kawasaki disease. A little more about her.

What is Kawasaki disease and why is it dangerous?

It is believed that this is a rather rare disease, but there are still enough cases not to ignore the possible danger. It affects mainly preschoolers and children of primary school age. Most young patients are completely healed, but some still have heart failure for life.

Due to as yet unknown reasons, blood vessels throughout the child’s body begin to become inflamed, and in several functional systems at once. Kawasaki disease is accompanied by febrile symptoms (fever that does not go away for several days), enlarged lymph nodes, swelling and cracking of the lips and tongue; the appearance of a rash. But most importantly: the skin on the palms and soles of the feet becomes rough, and then begins to peel and peel off. This symptom is observed approximately in the third week of the disease.

In any case, if the skin on your legs not only peels off, but becomes irritated or inflamed, causing additional discomfort, the only correct solution is to consult a doctor. Moreover, if this symptom is complemented by other alarming signals. In such cases, you should under no circumstances engage in self-medication, since such frivolity leads to serious consequences. Especially when it comes to a child.

How to avoid skin peeling on your feet: prevention

If you're wondering why the skin is peeling between your toes, the first thing to do is make sure you're not wearing shoes that are too tight. Most often, this is what causes a frightening nuisance. As soon as the tight shoes are replaced with more comfortable ones, the problem will go away on its own. This is one of the simplest and most effective methods of prevention.

In addition, we recommend:

1. Maintain normal hydration of the skin of your feet. Clean it in a timely manner, remove dead particles and apply a rich, nourishing cream;
2. Allow your feet to breathe, ventilate them, and keep sweating to a minimum;
3. Do not use socks, stockings or tights made from artificial fibers;
4. Maintain personal hygiene, wash your feet daily and do not wear shoes on wet feet;
5. Pamper your feet with hot medicinal baths with vinegar, soda and citric acid.

Taking care of the beauty and health of your body falls entirely on your shoulders. Don't ignore problems that arise and solve them immediately. And if you can’t, or something is particularly worrying, contact a specialist. Then you can avoid many problems, and with proper prevention, you won’t even encounter many of them. Including something as unpleasant and irritating as peeling skin on the legs and toes.

Allergy

Peeling of the skin on a child’s feet is possible due to allergic reactions, atopic or contact dermatitis.

Irritation is caused by:

• washing powder that you use to wash children's socks or tights;
• baby creams, care oils;
• clothing made from synthetic fabrics;
• highly allergenic foods (citrus fruits, milk, chocolate, eggs, fish);
• insect bites;
• medicines, sweet syrups containing chemical flavors, dyes, flavoring additives.

Allergic reactions are often accompanied by severe itching. Parents should ensure that the child does not scratch the skin, otherwise an infection will occur. Antihistamines help cope with itching, redness, and inflammation. For effective treatment, it is important to identify and eliminate the allergen.

Fungal infection

If your child likes to try on other people's shoes, walks barefoot in public places or goes to the pool, there is a risk that he has contracted a fungus.

In addition to peeling, this infection is characterized by the following changes in the affected area:

• itching;
• redness, inflammation;
• unpleasant odor;
• thickening of the skin;
• formation of microcracks.

It often happens that peeling is the only symptom. Parents may not suspect that it is a fungus. The skin between the toes usually suffers first, and then, if left untreated, the infection progresses.

To combat the fungus, antifungal agents are used, which are recommended by a dermatologist, mycologist or podologist. The sooner treatment is started, the easier and faster it is to get rid of the infection.

Folk remedies to combat peeling skin

Boric acid: use of powder, soap and alcohol solution

If the skin peels off between your toes, you can eliminate the pathology using folk remedies. This is a very reasonable decision, because most medications have contraindications for use, and traditional medicine, as a rule, is based on herbal components.

The skin on your toes will regain its former health if treated with olive oil mixed with tea tree oil. Tea tree has anti-inflammatory and antifungal properties, so it will disinfect the epidermis, and olive oil will saturate it with essential microelements and soothe irritation.

In order to get rid of the top flaky layer, you can use a treasure made from crushed oatmeal and soda. After the components are mixed together, they are applied to the skin between the fingers, already moistened with water, and massaged. After the procedure, the skin is treated with butter and honey.

The easiest way to moisturize the dry, flaky skin between your fingers is to rub it with cucumber or aloe pulp.

If you encounter a fungus between your fingers that causes peeling, chop the garlic and apply the paste to the affected area for twenty minutes. It is important not to overdo it, as there is a risk of getting burned. If you do everything correctly, your skin will recover after just three procedures.

Lack of vitamins

A deficiency of vitamins A, E and D leads to flaky feet in a child. Children under 5 years of age experience this more often than older children.

To tidy up your skin, adjust your baby's nutrition. Add freshly squeezed carrot, apple juice, nuts, vegetable oils, dairy products. If the skin on the feet and legs of an infant is peeling, the nursing mother should reconsider her diet. For bottle-fed babies, the pediatrician decides in what form it is best to add the missing vitamins. Vitamin complexes from a pharmacy are safe to give only as prescribed by a doctor.

If you have hypovitaminosis, you can try applying vitamins topically, directly to problem areas. To do this, take Aevit capsules, add their contents to a small amount of baby cream, and lubricate your feet after bathing. From pharmaceutical products, dermatologists prescribe Radevit ointment, which contains vitamins A, D, E.

Folk recipes

For girls who prefer natural cosmetics, here are several recipes for moisturizing the skin of their feet.

Oil wrap

Ingredients:

• olive oil (100 g);
• egg yolks (2 pieces).

How to prepare: Heat the oil in a steam bath to room temperature. Add the yolks to it and beat the mixture with a blender.

How to use: Apply the mixture to clean feet and wrap with plastic wrap. Put terry socks on top. Keep the compress for 30 minutes, and then wash off the mixture with warm water and baby soap.

Result: skin is perfectly hydrated and silky smooth.

Chamomile mask

Ingredients:

• chamomile decoction (100 g);
• starch (2 tsp);
• cream with lactic acid (3 tsp).

How to prepare: warm the broth to room temperature and mix thoroughly with other ingredients.

How to use: apply the mask to your feet and wrap them with film. Put on your socks. Keep the compress for half an hour, and then rinse your feet thoroughly with warm water.

Result: the skin receives the moisture it needs and stops flaking.

The recipes are very simple and their ingredients are inexpensive. Therefore, ladies, do not be lazy and take care of your feet. We talked about all the secrets of heel care in this material.

Intestinal disorders

The cause of peeling skin on a child's feet is often associated with dysbacteriosis and helminthic infestation. Dysbacteriosis makes it difficult to digest food, and the absorption of vitamins and other substances beneficial to the skin deteriorates. Violation of the intestinal microflora often occurs in infants whose digestive system is not yet fully developed, and in children who have taken antibacterial agents. Probiotics and prebiotics help restore the balance of beneficial and harmful bacteria.

If your feet have been peeling for a long time, it won’t hurt to get tested for helminths. Damage to the body by these parasites negatively affects the condition of the skin, provokes dysbacteriosis, allergies, decreased immunity, and other disorders.

Soda baths

Ingredients:

• warm water (3 liters);
• baking soda (3 tbsp);
• tea tree oil.

How to prepare: Dissolve baking soda in warm water.

How to use: soak your feet in a baking soda bath for 20 minutes. Then dry them with a towel. Treat the affected areas with pumice stone and then lubricate them with tea tree oil.

Result: baking soda perfectly softens the skin and nails. Tea oil is an antiseptic and helps heal existing cracks and wounds.

Bath with celandine

Ingredients:

• crushed celandine herb (5 tbsp.);
• boiling water (1 l).

How to prepare: Pour boiling water over the celandine herb and let it brew for an hour.

How to use: Soak your feet in the warm infusion for 15 minutes.

Result: kills fungal infection, improves overall skin condition.

If you deal with the problem comprehensively, you can quickly defeat it. As they say, in war, all means are good.

Skin diseases

Skin problems on the legs can be the result of dermatological diseases or infections.

These include:

• Eczema. A hereditary chronic disease, the development of which is provoked by allergies, reduced immunity, stress, and infections. With eczema on the feet, the skin becomes very dry, itchy, red, and covered in a rash;
• Psoriasis. Chronic non-contagious disease with genetic predisposition. The impetus for the appearance of symptoms can be a change of season, rubbing the skin with clothing, infections, or certain medications. Psoriasis causes scaly, inflamed red patches;
• Lichen. An infectious disease caused by various fungal or viral pathogens. There are 5 types of lichen. Ringworm (microsporia) is usually found in children. Children of preschool age and primary schoolchildren who come into contact with street cats or dogs get sick more often. This type of lichen appears as pink spots with a flaky center.

What to do?

Have you noticed that your child's feet are flaky? Don't rush to the moms' forum for advice. If the condition does not improve after using moisturizing baby cream, consult a doctor. Parents' independent conclusions about the cause of skin changes are often erroneous. And lost time and improper treatment only worsen the situation, leading to cracks and infection. Therefore, be sure to consult a dermatologist.

To prevent peeling, make sure your child has:

• complete balanced nutrition;
• moisturizing foot cream with natural composition;
• strong immunity;
• proper foot hygiene;
• comfortable, natural shoes.

To monitor the condition and prevent foot diseases, we recommend that you and your child undergo periodic examinations by a podiatrist and undergo medical pedicures.

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Prevention

Everyone knows that a disease is easier to prevent than to treat. To keep the dermis on your fingers in order, do not forget about these tips:

• cleansing and moisturizing - daily procedures;
• wash your feet with warm water and rinse with cold water;
• At night, lubricate your feet with a high-quality moisturizer;
• if cracks appear between your fingers, treat them with hydrogen peroxide;
• wear loose and high-quality shoes;
• do not abuse high heels;
• Pamper your feet with baths with chamomile, calendula, and sea salt.

If you regularly experience itchy soles, be sure to read this article. This material will be useful to you.