What to do if blisters appear on the instep

There are many reasons for blisters on the instep. It may be caused by repeated friction due to inappropriate shoes, which leads to blisters. It may also be caused by some skin inflammation. The most common one is athlete's foot caused by fungal infection. Athlete's foot is contagious and easily forms blisters, leading to symptoms of itching. At this time, it should be treated in time and can be treated with certain anti-fungal drugs.

What to do if blisters on feet are itchy

1. Causes

Athlete's foot is also known as athlete's foot. Excessive sweating on the soles of the feet is the main factor causing tinea pedis. The weather is hot in summer, the temperature is high, the sweat glands on the feet secrete more, and the soles of the feet become moist. The moist environment is conducive to the reproduction and growth of fungi, making it easy to get tinea pedis. Trauma to the foot skin destroys the skin's defense function and is also one of the factors that cause tinea pedis. Diabetic patients are also susceptible to tinea pedis because of the disorder of substance metabolism caused by lack of insulin and the increased sugar content in the skin leading to decreased resistance. Abuse of antibiotics, long-term use of corticosteroids and immunosuppressants, etc., which can cause imbalance in the normal skin flora, can also increase susceptibility to tinea pedis.

The incidence of tinea pedis is also related to lifestyle habits. Bad hygiene habits often increase the incidence of tinea pedis. Some people do not pay attention to foot hygiene and the condition of their shoes and socks, providing a good breeding ground for fungi. Some people also like to pick their toes with their hands, which damages the skin of the feet and spreads tinea pedis. If someone in the family suffers from tinea pedis and is not given proper treatment and has close contact with others, it may be transmitted through contact. Items used by tinea pedis patients are often not disinfected, and healthy people can easily become infected after using them.

2. Clinical manifestations

1. Bullous: It mostly occurs in summer. The symptoms are rice-sized, deep blisters between the toes, on the edges of the feet, and on the soles of the feet. They are scattered or distributed in groups. The blisters have thick walls, clear contents, and are not easy to rupture. After a few days, the blisters dry and flake off, merging into multilocular blisters. When the blisters are peeled off, a honeycomb-like base and bright red eroded surface can be seen, causing severe itching.

2. Erosive: manifested by the softening and whitening of the local epidermal stratum corneum. Due to constant friction when walking, the epidermis falls off, revealing a bright red eroded surface; in severe cases, the skin between the toes and the junction of the toes and the soles of the feet can be affected, with severe itching, which often occurs between the 3rd, 4th, and 5th toes. Common in Han people.

3. Scaly keratotic type: Symptoms include thickening, roughness, and scaling of the skin on the soles, edges of the feet, heels, and toes. The scales are in the form of flakes or small dots and fall off repeatedly. In winter, cracks appear in the skin between the toes, and in summer, blisters form, causing pain. Secondary infection is often caused by scratching, and complications include impetigo, lymphangitis, lymphadenitis, cellulitis, erysipelas, sepsis and other diseases.

Daily care

1. Avoid wet feet. Keeping your feet clean and dry is the prerequisite for preventing athlete's foot. Patients with athlete's foot should wear breathable shoes and socks in the summer, and avoid wearing rubber shoes or sneakers, let alone wearing non-breathable shoes barefoot. After taking a shower and drying your body, be sure not to neglect your feet. Do not walk barefoot on carpets or in bathrooms.

2. Avoid alkaline substances. When washing your feet, avoid using irritating chemicals such as alkaline soaps. People with tight spaces between toes can use toilet paper to absorb moisture, allow ventilation, and keep their toes clean.

3. Avoid spicy food. Avoid eating foods that can easily induce sweating, such as hot peppers, raw onions, and raw garlic. It is best not to drink alcohol. Eat more nutritious and easily digestible foods, and eat more vegetables and fruits that are high in vitamins.

4. Avoid sharing cleaning supplies. Avoid using public towels and slippers in public places such as swimming pools and bathrooms. Shower and dry with a clean towel after swimming. Do not share shoes and socks with others to avoid reinfection.