Itchy skin between the fingers and toes: causes, types, diagnosis

Not many people know that itching between the toes is one of the clinical symptoms of not only dermatological diseases, but also neuropathologies, systemic and psychiatric diseases. It turns out that the symptom is similar, but the approaches to treatment are completely different. What do you need to know about such an uncomfortable condition, and in what case should you contact a doctor?

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Causes itching between the toes

Itching that bothers the area between the fingers can appear due to many reasons. The most common of them are:

• hypersensitivity to the composition of detergents, cleaning agents, and cosmetics;
• allergic reaction of the body to certain types of food or medications;
• microbial or fungal infection;
• dry skin (for example, due to overzealous hygiene);
• constant mechanical damage to the skin between the fingers;
• scabies mite infestation;
• autoimmune processes that are accompanied not only by itching, but also by peeling and redness of the skin;
• metabolic disorders;
• neglect of hygiene standards.

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Risk factors

Itching between the toes occurs frequently in some people, while in others it never occurs. This happens because there are a number of factors that favor the appearance of the disease. If these factors are neutralized or eliminated, then the problem can be eliminated forever:

• Rarely or, on the contrary, too often washing hands or feet using antibacterial soap.
• Insufficient drying of hands or feet, constant moisturizing of the skin (over-moisturizing, for example, when working as a cleaner, washer, etc.).
• Excessive dryness of the skin.
• Features of professional activity (work associated with constant contact with chemicals, petroleum products, soil, etc.).
• Excessive sunbathing.
• Hypovitaminosis associated with poor nutrition, digestive disorders, etc.
• Endocrine dysfunction, high blood sugar levels.
• Fungal and other skin diseases.
• Wearing poor quality shoes (or shoes that are not appropriate for the season), ignoring hygiene rules.
• Chronic diseases of the digestive organs or other organs or systems.
• General hypersensitivity of the body, tendency to allergies.

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Pathogenesis

Itching between the fingers is one of the symptoms of many painful conditions. For example, this is often observed in dermatological problems, neurological pathologies, systemic and psychiatric diseases. Due to constant itching, a person becomes emotionally unstable, irritable and even aggressive, or falls into depression.

The stimulating factor of itching may be different. It is this that determines the main treatment tactics. As a rule, the problem originates with the activation of histamine-sensitive peripheral nerve endings. Histamine-insensitive endings also participate in the transportation of the itching signal. In this case, the responsibility for this signal, which is transmitted to the center from the periphery, lies with histamine, opioids, protease, cathepsin, nerve growth factor, interleukins, prostaglandins, gastrin-related peptide. With a pain signal, a reflex of "alienation and non-admission" is observed, and when itching appears between the fingers, a reflex processing is formed. Thus, scratching, rubbing, pinching between the fingers give a one-time and short-term satisfaction. With severe discomfort, a person can scratch the disturbing places until wounds, which leads to the replacement of the feeling of itching with pain.

With constant itching, the cerebral cortex forms a zone of painful excitation. In turn, this leads to an excessive reaction of the skin to any irritants. As a result, the threshold of susceptibility decreases, which significantly complicates the process of treating the disease.

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Epidemiology

According to medical statistics, every second case of itching between the toes is caused by a fungal disease. In turn, fungal skin infection is found in almost every fifth adult patient.

Over the past decade, fungal diseases have become diagnosed 2.5 times more often.

Neuropathic itching – for example, the kind associated with diseases of the endocrine and nervous systems – affects approximately 6-7% of the world's population. A similar problem can occur in patients with stroke, diabetes, etc.

Itching between the toes, associated with allergic processes, bothers approximately one in five people who consult a doctor.

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Symptoms

Visually similar symptoms can have completely opposite etiology, which often causes difficulties in making a diagnosis.

As a rule, itching with a fungal infection begins to bother after the appearance of a slight redness, small blisters on the skin or microcracks. After some time, the skin seems to loosen, swell, then becomes dry and covered with small cracks. The skin begins to peel, flake off, small blisters appear. The nail plates can also be involved in the painful process.

The first signs also depend on the underlying disease, and sometimes they may not be present at all: itching is often the only painful symptom.

Itching between the toes most often intensifies in the evening or after moisturizing the skin. Most patients experience discomfort not only between the toes, but also on the entire surface of the foot. If treatment is not taken in a timely manner, other symptoms may appear after a while:

• increased sweating of the feet;
• formation of cracks, unpleasant odor;
• peeling, redness, swelling of the skin;
• pain when walking, standing.

Itching between the fingers is especially disturbing for patients, because the skin in these areas is more delicate and sensitive. Patients often complain of redness, cracks and irritation, dryness. In advanced cases, minor injuries become an "entrance" for infectious agents, an inflammatory process develops, and the patient's condition worsens. General symptoms may also appear: fever, nausea, drowsiness, irritability, headache.

The presence of other specific signs is associated with the underlying cause of the itching.

Forms

When making a diagnosis, doctors often use a pathogenetic classification. For example, severe itching between the fingers can accompany skin or systemic diseases, but sometimes the cause remains unknown: in such a situation, they talk about idiopathic itching. In addition, itching sensations can be acute and chronic, limited or widespread.

• Itching and burning between the fingers more often than other symptoms indicate the development of mycosis. Fungal infection occurs against the background of weak protective forces of the body, after operations, drug rehabilitation, and also in the presence of bad habits. Signs of mycotic infection are:
  • blistering rash, inflammatory phenomena;
  • burning, itching between fingers and toes;
  • formation of scales, peeling of the skin.

• Redness and itching between the fingers that occurs after contact with an irritant (medicines, chemical solutions, cosmetics) indicate an allergic nature of the symptom. The skin is irritated, swollen, and single or multiple rashes occur. In severe cases of allergy, itching and a red wound until it bleeds appear between the fingers: the skin peels off, and the general well-being suffers. The rash and swelling can spread throughout the body.

• Peeling and itching between the fingers are approximately equally disturbing in both mycotic and eczematous lesions. However, patients with eczema also exhibit other painful symptoms: roughening of the affected epidermis, peeling, changes in the color of the skin, which simply begin to "peel off" in layers. Additionally, the doctor may pay attention to disturbances in the functioning of other systems and organs, and to the presence of areas of skin irritation on the body.

• Redness between the fingers without itching occurs with psoriasis. In this case, the affected skin becomes red, covered with scales (often wet). The disease is difficult to treat and in the vast majority of cases takes a chronic course with intermittent periods of relapses and remissions. Peeling between the toes without itching can also indicate psoriasis, but this condition requires additional diagnostics. It should be taken into account that lesions occur on almost any part of the body, but the interdigital spaces, outer and inner surfaces of the joints are the most common places for the problem to localize.

• Itching between the fingers and blisters usually indicate the development of a fungal infection. Such an infection can be contracted in public places (in baths, saunas, sports locker rooms, gyms, swimming pools, etc.). By the way, itchy blisters often become only the first signs of damage. Over time, the condition of the skin worsens, it "peels" and exfoliates. Later, the nails are also involved in the process.

• Cracks between the fingers and itching occur with a banal lack of vitamins in the body. However, at the same time, the general condition of the patient worsens: work capacity decreases, appetite disturbances appear. First of all, the quality of the skin suffers: cracks, dryness, peeling are found. In addition, you should pay attention to the condition of the nails and hair, which in most cases suffer no less.

• In an adult or a child, itching between the fingers and in other parts of the body can be a consequence of scabies - a disease caused by a specific scabies mite. Most patients with scabies have the same complaints - these are strong, unbearable itching sensations and reddened areas on the body. The disease is transmitted from person to person, as well as through people's personal belongings, bedding and household items.

• Cracks and itching between the toes appear with close contact with chemical solutions, as well as against the background of dermatitis and eczema. The presence of cracks is also recorded with candidal infection. Since it is difficult to make a preliminary diagnosis based on only two symptoms, it is necessary to carry out complex diagnostic measures.

• Peeling and itching between the toes, which spreads in the form of peculiar spots, can be a sign of lichen, which is sometimes contracted from animals (dogs, cats). Individual inflammatory elements of red color itch strongly, peel, and have a tendency to spread and merge. Lichen should be treated only by a specialist. If the infection occurred from a domestic animal, then it will have to be treated as well.

• Itching and peeling skin between the toes is not only caused by fungal infections, but also by some diseases of the digestive tract, by improper functioning of the sweat glands, by hormonal problems, and even by helminthiasis. The main point of diagnosis is to exclude each of the listed pathologies in order to make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe the correct further treatment. It is also necessary to take into account other complaints of the patient - for example, instability of stool, unpleasant foot odor, headaches, lack of appetite and other troubles.

• Foot odor and itching between the toes – these symptoms are also not always a manifestation of a fungal infection. Often the causes of such problems are cardiovascular diseases (in particular, hypertension), tuberculosis, chronic bronchitis, insufficient thyroid function, obesity, high blood sugar, hormonal changes (for example, during pregnancy or with the onset of menopause in women). A banal cause can even be wearing improperly selected or low-quality shoes: under certain conditions, bacteria begin to multiply on the insoles of shoes, on the surface of the feet and between the toes, which provokes the appearance of the problem.

• Itching between a child's toes can also be caused by insect bites - for example, ants (if the child has been walking barefoot on the grass before). Such bites do not always have a clearly localized focus: depending on the reaction of the child's body, the process can be limited to an area of irritation and redness.

• Redness between the toes of a child is not always a sign of a pathological process. In some cases, it is simply a feature of the body, in which there is excessively dry skin. The cause of the problem is a hereditary predisposition, as well as frequent use of detergents (or insufficient rinsing of the interdigital spaces with running water when washing the child). The origin of the problem should be clarified by a medical specialist.

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Diagnostics itching between the toes

If the patient does not present any other complaints except for itching between the fingers and superficial skin changes, then there is a special need for further diagnostics. First of all, the doctor should clarify the following points:

• how the discomfort began (suddenly, gradually);
• is the itching sensation always present, or is it intermittent, under certain circumstances;
• precise description of sensations (burning, tingling);
• duration of itching, frequency of its occurrence, relationship with anything, presence of provoking factors.

In addition, the doctor collects data on the patient’s professional activities, lifestyle, allergic predisposition of the body, and any recent traumatic events.

It is important to pay attention to the general symptoms:

• increased temperature, increased sweating of the affected areas between the fingers, general weight loss;
• condition of the skin (appearance of pigmentation, dryness or excess oiliness, etc.);
• nail condition;
• the patient's mental state (mood stability, quality of sleep, depression, agitation, etc.);
• signs of digestive disorders.

Laboratory tests include a complete blood count, determination of iron content, alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin, urea, and creatinine. In some cases, it is necessary to assess the level of TSH, T3, and T4 (thyroid hormones). Mycological analysis of skin scrapings, application tests, and stool samples for helminthiasis are mandatory.

Instrumental diagnostics are not always necessary. Only in some cases is it necessary to conduct an ultrasound examination to assess the quality of internal organs.

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Differential diagnosis

Differential diagnostics is primarily carried out between acute and chronic itching: the main parameter of distinction here is the time interval of six weeks. According to the etiological factor, the following types of itching between the fingers are differentiated:

• dermatological (caused by primary dermatitis, psoriasis, infectious skin disease, xerosis, etc.);
• systemic (caused by various systemic pathologies – for example, diseases of the liver, blood, kidneys, etc.).

In addition, neurogenic itching, which is a consequence of a disorder in the peripheral or central nervous system, is considered clinically significant. It is especially difficult to diagnose psychogenic itching between the fingers. This pathological condition is observed in mental disorders, depressive and delusional disorders, anxiety, etc.

In cases where the cause of discomfort between the toes cannot be determined, a diagnosis of primary idiopathic itching is made.

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Treatment itching between the toes

Itching between the toes can be eliminated by directly affecting the root cause of this symptom. For this purpose, medications of external and systemic action are used, as well as folk and cosmetic methods.

Complications and consequences

The likelihood of developing adverse effects in skin diseases is often underestimated, but itching and redness between the fingers or toes is not only a cosmetic problem. There are many known cases when refusing to visit a doctor for such a pathology led to serious complications. Fungal and other infections tend to generalize, and the result can be general intoxication and disruption of other organs and systems.

Defects, cracks, ulcers on the skin can easily become an open gate for an infectious agent. In addition, advanced skin pathologies are prone to malignization - malignant degeneration of tissues.

All unpleasant consequences can be avoided if you start treatment in a timely manner. Chronic disease processes are much more difficult to treat, and also more expensive - both for your wallet and for your own health.

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Prevention

Measures to prevent itching between the toes include:

• eating healthy foods (excluding sweets, salty and spicy foods, baked goods);
• exclusion of foods, medications, or other factors that may cause an allergic reaction;
• use only clean and fresh bed linen and underwear, timely change and wash socks, insoles, clean and air shoes;
• compliance with hygiene rules, correct selection of hygiene products taking into account the body's allergic predisposition;
• use of protective equipment when working with chemicals and other aggressive substances, mandatory wearing of protective gloves during cleaning, washing or washing;
• conducting periodic preventive examinations with a doctor;
• regular body care, use of moisturizing and nourishing products;
• compliance with special hygiene rules when visiting swimming pools, beaches, gyms, baths, saunas, etc.

Fingers and toes are more exposed to various adverse factors than other parts of the body. Therefore, you should not ignore their care - on the contrary, it should be especially thorough.

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Forecast

Itching between the toes is a symptom, not a diagnosis or disease, so its outcome is determined by the primary disease, the quality and timeliness of treatment.

The possibility of complete and irreversible elimination of itching depends on the prognosis of the underlying disease that led to the appearance of the unpleasant symptom.

Idiopathic itching between the toes is rare and difficult to treat, since it is impossible to clearly determine the cause of discomfort, as well as to influence it. However, this type of problem has a favorable prognosis for the life and health of the patient.