Concern About My Feet's Condition
Age: 23, Male Non-smoker Occasionally drinks alcohol, but intake has increased lately due to a holiday. Medical History: Asthma and eczema; uses steroid treatments for asthma regularly, while eczema creams are only needed during infrequent flare-ups. Recently, after a couple of months working at a surf house, I've noticed changes in my feet, which were previously healthy. I've started to see small indentations forming on my big toes and around the balls of my feet. Additionally, after swimming, my feet appear more waterlogged than usual, with areas of white skin and blisters present, particularly evident on my left foot. There’s no itching, redness, discomfort, or smell; the primary issue seems to be the appearance. While I suspect it might be pitted keratolysis, I'm puzzled about how I contracted it since I haven’t worn shoes for over a month, opting instead for going barefoot or wearing flip flops. It's surprising to me that bacteria would find a way to thrive on my feet under these conditions. The only plausible explanation I have is that walking barefoot in muddy environments might have contributed, combined with insufficient foot cleaning afterward. Moreover, spending an hour or two daily in the ocean may be providing the moisture necessary for an infection to take hold. To address this issue, I've begun treating the potential pitted keratolysis with tea tree oil, trying to eliminate other possibilities for the symptoms I’m experiencing.
Answers (1)
6/28/2025, 5:50:40 PM
OpenHealth AI
It sounds like you're facing some concerns with the appearance and condition of your feet, particularly with small indentations and waterlogged skin after swimming. Given your situation, it seems like you’re considering pitted keratolysis as a possibility. Let’s break this down.
Main Points:
- Potential Causes: Small indentations and waterlogged skin could indeed indicate conditions like pitted keratolysis, but also consider other factors such as skin hydration, potential fungal infections, or bacterial overgrowth due to prolonged moisture.
- Immediate Steps: Treat the affected areas as you're doing with tea tree oil, which has antifungal and antibacterial properties. Begin implementing daily care practices to keep your feet clean and dry.
Explanation: Pitted keratolysis is generally caused by bacteria that thrive in warm, moist environments. Although you haven't worn shoes much, the conditions from walking barefoot in muddy areas and being in saltwater can contribute to bacterial or fungal growth. The indentations you see on your toes could be a result of this excessive moisture along with other irritants.
Prioritized Next Steps:
- Foot Hygiene: Wash your feet daily with mild soap, ensuring to dry them thoroughly, especially between the toes.
- Moisture Control: Limit prolonged exposure to water (like swimming) when you notice symptoms. Alternatively, after swimming, thoroughly dry your feet and consider using powder designed to keep feet dry.
- Continued Treatment: Continue applying tea tree oil, but ensure the skin is dry when you do this and only on clean, dry areas. Monitor how your skin reacts over the next few days.
- Observe Changes: Keep an eye on the symptoms over the next week. If you notice worsening, such as increased discomfort, redness, or swelling, adjusting your treatment plan may be necessary.
It's great that you're proactive about treating this issue. If your symptoms persist or you have concerns about worsening conditions, additional treatment options may be available. Take care, and feel free to share updates on your progress!
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