The skin is prone to infections and rashes. Skin infections are usually caused by a pathogen, like bacteria, or a virus and can cause many symptoms, one of which could be a rash. On the other hand, rashes can also occur due to other causes, like allergies, stress, etc.
The foot is an ideal environment for microbes to latch on as it is a damp and moist space, especially the web between your toes. The damp, softened tissues provide the perfect space for the roots of a fungus to penetrate. Though fungal foot infections can be annoying and difficult to treat, they are rarely life-threatening.
Causes of Skin Disorders
Skin disorders and rashes can occur due to a number of reasons, like:
- Infection – The feet are particularly prone to infections as they are constantly in contact with microbes that can give rise to infections. Usually, our immune system prevents these pathogens from attacking us. But if it is a particularly virulent virus, if your immune defences are low, or if there is a cut or break in your skin the chance of an infection increases.
- Allergies – Skin disorders can manifest due to allergic reactions causing a rash.
- Dry skin – Dry skin can cause rashes on top of the feet as well as give rise to cracked heels.
- Stress – Stress can cause psoriasis which is a kind of skin disorder that can affect the feet.
- Ill – fitting footwear – Pressure on the feet could cause constant friction on the skin of the feet causing skin problems and infections.
- Walking barefoot – Without the protection of footwear, it is easy for microbes to latch on to the bare skin of your feet.
- Spending time in unhygienic spaces– Many crowded and wet spaces like locker rooms, clubs, gyms, pools, etc, are breeding grounds for pathogens and the chances of getting a skin infection increases if one frequents these places.
Symptoms of Skin Disorders
This can vary depending on the type of disorder, but some common signs are:
- Itching
- Inflammation
- Pain
- Redness
- Swelling
- Pus
- Discoloration
- Open sores, lesions
- Scaly, rough skin
Common Skin Disorders of the feet
Some common Skin Disorders include:
- Athlete’s foot
- Toenail fungus
- Bacterial infections
- Eczema
- Psoriasis
- Dermatitis
- Erythrasma
- Foot abscess
- Cellulitis
- Cracked heels
Most skin disorders are not life threatening, but it is better to see a podiatrist instead of self-medicating. The podiatrist will do an examination to determine what kind of skin disorder you are suffering from and offer the best podiatric solution.
