Is peeling skin on the feet without itchiness athlete's foot?

Written by Qu Jing
Dermatology
Updated on May 09, 2025
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Peeling on the feet without itchiness is generally due to hyperkeratosis type athlete's foot. This condition commonly affects the palmoplantar regions and the heel, where the skin is dry with noticeably thickened stratum corneum. The surface is rough and flaky with deepened skin lines. In winter, the skin can crack and even bleed, potentially causing pain, but usually, there is no itching. There are three common types of athlete's foot. Besides hyperkeratosis type, there are vesicular and interdigital maceration types. The vesicular type usually occurs on fingertips, palms, and sides of the feet, characterized by pinhead-sized blisters deep in the skin. These blisters have clear fluid, thick and shiny walls that are not easily ruptured. Blisters may cluster or spread out and can merge into larger blisters. Once the blister roof is torn off, it reveals a honeycomb-like base and a fresh red erosion. After several days, the blisters dry up, leading to a collar-shaped scaling, with the lesion continuously spreading peripherally, and recurrently characterized by scaling. This type has notably more itching. The interdigital maceration type is common in finger and toe webs, especially among individuals who sweat excessively, wear rubber shoes for prolonged periods, and is more prevalent in summer. This condition also features significant itching and can have a foul odor due to secondary bacterial infection.

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Written by Liu Jing
Dermatology
1min 8sec home-news-image

Can athlete's foot blisters be popped?

The term "athlete's foot" refers to the common name for tinea pedis, a skin infection caused by dermatophytes. It can manifest as various types of skin lesions, such as blisters. In cases like blistering athlete's foot, it is important to enhance local cleanliness of the blistered area while avoiding harmful actions such as forcibly picking or squeezing, to prevent secondary bacterial infection of the wound. Symptomatic treatment with antifungal agents is necessary, including oral itraconazole capsules and other antifungal medications. For topical treatment, applying a wet compress of boric acid solution followed by triamcinolone acetonide econazole cream, or a compound Cannale cream can be used, but these should be applied for a short term only. If symptoms improve after three to five days, the treatment should be switched to antifungal creams such as ketoconazole cream or terbinafine cream, with a treatment period of at least two weeks.

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Written by Qu Jing
Dermatology
1min 2sec home-news-image

Can soaking feet in vinegar cure athlete's foot?

Athlete's foot, also known as tinea pedis, is a condition caused by skin fungal infections affecting the superficial layers of the skin on the feet. For treatment, one can opt for antifungal ointments, and when necessary, oral antifungal medications, which are very effective in killing fungi. However, using home remedies like soaking feet in white vinegar, salt water, or applying garlic locally is not advisable. These do not effectively kill the bacteria and can instead damage the skin barrier and irritate the skin, potentially causing symptoms such as redness, flaking, and itchy sensitivity. If the concentration of vinegar is too low, it is ineffective; if too high, it can be intolerable for the skin. Therefore, if you have athlete's foot, it is best to opt for proper antifungal medications and ensure treatment for a sufficient duration.

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Written by Zhu Zhu
Dermatology
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What is the difference between athlete's foot and corns?

Athlete's foot and corns, although both are skin diseases, are quite different with many distinctions. First, athlete's foot is a fungal infection causing dermatophytosis, while corns are skin conditions formed by prolonged standing or chronic friction and pressure. Additionally, the treatment for athlete's foot involves antifungal medications, whereas corns can be treated with the application of corn ointments. It is advisable to wear loose and breathable shoes and maintain good personal hygiene. (Specific medications should be used under the guidance of a physician.)

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Written by Liu Gang
Dermatology
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How can severe athlete's foot be treated to eliminate it completely?

Athlete's foot is a disease caused by fungal infection, where most patients can be completely cured with routine treatment. However, some patients do not treat it normally or use non-standard medications, which can exacerbate the condition and may even lead to symptoms such as erosion and exudation. When experiencing severe athlete's foot, topical medications are still necessary, such as Naftifine Ketoconazole Cream, which needs to be applied to the entire sole or between the toes. In addition, it is appropriate to combine some oral antifungal medications, such as Itraconazole capsules. The combined treatment of oral medication and topical drugs tends to be more effective. When treating this disease with oral medication, liver function must be normal. If transaminases are elevated, oral medications should not be taken. If oral medications cannot be taken, some traditional Chinese medicines can be used for foot soaks, such as decoctions of Sophora flavescens and Phellodendron amurense, which have a supportive therapeutic effect.

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Written by Zhang Shu Kun
Traditional Chinese Medicine
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Can soaking feet in ginger cure athlete's foot?

Soaking feet in ginger can effectively treat athlete's foot, but it requires a longer duration. If the soaking time is too short, it will not be effective in treating athlete's foot and needs to be carried out over a long term. Generally, it is recommended to soak for about 15 to 30 minutes—neither too long nor too short. Soaking for too short a period will be ineffective, and soaking for too long may cause some negative effects, so extra attention is needed. Regular foot soaking also benefits the body by promoting blood circulation, unblocking meridians, and improving physical constitution.