11/21/2025
š¦¶ Is it REALLY dry skinā¦ or could it be fungus?
Most people assume flaky feet = dryness.
But in podiatry, thatās rarely the full story.
Hereās what I look for šāØ
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š§© 1. Dry, scaly skin that doesnāt improve
If youāve been moisturizing and nothing changesā¦ thatās a big clue.
Fungal infections often create patchy, flaky, or peeling skin that looks exactly like dry skin ā but wonāt go away with lotion.
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š¦¶ 2. Nail changes
Fungus doesnāt always stay on the skin.
It can also affect the nails, causing:
ā¢ Thickening
ā¢ Discoloration
ā¢ Brittleness
ā¢ Yellow or white streaks or patches
If the nails look different AND the skin is flaky? Itās very suspicious.
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š§ļø 3. Maceration between the toes
That soft, mushy, damp-looking skin between the toes?
Thatās called maceration, and fungus LOVES to hide there ā especially if feet stay sweaty or shoes donāt dry well.
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š„ 4. Itching or burning
Fungal infections can itch ā but hereās the important part:
Itching isnāt always present.
Some people have intense itching, while others have none at all.
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š§ 5. Occasional vesicles (tiny fluid-filled bumps)
This one surprises many people.
Certain types of fungal infections can cause small, clear vesicles on the sides or bottom of the feet.
They may look like little blisters and often get mistaken for an allergic reaction or eczema.
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š The bottom line
If your ādry skinā isnāt responding to moisturizerā¦
If youāre seeing nail changes, maceration, vesicles, or persistent flakingā¦
It might NOT be dryness ā it might be fungus.
And the sooner you treat it, the easier it is to clear. š¦¶āØ
Have you ever suffered from foot fungus? Let us know how you treated it down below!
ĢncaretiĢps
