# Torn skin on the bottom of my toe - owie! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 12, 2025, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/torn-skin-on-the-bottom-of-my-toe-owie/1015498 "2025-03-12T23:12:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2025, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/torn-skin-on-the-bottom-of-my-toe-owie/1015498/21 "2025-03-17T21:12:23Z")
Urgent care says it doesn’t look infected, and no sign of athlete’s foot (yay!), but I have some tiny cracks on a few other toes as well. They’re giving me prescription strength topical antibiotic and having me keep doing what I’ve been doing, but they think my feet being excessively moist could be the cause so they want me to let my feet air out when I can. I was recently diagnosed as being borderline diabetic, so they’re sending me to a podiatrist to make sure my feet stay in good condition. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2025, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/torn-skin-on-the-bottom-of-my-toe-owie/1015498/22 "2025-03-17T21:38:03Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > I was recently diagnosed as being borderline diabetic, so they’re sending me to a podiatrist to make sure my feet stay in good condition. This combination in particular will need attention. I’m glad you’re seeing to it. Some of the gnarliest medical imagery you’ll ever see is the amazing failures of footcare in long-term diabetics. To the extent of “how are you still alive with that festering mass of lesions, let alone hobbling around?” ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2025, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/torn-skin-on-the-bottom-of-my-toe-owie/1015498/23 "2025-03-17T23:21:10Z")
Eeeek. Yes..I’m happy you’ve gotten the sore spot looked at. Diabetes and feet can be really problematic. Air those tootsies. 😀 ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2025, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/torn-skin-on-the-bottom-of-my-toe-owie/1015498/24 "2025-03-18T00:30:00Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > They’re giving me prescription strength topical antibiotic and having me keep doing what I’ve been doing, but they think my feet being excessively moist could be the cause so they want me to let my feet air out when I can. That’s **maceration** , which means the skin has become overly moist and weakened. Until the skin tear heals completely, continue applying the topical antibiotic as directed (to prevent infection). Once it’s fully closed, use a quality foot powder and wear white cotton socks (cotton helps wick away moisture) to prevent further maceration. This is especially important with your diabetes. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2025, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/torn-skin-on-the-bottom-of-my-toe-owie/1015498/25 "2025-03-18T00:49:24Z")
> [@Tibby](#): > > Once it’s fully closed, use a quality foot powder and wear white cotton socks (cotton helps wick away moisture) to prevent further maceration. I currently wear 74% cotton Dickies Dri-Tech socks that are marketed as being moisture-wicking. Is there perhaps a brand I should be looking at instead? I _do_ tend to have particularly sweaty feet, and I put my shoes on a boot dryer when I’m not wearing them because otherwise I’ll put them on and it’ll still be damp with day-old sweat. I’ve been using a spray-on antiperspirant on the soles of my feet, which seems to help a little but not much, so if anyone can recommend a really good powder I’d be happy to know. ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2025, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/torn-skin-on-the-bottom-of-my-toe-owie/1015498/26 "2025-03-18T00:58:50Z")
Zeasorb, Gold Bond, or even corn-starch based powders are all good. Any sock that’s 100% cotton should be fine—the thicker, the better. White’s best because dyes can irritate skin or cause contact dermatitis. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2025, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/torn-skin-on-the-bottom-of-my-toe-owie/1015498/27 "2025-03-18T03:03:53Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > I’m especially conscious of this when you mention “moist but not bleeding” because a couple of weeks ago I got some really bad abrasions on my lower leg. I looked at them and thought, meh, no blood, no broken skin, just an abrasion, no problem. Boy, was I wrong! By the next day it was really painful, the actual abrasions looked like wounds, and the whole area had turned red. I actually considered going to the ER but figured it would probably be given low priority so I just kept an eye on it day to day and would definitely have gone if the redness had started to spread as I wasn’t keen on (for example) having my leg amputated. > > But the body’s immune system is a pretty powerful thing and it seems to have settled down. I would not, however, be a prime candidate right now for a beauty pageant {of the male canine variety} in which legs were featured! 😀 It’s healing, but there will probably be some scarring. Just a followup on this. I was at my doctor today for reasons unrelated to the leg wounds, but showed it her just to get an opinion. I’m glad I did. She (a) confirmed that it wasn’t infected, (b) prescribed an ointment that would help it heal faster – like Polysporin, but prescription-only and more effective, and (c) jabbed me with a tetanus shot since I needed one anyway due to how long ago the last one was. The downside of it all was that I couldn’t escape without yet another blood test requisition. I now have two vampires after my blood – my PCP, and my cardiologist. They’re looking for different things so I have to do them both. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2025, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/torn-skin-on-the-bottom-of-my-toe-owie/1015498/28 "2025-04-05T05:48:10Z")
Change your socks several times a day. Buy lots of socks, and wash them separately, using bleach or laundry sanitizer. Don’t use scented anything when you launder the socks. Don’t walk barefoot. Your open ounds are vulnerable, and walking surfaces harbor all kinds of nasties. Prevention is a lot easier than treatment. ~VOW ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2025, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/torn-skin-on-the-bottom-of-my-toe-owie/1015498/29 "2025-04-05T06:19:09Z")
The OP started this thread 3 weeks ago. Most likely, it’s healed by now. Hope so, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2025, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/torn-skin-on-the-bottom-of-my-toe-owie/1015498/30 "2025-04-05T06:52:00Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > The OP started this thread 3 weeks ago. Most likely, it’s healed by now. Indeed it has. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/torn-skin-on-the-bottom-of-my-toe-owie/1015498.md?page=1)