This is one of those issues that a lot of readers ask about in the question-and-answer segment of this page. Usually, efforts are made to answer those questions, but they have become even more common of late perhaps due to the recent harmattan season in the north and in some parts of the south. This problem has a number of potential causes, and we shall be discussing them in the following paragraphs.
Injuries to the feet and fungal infections, such as athlete’s foot and dry skin, are all potential causes of peeling in the feet. Dry skin, especially during the harmattan or during the winter months in the temperate regions, can actually crack or tear, leading to the development of open and bleeding wounds that are uniformly painful. That kind of dry skin is not dangerous, but if it is severe enough to cause the feet to crack open and bleed, then there is also a high risk of developing an infection of those wounds. The infection can be promptly controlled if there is a timely visit to a hospital and the proper kind of treatment plan is speedily instituted. If the affected person suffers from other chronic disease conditions such as chronic liver or kidney disease or diabetes, prompt attention is even more important.
Peeling of the feet may be associated with the development of pain, itching, dry and white patches and flushing. These developments may also be associated with eczema, another skin condition that is noted for being prone to overreacting to certain skin conditions or substances and leading to inflammation of healthy skin. As a result of these changes, the skin may look and feel unusually dry with the formation of scales and blisters, which may even become painful. When these lesions are found in the feet, peeling can occur. Therefore, atopic dermatitis, which is the most common form of eczema, develops when the body’s immune system damages the moisture barrier of the skin and causes it to become dry. This can lead to peeling of the feet. Similar patches can occur in other parts of the body, especially the hands and trunk. Another type of eczema known as Dyshidrotic eczema mainly affects the hands and feet, leading to the formation of very small blisters in both places and a lot of itching. Many people often mistake this type of eczema for other types of skin diseases because of the similarity of their appearance. That is why there is no substitute, in the end, for getting the opinion of experts who treat skin diseases, and they are known as dermatologists.
The similarly injurious chronic condition that causes the body to attack its own healthy tissue is described as an autoimmune condition. It causes the skin to turn over at a much higher rate than usual, leading to abnormal thickening of such skin, dryness and severe scaliness and itching. These problems can affect the elbows, knees, feet and buttocks. Adequate application of a moisturising lotion can promote early healing of such lesions. In some ways, these are similar to the formation of corns and calluses in the feet, which lead to the build-up of dead skin on the feet that often crack open, tear or peel with pain and lead to bleeding. Calluses tend to be found at the bottom of the feet and they feel hard but will not be painful unless when touched. Corns on the other hand tend to appear on the toes, look somewhat waxy and result when dead skin grows around inflamed skin which can then become painful. Neither corns nor calluses are dangerous, but they are quite uncomfortable, especially when the appropriate footwear is not worn. The last of these potentially troubling conditions that are seen on the foot that can also lead to peeling are blisters which may be associated with difficult manual labour. They are quite painful usually and very uncomfortable as a result.
People with diabetes can develop a series of internal damages to the blood vessels supplying the feet, with associated narrowing and reduced blood flow to the feet over time. As a result, the feet can become dry, scaly and painful as time progresses. In some cases, therefore, the feet may sustain injuries without the patient being aware or the feet may tear and bleed. Such a lack of awareness may occur due to nerve damage through similar mechanisms. Peeling feet may be truly uncomfortable as we have seen above. There is a range of possible home remedies but those will depend on the cause. Dry skin around the foot may rub against the footwear and cause peeling or cracking, which may result in bleeding and intense pain. In a situation like this, even walking can be rather uncomfortable and performed with much effort. Most of the time, dry skin can be treated at home with adequate moisturisers, but it is imperative that a doctor is seen at a hospital if the dryness does not abate, or the pain is not relieved. Shoes that rub against blisters should not be worn and it is often better to wear well-padded footwear that may even be one size too big just to avoid the kind of friction that might exacerbate the pain.
Warm soaks with an antiseptic lotion such as Dettol or Savlon will equally be useful when this is performed for at least 15 to 20 minutes twice a day. This should be followed by gentle drying of the feet with a properly absorbent towel. Lastly, it is important to consider one of the most difficult fungal infections to treat when it involves the foot. It is known as athlete’s foot. It is a highly contagious infection that affects the web spaces between the toes. It may be associated also with poorly controlled diabetes and will cause yellow or white patches on the feet or under the toes as well. Most of the time, however, they are found between the toes and the appearance of the toes involved in this problem is dryness with associated peeling. There may be intense itching over the involved areas, and some people have been known to scratch the affected areas until bleeding ensues. Even at that point, there is sweetness with the scratching effort rather than pain. Treatment is obtained by using clotrimazole cream or ketoconazole cream or even a similarly formulated powder that has the twin advantage of keeping the area dry as well as delivering the pharmacological agent to the site of the disease.
Such persons would probably get this kind of infection from contaminated surfaces such as the floors of gymnasiums, showers and the mustiness of poorly kept socks. When stockings of any sort are worn repeatedly and left moist or even wet, they can become a rich culture medium for some of these fungi that cause athlete’s foot. Frequent washing and dryness of such underwear help to avoid this problem. It is a lesson that many males, in particular, need to imbibe so as to prevent their toes from developing this kind of infection and also to protect the integrity of the soles of their feet. When these measures are undertaken with due diligence, healthy feet and supple soles are the result.
Questions and answers
Dear doctor, I don’t know what is happening to me right now. Two days ago, I started to feel very dizzy and had blurred vision. Normally, I use contact lenses for short-sightedness, and it has not given me any problems in the last three years of its use. Then two days ago, I was just feeling dizzy. I took spaghetti for breakfast and eba in the afternoon and noodles at night. I was also on my period and the pain was much, so I took some gin before all these things started. I am very scared because this has not happened to me before and I am not sure if I am okay or not and whether it is because of my contacts or my period. Please what is your advice? 070896****
Well, it is a bit difficult to say what may have caused you to become dizzy, but it is almost certain that your contact lenses are not to blame. There are two possibilities though; one is the fact that noodles are not necessarily a proper meal and if you developed a spell of low blood sugar at some point, you could become dizzy. The other more likely cause in your situation would be the gin you drank. That alcoholic beverage is strong and can generate equally strong side effects such as the ones you described. Other than this, it is not likely that you have some other sinister problem.
Dear doctor, I am constrained to ask you this question because I am rather worried about it. Once every three or four months, I develop this foul smell from my vagina with a clear discharge. There is no itching and no bloodstain with it. I am 29 years old and I am single. I am not in any relationship as of now, so I am not engaging in any sexual acts. When this happens, I insert boric acid pessaries and the smell stops. Do you advise me to continue using this medication or is there something else I should do to solve this problem? 08125****
Boric acid suppositories are believed to help balance the acid base of the vagina and help with clearing yeast infections. But in your submission, there is no itching and the discharge is clear, so this is not likely to be a yeast infection. I would advise you to get an endocervical swab done for culture because you may be suffering from bacterial vaginosis or chronic cervicitis. The result obtained will help with treating this condition. Boric acid is not a specific medication for dealing with a significant genital tract infection, which is why yours is recurrent even without engaging in sexual activity.
Dear Doctor Sylvester, thank you for promptly treating the issue of urethral stricture today, April 2, 2023, exactly a week after my comments. It brought more enlightenment and comfort. Thanks, and may you always be blessed. 080231****
Thank you for your prayers and comments. It is this kind of interaction that drives some of the work on this page, so we thank you very much for the feedback. Best wishes, sir.
Dear doctor, is a fibroid operation a simple operation? Some medical doctors were indicted for the death of a woman who underwent a fibroid operation in their hospital. 080638****
There is no simple operation. Every type of surgery has its risks, including even the type of scar that forms after the operation has been deemed a success. That said, it is important to stress the fact that a fibroid operation, known as myomectomy, is a major operation. This is an operation that involves opening up the entire abdomen and occasionally reaching into the pelvis as well. Typically, the operation will range in time from 90 minutes to about three hours depending on the number of fibroid masses and their size. And so, the indictment of the doctors you mentioned does not mean that they are guilty of any wrongdoing but only suggests that it is an active case undergoing investigation. To answer your specific question, a fibroid operation is not simple and it is major abdominal surgery.
Dear doctor, a patent medicine dealer was recently seen giving somebody injections. Was he supposed to do that? In Nigeria, anything goes; is a pharmacist supposed to give injections? 080638****
Well, I am sure that you probably know the answers to these questions. A patent medicine dealer should not administer injections because they have no healthcare training of any kind. On the other hand, pharmacists can administer injections if there is a therapeutic need for it, especially when it is not a scheduled injection and the relevant pharmacist has the required skill. However, the limitation of the Nigerian training is such that this role is played mainly by nurses in administering oral, subcutaneous and intramuscular injections while doctors administer intravenous injections.
Dear doctor, I am a 58-year-old woman with a 15-year-old daughter. I was recently diagnosed with an ovarian dermoid cyst. I have been asked to have an operation to remove it because it is quite large and has been causing me pain off and on. My real question here is whether my daughter is at risk of developing the condition later in her life. 080333****
It can certainly happen that a condition like this runs in a family, but it is very rare. It is not common at all. You should not lose sleep over it but if there is any concern with regards to that, your daughter can be screened even at her age because dermoid cysts are often present from early in life and grow very slowly over many years before they become evident when they cause pain due to torsion, or swelling becomes evident on the tummy.
Dear doctor, please I need your opinion. I have been suffering from repetitive stress injury which began in my right hand about nine months ago and gradually spread to the right leg before moving over to the left leg and then the left hand. I have done physiotherapy on a regular basis over the past five months with no improvement. For several days, I may not be able to sleep because of pain. I have used Naproxen, Dolometa-B, Cataflam, Cocodamol and lately, Dihydrocodeine. I am getting frustrated owing to the pain I go through. I am 62 years old now and have had diabetes for the past 13 years. Please I need your input into my case. 070470***
I sympathise with you sir. in cases like yours, it is difficult to overlook diabetes as a possible culprit in the kinds of symptoms you have had. However, you did not disclose how well you have been able to control that. At any rate, it is important for you to know that the range of medications you have used in the pursuit of treatment for your condition is far less important than how you have used the drugs. By this, I mean how specifically you combined them, and for how long, and at what dose. If the dose or combination has been inadequate, you will not have the desired outcome and it is more likely that you are dealing with fibromyalgia rather than repetitive stress injury. You should see a physician for an initial assessment, and you may need to also see a neurologist. But get to a hospital first because it is not certain that you have done so.
