With the summer weather here, we get to spend more time in the swimming pool. Whether in the backyard or at the local community pool, the more time we spend in the water keeping cool, the more likely it becomes that we encounter swimmer’s toe.
What is Swimmer’s Toe?
The technical term is keratolysis exfoliative, but it is also known as pool toes. This condition presents as cracking and peeling under the toes. It can also present as a blister that pops to expose dry, red skin. The chemicals and over exposure to water for a prolonged period of time causes irritation and dryness in the sensitive skin of the foot. The more time spent in the water, the more irritated the skin can become.
Although this can occur in any body of water if you swim long enough, the rough surface of a pool bottom and the chlorine can exacerbate symptoms.
The main issues here are irritation and the breakdown of the skin barrier. Public pool surfaces are a known source of the wart virus “HPV” and other foot infectious agents, such as fungus, that can be easily picked up when the skin barrier on the bottom of your feet is broken due to scrapes, tiny cuts, friction or broken blisters. Swimmer’s toe puts you at risk for these infections.
Who Can Get It?
Everyone, although it is more common in children who spend, on average, more time in the pool or those with pre-existing skin conditions, such as eczema.
How Can You Combat Swimmer’s Toe?
Below we’ve compiled some tips to help you combat swimmer’s toe this summer:
Rinse off your feet! Once you get out of the water, rinse your feet off to wash away the chlorine and chemicals used to keep the water safe for swimming.
Moisturize! BioPed carries a line of products that moisturize your feet without leaving an oily residue behind, perfect for a midday application right out of the pool.
Wear moisture-wicking socks! If you’re having an active day after the swim, and really, all summer long, try to wear moisture-wicking socks that take the sweaty moisture away from the delicate foot skin, keeping them dry.
Keep sandals or shoes on! Both on deck and in the pool when possible! If you’re in the water, shoes are a great way to keep the skin of your feet from getting irritated or torn on the rough pool bottom. Deckside, having a barrier between your foot (which may be compromised if you have Swimmer’s toe or any other skin condition) and the pool deck, will protect you from getting an infection, such as warts or fungus, that accumulate on the pool deck and shower floors.
After making a splash this summer, make sure that you keep your feet dry. And if they are peeling, cracked or irritated, have a quality moisturizer on hand to keep the skin under your feet healthy.
