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What Causes Skin Infections?
Skin infections on the feet can be caused by bacteria, viruses or fungi, often entering through small cuts or irritated skin. They may spread through direct skin-to-skin contact or indirectly through shared surfaces such as locker room floors, mats or communal showers.
Common foot-specific infections include:
- Bacterial infections (such as staph): Often result in redness, warmth, swelling and sometimes pus.
- Molluscum contagiosum and herpes simplex virus: Viral infections that can cause small, clustered blisters or lesions.
- Fungal infections (tinea pedis, or athlete’s foot): Thrive in moist environments and spread easily between people or via contaminated surfaces.
- Warts: Benign, mildly contagious growths caused by a common virus (human papillomavirus). Plantar warts specifically grow on the bottom of the foot.
Symptoms of Foot Skin Infections
Symptoms can vary based on the cause and severity but often include:
- Redness or swelling around the affected area
- Blisters, sores or open lesions
- Itching, burning or tenderness
- Flaking or peeling skin (especially between the toes)
If left untreated, infections may spread to deeper tissues or surrounding skin, which may require antibiotics or further medical care.
What Is Athlete’s Foot?
Athlete’s foot, also known as tinea pedis, is one of the most common fungal infections affecting the feet. It often develops between the toes but can spread to the soles or toenails.
Symptoms include:
- Itching, burning or stinging between the toes
- Dry, scaly or cracked skin
- Redness or blistering
- A strong or unusual odor
Treatment typically involves antifungal creams or sprays, keeping dry, clean feet and changing socks frequently. Severe or recurring cases may require prescription medications or evaluation for a secondary bacterial infection.
What Are Plantar Warts?
Plantar warts are warts that form on the bottom of the feet. Because of pressure from standing or walking, they may grow inward and develop a callus-like surface with small black dots (clotted blood vessels).
Warts are commonly transmitted in places like locker rooms, pools and gym showers, where bare feet meet contaminated surfaces.
Are Warts Contagious?
Yes, warts are contagious, just like other skin infections. Make sure to keep any affected areas clean, dry and away from shared surfaces or items, including shower floors and washcloths.
How Are Warts Treated?
Treatment depends on the type of infection or wart and its severity.
At home treatments: over the counter (OTC):
- Salicylic acid: available in liquids, gels or patches: soak wart, file dead skin, apply daily for weeks/months
- Freezing sprays: OTC kits that freeze the wart, but less intense than professional cryotherapy
Your OrthoNebraska provider may recommend:
- Cryotherapy: liquid nitrogen freezes the wart. This may require multiple sessions.
- Surgery: Excising the wart under local anesthesia in an office setting
How are Skin Infections Treated?
Basic recommendations include foot hygiene such as keeping feet clean and dry, wearing clean cotton socks and breathable footwear, using OTC antifungal creams, sprays or powders for fungal infections. If that is not sufficient, professional treatments include:
- Prescription strength topical (on skin) antifungals or oral antifungal pills for severe cases
- Oral antibiotics for mild bacterial infections
- IV antibiotics for severe infections
- Surgical intervention to remove and drain the infection if antibiotic treatment is not successful
Treat Warts and Skin Infections at OrthoNebraska
Looking for help with skin infections or wart removal in the Omaha area? At OrthoNebraska, we want to make sure that our patients feel understood, safe and confident to take on an appropriate treatment plan. With proper management, we can help you reduce pain levels and improve quality of life.
