Son Has Angry Red Rash on the Sides of His Feet

S., it could be a fungus other than athletes foot. My eldest son came home from camp with a fungus on his hands. Luckily, I had some prescription anti-fungal cream from his younger brother and it worked fast. I would first try some anti-fungal cream instead of the power- so that it stays on his skin longer. Has he been swimming? It could be from the pool. If you try the cream and it doesn't seem to be working, then I would take him in.

Another thing could be a weird allergic reaction. Then I would try some benadryl or hydrocortisone cream. Maybe you could try one treatment on one foot and another treatment on the other and see which one is working?

Good Luck!

One type of athlete's foot is the "moccasin" pattern, like on the sides of the feet which sounds similar to what you describe. You could look it up on webmd.com which might have pictures. I think the athlete's foot sprays are helpful especially before bed because they instantly cool the itch. Switch between several pairs of shoes and put on dry socks frequently(or go barefoot). Also, using the automatic shower cleaner seems to prevent this from reocurring.

If it is athelete's foot or some other fungus, tea tree oil is a more powerful and effective anti-fungal than any of the ointments you can get at the store. We had a terrible ringworm problem until I found out about tea tree oil. I dabbed it on full strength, but for that large of an area, you may want to dilute it with water to maybe half strength.

possibly hand foot mouth. Look inside his mouth for any red/white bumps/blisters. If so, you just let it run its course and it's not contagious within 4-5 days. Rash takes longer to go away.

If these other suggestions don't help, try Aveno diaper rash or Balmex diaper rash cream. I know it isn't a rash on his behind, but they have ingredients that heal rashes if it a common rash, & they seem to sooth. The Balmex was the best Ive ever used, but that's before Aveeno came out with any & its much cheaper, I didn;t know they still made it because I looked for it once & couldn't find it so I bough Aveeno 7 it worked great too.(Balmex cost about $3 at walmart) than the Aveeno (which is about $6 or $7). They are both found on the isles where shampoo etc are, next to the baby body wash & lotion)
I think the best thing...you're already doing & that's keeping socks off of him & let his feet air out & if they aren't better Tues, maybe then see a Dr for their advise. you might could rub plain white yogurt on them, let it dry & after a few hours rinse them & put the balmex. Alternate them & the tree oil. Yogurt kills yeast bacteria.If he likes yogurt let him eat some off & on during the day.

You might want to soak his feet in oatmeal water. Cook some plain oatmeal in lots of water,& use the water off of it. Or you can buy Aveeno bath stuff.
AND NO I DO NOT think you're a bad mom because you didn't rush him to the doctor. Some things are curable at home. and I do try myself first before I rush my children to the Dr.
I do admire your honesty though :)
I hope you enjoy your holiday today!

does he usually have sensitive skin? sometimes i get crazy reactions to things that wouldnt effect others. like new socks that havent been washed. new shoes, house shoes, sheets perhaps, even carpet powders. sorry he has a odd rash. can you give him bennadril (sp) or some type of cream to ease the rash pain if it is an allergic reaction. also you can look up images of athleats foot for a visual on the rash if it looks the same. it takes a few days for the sprays to work. also if i am stressed out my hands will peal! hope it goes away quickly.

My brother battled what he thought was athlete's foot for years. Since he was always involved with sports, we thought it was just a natural part of the "game". He often had trouble with ingrown toenails. He was a big basketball player, so everyone thought it was from slamming his toes to the end of his shoes on a regular basis. Well several years after graduating from high school, he was still having trouble with both. He finally went to a podiatrist.

The ingrown toenails were being caused by him wearing the wrong size shoe. The doctor had him go to a store and have his feet measured. He had worn size 11 for years. They measured his feet at a 13. Once healed, he's had no more problems with ingrown toenails.

As for the "athlete's foot". The doctor ran some tests and decided it was psorisis. He gave him meds for psorisis, healing came, and he's had no more problems.

Good luck. Tomorrow morning call and get him an appointment. I don't blame you for not taking him to the ER. Unless his symptoms were unbearable and untreatable with something you had or could get over the counter on the weekend, you did right by not taking him to the ER.

Hi S.,

Lots of good advice here, the body does funny things, could be an allergic reaction to something or a fungus. either way you want to keep it aired out. moisture will cause it to spread esp.warm moisture. the tea tree soap the castor soap, 1.99 in a 6z orange colored labeling is great to clean with and just get you a lotion with tea tree in it just make sure it does not have mineral oil in. if it continues to welt or get scally like or even pus like you will want to take him in and get antibotic for his feet.
and discontinue using anything other wise tea tree is the way to go. you might want to wash in tennis shoes or house slippers in the soap as well, just in case. i always tell folks back track and see if you used any differ products, like did you change your detergent or get new socks. back tracking will help too. if anything cold will help with the itchyness until you decide what you need to do. best of luck! :)

Go to Mayoclinic.com and then symptom checker.
You will then write all his symptoms down and presto a diagnosis-hopefully.

You can do the same on webmd.com

A new website, ratemds.com will take your personal questions, and a specialist will get back to you.
I think the price might be $9.

Isn't technology awesome??? Best to you and him.

i agree with tracy c - it sounds like moccassin pattern fungus - very common, especially in this hot weather. most antifungals will clear it up, but you have to use athletes foot powder in shoes also otherwise you will be reinfecting.

Hi S.,
sorry to hear your poor son has a rash on his feet. I am very sensitive with my feet so I can understand what he might be feeling. It sounds that he may have a fungal infection. You need to bring him in to see his pcp. Fungal infections are very stubborn to get rid of. Does he itches, and doest it burn? Does are the common symptoms to fungus. If he does have fungus it is contagious.

Good luck,
Elisa M

You are right about the first answer the Dr.but take him to a specialist.If you explain the problem hopefully they will be able to get you in soon.But you are also right to start with something early. Good luck

Hmm, seems like if you can wash and dry his feet really well each night, then put some cortizone on the rash area, that may help. The clean white socks are also excellent.

He has not been wearing any new shoes or walking barefoot any where? Could be athletes foot could be chiggers, or allergic reaction to something he stepped in while barefoot.

I would also wonder if some Benadryl tonight could help take the itch away...