"Toe Jam" isn't really a medical diagnosis or a clinical term and it is a term for that disagreeable things which collects between your toes that jokes will often be made about it. Nevertheless, everyone do have to take it seriously as every now and then it can result in complications. The build-up between your toes is made up of various things including the debris from shoes and hosiery, especially if they're new, dead skin cells and skin flakes, grime, perspiration as well as other debris that we get subjected to. Toe jam could have the consistency similar to a light cheese and vary in colour from a whitened to a dull brown. This will most likely accumulate much more within the dark and damp tight areas between toes, especially if shoes are used all day. A cheese like foot smell could develop from bacterial degradation of the epidermis tissue. The microbes mainly responsible for this cheese like odour is Brevibacterium linens micro organism. Fascinatingly, this is the bacteria that is employed in many cheese manufacturing operations. This condition is much more prevalent in those who are now living in damp and hot climates, whose feet perspire more for example sports athletes, people who use closed-in shoes, those who have inadequate foot hygiene and don’t inspect their own feet, those who do not thoroughly clean their feet often and those who don’t dry between their toes. Quite a few vocations including those that will need closed in shoes in warmer environments may also greatly increase the chance with this. If this problem is not necessarily handled there are a number of issues which may occur, for example bacterial as well as fungal infection. The epidermis can macerate and splits could occur in the skin between the toes. Several problems may seem to be similar to toe jam and if this does become a problem, then a appropriate investigation is usually necessary to determine this. This may consist of such things as corns between the toes along with a number of infections.
The easiest method to treat toe jam is with good foot hygiene practices that involve frequent washing and cleaning between your toes and drying out between your toes that will prevent the build up with the items that cause the problem. Clean absorbent socks should be used every day and changed following physical exercise that can help soak up sweat. Whenever possible, use footwear that will allow the perspiration to evaporate or pull away moisture content away from the feet. People with a sweaty foot condition might want to attempt more measures, for example using absorbent shoe inserts and hosiery. Any kind of fungal infection will need to be helped by anti-fungal topicals. Specific attention will have to be given to individuals who may have troubles with self-care should they have problems with mobility or eyesight. Information will need to be provided to carers and/or close relatives about carrying out self-care as well as practising effective foot health. There are a selection of commercially available foot cleaning products and brushes that can be used to help this. First and foremost, toe jam is not truly serious, however you should take it seriously particularly if you have something such as diabetes as it could lead to further complications.