What should I do if my toe skin is broken and the flesh is exposed?

Broken skin and exposed flesh on the toes may result from shoe friction and pressure, dry skin with cracking, trauma, paronychia, or athlete's foot. These conditions can be improved by reducing friction, moisturizing care, local cleaning, and medication. If the area of broken skin expands, is accompanied by pus discharge, or severe pain, prompt medical attention is necessary.

1. Shoe friction and pressure: Wearing ill-fitting shoes for long periods causes repeated rubbing or compression on the toes, leading to skin damage and exposed flesh, possibly accompanied by redness, swelling, and pain. It is recommended to switch to loose, breathable footwear, avoid prolonged walking, and gently cover the damaged area with sterile gauze to prevent further injury.

2. Dry skin with cracking: In dry climates or due to insufficient foot moisturizing, excessive water loss from the toe skin can lead to dryness, cracking, and exposed flesh, possibly accompanied by itching or stinging. Soak feet in warm water daily and apply moisturizing cream afterward. Wearing socks before bedtime helps lock in moisture and maintain hydrated skin.

3. Trauma: When the toe is scratched or injured by a foreign object and not promptly cleaned and disinfected, bacterial invasion may cause infection, resulting in broken skin, exposed flesh, redness, swelling, and heat. Follow medical advice to use antiseptics such as povidone-iodine solution or hydrogen peroxide solution, along with oral antibiotics like amoxicillin capsules to relieve symptoms.

4. Paronychia: Cutting nails too short or ingrown toenails can lead to bacterial infection in the nail fold, causing inflammation with redness and pain. In severe cases, this results in broken skin, exposed flesh, and pus discharge on the toe. Under medical guidance, topical treatments such as mupirocin ointment, fusidic acid cream, or oral cephalexin capsules may be used to alleviate discomfort.

5. Athlete’s foot (tinea pedis): Fungal infection damages the skin barrier of the feet, causing blisters and peeling between the toes, which may progress to broken skin and exposed flesh, accompanied by itching and fluid oozing. Patients may use antifungal medications such as terbinafine hydrochloride cream, miconazole nitrate powder, or bifonazole solution under medical supervision to improve symptoms.

Daily care should include keeping the feet clean and dry, changing socks regularly, avoiding cutting toenails too short, thoroughly drying the feet—especially between the toes—after washing, and choosing breathable, comfortable footwear to minimize irritation.