What are you in the mood for?
HOME / PERSONAL CARE / BODY TALK: TOE-JAMMIN’

Body Talk: Toe-Jammin’

by 26.1K views 26.1K views  
toe jam-how to prevent toe jam

Welcome to our Body Talk series where our in-house Nykaa editors cover educational and important conversations on body health.

There’s strawberry, mixed fruit, mango and blackcurrant – and then there’s the less edible or appealing stuff, that spreads on your toes, not your toast. Can you guess this month’s woe?

That’s right: we’re talking jam. Toe jam, specifically.

Not your regular breakfast side, toe jam is the debris that collects between your toes. A vom-inducing mix of dirt, fungus, sebum, dead skin cells and lint – toe jam can become very serious, very fast – so this isn’t a condition to be tip-toed around. And while it can be disgusting – don’t sweat it - there are far too many causal factors for it to be avoided.

If you sweat more than a white man eating curry; if your lifestyle means you’re on your feet (or that your feet are in closed shoes) all the time; if you have skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis, you’re definitely going to find yourself jammin’ with the jam. It could be the other way ‘round as well, where your jam is caused by a skin condition.

Either way, gunk left unattended can turn into *cue horror music* cellulitis, or even worse, scabies!   

So how do you figure out if the jam is just a garden-variety infection, or an indicator of something worse? We’d suggest you don’t consult Dr Google on this one. For one thing, ain’t nobody got time for the kind of PTSD the images will leave you with. For another, since there are so many variables to toe gunk, you don’t want to make a mistake – go to podiatrist or dermatologist and show ’em your terror toes. They’re used to it, don’t worry.

How to take care of feet

If it’s just a fungal infection, you’re in luck (if you can call it that). It’s easily treated with over-the-counter anti- fungal formulas. Remember, shoes are shady motels for shady specimens like pathogen that love to occupy dingy, dark places. Help it along by wearing sandals or open-toed shoes as much as you can. When you can’t, change your socks frequently, and keep the spaces between your toes dry and free of moisture. If it’s a bacterial infection, the doctor will recommend you switch up that anti-fungal with an antibiotic – but these babies travel up the leg fast, so it’s best you attend to it ASAP.

And of course, even if the bug hasn’t bitten yet, it’s better to stay safe rather than smelly by being vigilant about your toe-health (yup, that’s a thing). Here’s a few simple ways to take care of your feet:

Simple Tips on How to Take Care of Your Feet

  • When you’re washing your feet, don’t forget to scrub out the spaces between your toes with soap, preferably an anti-bacterial one like Dettol Original Soap.
  • Dry your feet thoroughly before you put your shoes on to avoid residual moisture.
  • Get regular pedicures and try not to leave corns unattended – sand them down with Vega Pumice Stone.
  • Use talcum or medicated / anti-perspirant foot powder like Candid Activ Antiperspirant Talc between your toes to help ward away moisture and infections.
  • If you sweat a lot, switch to sandals in hotter weather.
  • Wash new socks before wearing them to limit lint that can collect in the crevices.
Want to how to take proper care of your feet? Check out :
Foot Care Simplified and slay in those heels!
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
MORE from Personal Care