Iām currently experiencing a panic attack because of this. Iāve been crying and Iām trembling. This is what happenedā¦ Over the past three months, my home has been undergoing mold remediation (which has been a difficult ordeal 
), and Iāve had to share a bathroom with my whole family. None of them have athleteās foot. Due to my OCD, I use flip flops after showering to walk to my sleeping area. I then wash my feet in the sink, dry them, and place paper towels in the flip flops to maintain dryness before heading to my āroomā to air dry and put on socks. This routine has worked fine for months. The footwear began to smell lately because of constant moisture, so I cleaned them in the sink using hot water, baking soda, and laundry soap. I tried to squeeze out all the soap and rinse them well, but Iām certain some residue remained because they feel spongy. I rinse and dry my feet every time I use them. Earlier today, I felt a kind of swollen tightness in the soft area of my foot near the smaller toes. Upon inspection, I found what appeared to be dry, peeling skin between my pinky toe and the adjacent one. This really scared me, and I immediately suspected athleteās foot. Since Iāve never dealt with it, Iām unsure of the symptoms or appearance. The routine I mentioned was my way of trying to avoid this, as I feared the damp flip flops might cause issues. A night or two ago, I scrubbed my feet quite forcefully in the shower with a cloth and soap, being especially rough between the toes that are currently bothering me. Iām not sure why I did it, and Iām full of regret. I didnāt recall the scrubbing until later, which initially gave me some relief as I thought it might just be irritation. Others have looked at it and confirmed the swelling and dryness. My anxiety is peaking because I struggle with contamination OCD. Iām shaking as I type this and feeling very low. Iām terrified that sleeping in my bed will spread the infection. My foot cleaning routine has become a total nightmare. I applied some Manuka honey skin cream (which is antibacterial and antifungal) to my feet and between the toes, then put on athletic socks to create a protective layer. Iām terrified of sleeping on my bedding without laundering it first, but itās late. Since itās Saturday, I canāt call the doctor until Monday. I considered sharing pictures but decided against it. Iād appreciate any help, thank you. Update: I visited a dermatologist who performed a test; itās not a fungus or bacteria, just dry, macerated skin caused by excessive scrubbing!
Hi there! Iām not familiar with athleteās foot, so I canāt offer much advice on that. Could it be that your feet are simply dried out from the constant washing? When I was washing my hands excessively, my knuckles would bleed, and I worried it was a medical issue until my mother explained it was just from the frequent washing. It sounds like youāre cleaning your feet so often that the strong soaps and lotions might be drying them out. Iām no professional, but I suspect itās fine and your OCD is just causing extra concern.