Question for Other Moms - La Crosse,WI

strange question I am going to ask, but does she have some kind of foot fungus? or is it a 'nervous' pick?

Is it dry winter skin? I mix a vitamin E ointment and peppermint oil (health food stores) and put on cotton socks to beat the winter dryness. If she is involved in any kind of activities that involves being bare foot with other kids she may have a fungal infection. Does she whine and complain? It may be something she does just because. Could you put something more interesting in her hand. Educate her about the function of her feet maybe that would shed some new light on it. I always try to treat things naturally, I would let fresh garlic sit in some olive oil for awhile and spread that on if it is an infection. May sting a little but so will the over the counter stuff. Do you notice if it is more pronounced picking when her Daddy is gone? My sister in law used to wet the bed alot when she was little and her dad was gone quite a bit, she seemed to be alright when he was at home more. Can she call him, are there pictures up? Don't know if any of this will help. Take care.

She may be picking because her feet are peeling. My daughter sweats a lot and her feet peel. She then picks off the dead skin. Your daughter should be checked for athlete's foot.

L.

Have you ever checked out a company called Melaleuca? We have chronic dry skin in our family. My hands and feet used to crack and bleed every winter. They do not anymore! As soon as we removed the chemicals from our home and switched over to shopping with Melaleuca, our health has improved greatly! I would be happy to share with you how to start shopping. The other great part is the convienence! I spend 5 minutes a month shopping for the necessary needs we have in the home and I can't believe how much money we save.

K.
Excelsior, MN

A little about me...I work part time as a Clinical Social Worker working with families at a faith based non profit in Chaska. We have two girl's Miriam and Lydia, 5 and 2.

My 18 mo daughter is doing the same thing!!! I don't think she has an infection, I just think she's peeling off the dead skin. Based on the other responses though, I might have her checked out to be sure.

My son has really peely toes and he sometimes picks at them. I am not sure which came first for your daughter, but our dr told us to put a little bit of baby powder in his socks each day to stop the peeling. He said it was natural for some people's feet just to be sweaty and have extra moisture and that caused the peeling that he was picking at. I put the baby powder in and the peeling improved in just days.

My niece used to do this and it drove my brother and sister in law CRAZY! It was a 'nervous tic' thing with her, she would do it while she was not paying attention... doing homework, watching TV, playing, etc.

Does she have an infection? That is how Emma's started, she broke out from a pair of shoes and started picking and it escalated from there. Maybe her toes are hurting, or the skin is infected, she's having a reaction toher socks, shoes, lotion, or bath product?

SHe's still little, but big enough to where if you remind her she's doing it she may just stop after being reminded for a while. If she's picking it to the point where she is causing open sores... then maybe the advice of a doctor is the route you should take. Hopefully its just a habit of hers and nothing else is going on.

Dear L.,
Have her little feet examined for a fungial infection. If the test come back negative and she is still continueing the behavior, consult your pediatrician, but dont become too alarmed. It dosent mean that she has an Anxiety Disorder or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder... If it isnt an infection, she is likely "over-exploring" her little toes. Treat the peeling with a mild body lotion and try to get her to keep her little socks on while indoors.
Good Luck!
C. M.