The cut between your toes is not healing properly because of three reasons that are very common in this area:
1. Moisture trap between toes – this keeps the wound from drying and delays the formation of new skin.
2. Constant movement and friction while walking – the wound keeps opening again from the sides.
3. Possible mild fungal or mixed infection – very common between toes, especially after swimming.
Even though you used antibiotic ointment and an oral antibiotic, the wound has not closed because medicines alone cannot heal a wound that remains moist and is repeatedly stretched during walking.
The good news is that your wound does not look dangerous, but it needs proper wound-care steps to close completely.
Next Steps
1. Keep the area completely dry
After bath, dry between the toes using tissue or cold hair dryer. Moisture is delaying healing.
2. Use a combination treatment for 7 to 10 days
Twice a day:
• Apply Mupirocin ointment on the deeper part
and
• Apply Clotrimazole cream on the surrounding skin
This treats both bacterial and fungal components.
Do not cover with a very tight bandage.
Use a small sterile gauze lightly placed between the toes to keep them separated.
3. Reduce friction
Place a small cotton roll or gauze between the two toes while walking.
This stops the wound edges from re-opening.
4. Avoid swimming or soaking the foot
No water exposure until it heals.
Swimming pools easily cause delayed healing and fungal growth.
5. Use a wound-healing dressing
If possible, use silver nitrate hydrocolloid dressing or soframycin-soaked gauze changed every 24 hours.
Health Tips
Seek review if you notice:
• Increasing redness
• Bad smell
• Pus discharge
• Fever
• Spreading skin changes
With proper drying, separating the toes, and correct creams, the wound should close in 10 to 15 days.