A few months ago I noticed a reddish/purple patch on the underside of my big toe (left foot). It was kind of itchy and if I pressed it or walked on it I would feel a sharp pain. I thought that maybe I had stood on something and it was a bruise, but after months it is still there, its not itchy anymore but still gets sore. Then about a month ago I noticed two other patches had appeared...one on the edge of my little toe, it is a hard bump and is now purple...and one on my 3rd toe (between the 3rd and 4th toe). It is also a hard bump, purple in colour and is very sore if I touch it. Wearing covered shoes is very uncomfortable. I have tried looking up some possibilities on the net, but haven't had any success. I thought maybe it could be a chilblain? Or a corn/callus? But some of my symptoms don't match. Does anyone know what this could be? Could it be an infection? help!

Dug up your old post, nzgirl20, while doing a search for sore toes. I have had this condition for several years now, and a dermatologist I respect doesn't know what it is, except to say that it must be some kind of vascular reaction to extremes of temperature.

When the weather starts getting real cold, one of my toes will get very itchy, pink and a little swollen in one spot. It is very sensitive to being struck or stubbed (VERY painful.) After a while the swelling subsides and the pinkness becomes a purplish red color; after some weeks there appear streaks of darker red in the sore area. These seem to be scabs under my skin--and, indeed, they eventually work their way out, and then I can peel them off. If during any of this time I let my feet get overheated, my toes itch like crazy.

Two of my four sons have this too, although I never had it before I was 40.

If you are still out there, nzgirl, does this sound like what you have? Anybody else have this or know what it might be? Does it have a name?