What Are the Causes of Itchy Feet?
There are many things that our feet come in contact with on a daily basis that can cause insane itching, such as sweaty socks and shoes, locker room floors and the public pool. Knowing how to stop the itch, and keep it from coming back, will depend on what is causing it.
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Dermatitis
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Contact dermatitis is a condition that can cause itchy feet and it is usually the result of something that your feet have come in contact with. According to Podiatry Network.com, there are two types of contact dermatitis that affect the feet: primary irritant dermatitis and allergic dermatitis. Primary irritant dermatitis is caused by an irritant and allergic dermatitis is caused by an allergic reaction to a substance. Primary irritant dermatitis is best treated with cold compresses. Allergic dermatitis responds well to hydrocortisone and other topical steroids.
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Fungus
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Athlete's foot is caused by a fungus known as trichophyton rubrum, which thrives in moist, dark places. The Mayo Clinic explains that trichophyton rubrum is also the fungus that causes ringworm and jock itch. Trichophyton rubrum causes the itching between the toes and painful stinging and burning. Itching and cracking can also appear on the skin of the toes and soles of the feet along with excessive dryness. Mild cases of fungus are treated with topical, over-the-counter anti-fungal medications. If the fungus lingers, a physician may need to prescribe a stronger anti-fungal.
Bacteria
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Fungal conditions that are not treated properly can lead to more complicated health situations such as bacterial infection. This is especially true if severe itching and scratching leads to breaks in the skin that allow bacteria to enter. CNN Health reports that the bacterial infection is actually a secondary infection that causes a breakdown of tissue and sores between the toes. In addition to topical anti-fungal medications, a physician may prescribe an oral antibiotic to help the body fight the infection and kill the bacteria.
Eczema
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There are several different types of eczema that can affect the feet and cause them to itch. The most common type is atopic eczema, which causes the feet to become dry, inflamed and red in color. Discoid eczema will cause lesions on the feet that can ooze, and varicose eczema occurs in patients that are susceptible to varicose veins. Dr. Foot explains that varicose eczema can cause the feet to become inflamed and full of lesions. The lesions commonly occur around the ankles and can lead to ulcerations of the skin. Each type of eczema is treated with topical steroid ointments.
Prevention
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Most foot conditions that cause itching can be prevented by taking a few simple precautions. Keep your feet clean and dry to prevent fungal infections. Drying your feet well after bathing, use foot powders and change your socks when your feet become sweaty. Mother Nature.com recommends washing your socks in different types of detergent to find out which one may be causing contact dermatitis and discontinue use. Dry, scaly feet that are caused by eczema can be relieved by moisturizing with vitamin E lotions and creams that contain urea.
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- Photo Credit "Red nail toe" is Copyrighted by Flickr user: Leonid Mamchenkov (Leonid Mamchenkov) under the Creative Commons Attribution license.
