What Are Itchy Feet?
Pruritus, the medical term for
itching, can occur anywhere on your skin. However, the feet are especially
vulnerable for the tendency people have to put them in sweaty situations with
various types of footwear. Exposure to water, exposure to irritants when
walking barefoot, and infectious bacteria and fungus can also lead to itching
While not typically cause for
concern, itching feet can indicate an underlying skin condition or even
disease. Understanding what symptoms you should and should not be worried about
can help you find relief.
What Causes Itchy Feet?
Itching feet may stem from a number of diseases, skin
conditions, and exposure to irritants, which can include medications or topical
Foot itch caused by a medical condition is related to an
increase in the neurotransmitter serotonin. For this reason, doctors often
prescribe anti-serotonin medications to treat itching. Medical conditions that
cause itching feet include:
- cholestasis, a liver disease that occurs during
- Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- peripheral neuropathy, a condition commonly
associated with diabetes
- polycythemia vera
Skin conditions that cause
itching specifically to the feet include:
- allergic contact dermatitis, which can be caused
by something like new laundry detergent
- athlete’s foot/tinea pedis (fungal infection)
- atopic dermatitis
- juvenile plantar dermatosis
Medications known to cause body and feet itching include opioids
or narcotics, such as morphine.
What Are the Symptoms of Itchy Feet?
Itchy feet will make you want to
scratch your skin. Changes to the skin may accompany the itchy sensation.
Examples of skin changes are:
- cracked, open areas
- dry, scale-like plaques
- white spots
However, it’s possible for your feet
to itch with no accompanying skin symptoms.
When to Seek Medical Help
See your doctor if your itchy feet don’t improve with home
care or your symptoms get worse with time.
Your doctor will take a thorough medical history and conduct
a physical exam to diagnose itchy feet causes. Some questions could include:
- Have you recently started taking any new
- Have you been exposed to any potential
- Do you have any chronic medical conditions, such
as diabetes or eczema?
- Have any family members, friends, or teammates
recently experienced any skin-related concerns?
If necessary, your doctor can
perform a skin scraping, culture, or biopsy. These tests check areas in or on
top of your skin for presence of organisms, such as fungus.
How Are Itchy Feet Treated?
A doctor will treat itchy feet
according to the cause. For allergic reactions, avoidance of the product or
products causing the allergic reaction can help to reduce itching.
Medications that may relieve
itchy feet include serotonin inhibitors such as:
- cyproheptadine (Periactin)
- ondansetron (Zofran)
- paroxetine (Paxil)
Taking an antihistamine, such as
diphenhydramine (Benadryl), can also help. However, these medicines can have a
sedative effect. Older adults may need to avoid them.
If you have athlete’s foot,
antifungal sprays or creams may help. Chronic fungal infections may require
Topical anti-itch medication and
steroid creams can help reduce itching, particularly in cases of cholestasis
and neuropathy-related conditions.
How Can I Prevent Itchy Feet?
Good foot care habits can help reduce itchy feet and prevent
some causes, such as a fungal infection. This includes always wearing
waterproof shoes, such as flip-flops in shared shower facilities or gym floors.
You can also use these foot care measures:
- Refrain from putting on shoes and socks until
your feet are completely dry.
- Wash your feet regularly with mild soap, paying
careful attention to the areas between your toes and applying moisturizer after
you finish bathing.
- Wear breathable socks that wick away moisture,
such as those made from cotton.
- Wear shoes that are well-ventilated, such as
those with mesh holes that help the feet stay dry.
If you experience regular
episodes of athlete’s foot, you may need to apply an antifungal powder to your
feet before you put on your socks or shoes.