Itchy feet are usually nothing more than annoying. However, there may be something else going on if you notice other symptoms like blisters, dry or scaly areas on the skin, or swelling.
There are several causes of itchy feet. Your feet may itch if you have a bacterial or fungal infection, come into contact with an allergen or irritant, or have dry skin. Some cases are mild, which you can easily treat at home. Others are the result of an underlying health condition, such as diabetes, kidney disease, scabies, or a thyroid condition.
Itching sometimes occurs with bumps, dry skin, hives, and redness. The sensation may make you want to itch the bottoms and tops of your feet, as well as your heels and toes. This itchy feeling can also occur with no rash. Read on to learn about what could be causing your itchy feetand what to do about it.
11 Reasons You Might Have an Itchy Butt
Athlete's foot is a fungal infection and a classic cause of itchiness.People commonly pick up the fungus by walking barefoot in places like gym locker rooms. You might end up with a red rash, or the athlete's foot can lead to itchy blisters and cracked or scaly skin.
Treatment: Over-the-counter (OTC) antifungal creams and sprays can usually clear up an outbreak and keep the infection at bay. Make sure that you continue treatment for one to two weeks after the infection goes away to ensure it does not return.
2. Eczema
Eczema (atopic dermatitis) causes dry, itchy skin and rashes. This inflammatory skin condition can affect your face, hands, and feet, inside the elbows, and behind the knees. Eczema is not contagious, but it's long-lasting. You might notice that your eczema gets better or worse over time.
Treatment: Treatments include medications, skin creams, ultraviolet (UV) light therapy, and good skincare. Avoid soaps, fabrics, lotions, or other triggers that irritate your skin.
Psoriasis causes thick patches of red skin and silvery scales. This autoimmune condition can affect the soles of your feet, as well as your:
- Elbows
- Face
- Knees
- Lower back
- Scalp
Treatment: This may include creams and ointments, UV light therapy, and medications. It might help to avoid certain medicines, dry skin, infections, and stress as much as possible. Those triggers can cause psoriasis flares.
4. Bug Bites
You might experience itchy feet from pesky mosquitoes and other insects, depending on the season.Mosquito bites trigger an inflammatory reaction that releases histamine, a chemical that causes itchiness. Bug bites also bring on swelling, redness, and irritation.
Treatment: An oral antihistamine, like Benadryl (diphenhydramine), or OTC anti-itch creams can help relieve bug bites. You can use ice or a cold compress to reduce inflammation.
You're likely to have dry skin if you have a history of itchy skin conditions. Certain health conditions, like diabetes and kidney or liver disease, can also cause dry feet that itch.
Dry skin on your feet can also be genetic. For example, ichthyosis is a group of skin conditions that causes mild to severe dry, itchy skin. Most people with ichthyosis inherit it from their parents. A gene mutation that causes your skin cells to grow and shed faster or slower than average causes ichthyosis.
Treatment: Creams, lotions, and ointments help retain moisture and hydrate your skin to alleviate and prevent dryness. Those topical treatments work for ichthyosis, but some people might need an oral or topical prescription medicine.
6. Scabies
Microscopic mites that burrow into the top layer of your skin cause scabies, a skin condition.Adults with scabies can have itching and rash over limited areas or most of the body.
In contrast, young children typically have scabies on their:
- Head
- Face
- Neck
- Palms of the hands
- Soles of the feet
Some people with scabies develop a rash, sores, or thick, crusty areas. The itching is usually very intense and often worsens at night.
Treatment: A healthcare provider can prescribe lotions to help get rid of scabies and treat itchiness. They may advise that your close contacts also receive treatment to prevent scabies. Wash the infected person's bedding, clothing, and towels in hot water and dry them in a hot dryer.
An itchy rash on your feet could be contact dermatitis, a reaction to an allergen or irritant that your feet have come in contact with.Common contact dermatitis triggers include:
- Fabric or clothing material or dyes
- Fragrances from soaps or moisturizers
- Rubber or latex shoes
Treatment: One of the best ways to treat and prevent contact dermatitis is to avoid contact with triggers. A healthcare provider might also advise oral or topical medications, cool compresses, calamine lotion, or colloidal oatmeal baths.
8. Kidney Disease
Certain medical conditions, like kidney disease, can lead to itchy hands and feet. Itchiness is usually a symptom of kidney disease in later stages. You may have itchy skin all the time or most of the time.
Treatment: Medications, moisturizers, or UV light therapy can often alleviate itchiness. Talk to a healthcare provider about other kidney disease treatments. People with kidney failure need dialysis or a transplant to maintain kidney function.
Hypothyroidism is an underactivethyroid, the butterfly-shaped gland in the center of your neck. Dry skin is a common symptom of an underactive thyroid, and it might lead to itchiness. You may also have itchy skin with no rash or itchy hives that do not respond well to treatment.
Treatment: This will depend on what thyroid condition you have, as well as your symptoms and their severity. A healthcare provider may advise medications, radioiodine therapy to shrink an overactive thyroid, or surgery.
10. Pruritus Gravidarum
You could have pruritus gravidarum if you are pregnant and cannot stop scratching your itchy feet. A blockage of bile from your liver, or cholestasis, causes severe itchiness. Pruritus gravidarum mainly affects the abdomen, hands, and feet, leading to itchy palms and soles. The condition is relatively uncommon, occurring in less than 1% of pregnancies globally.
Treatment: You may discuss treatment options with a healthcare provider, including oral prescription medications. Antihistamine ointments or creams might help soothe itchiness.
People with diabetes can develop dry and itchy skin, including on the feet. High blood sugar may lead to circulation problems, which increases the risk of open sores and infections on the feet and legs.
Treatment: You can treat dry, itchy skin with moisturizers and lotions. Consult a healthcare provider to develop a general plan to treat diabetes and control your blood sugar.
12. Cancer
Although rare, itchy feet could be a sign of cancer like melanoma, a severe type of skin cancer. Cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy and pain medications, may also cause itchiness as a side effect.
Treatment: This will depend on the type and severity of the cancer. Some treatments include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery. A healthcare provider might adjust your treatment if it's causing your itchiness.
This rare bone marrow disease causes your bone marrow to produce excess blood cells, primarily red blood cells. As a result, your blood thickens, making it hard to flow easily through your blood vessels. Itching, usually after a warm bath, is a common symptom.
Polycythemia vera may increase the number of mast cells in the blood. Mast cells typically release histamine in response to allergens, which cause itching.
Treatment: Phlebotomy removes one pint of blood per week to decrease the number of red blood cells and help thin your blood. UV light therapy can help alleviate itchiness.
14. Impetigo
Streptococcus (strep) and staphylococcus (staph) bacteria commonly cause impetigo. These bacteria can enter the skin if there's a break, resulting in inflammation and infection. Impetigo may affect the feet, where you may develop fluid-filled blisters that itch, ooze, and crust over.
Treatment: An antibacterial cream can usually clear up impetigo. Remember to gently wash the affected area using an antibacterial soap several times per day. A healthcare provider may prescribe oral antibiotics if you have severe symptoms.
You might develop scars on your feet after a wound or surgery. Some scars form due to skin conditions and infections. Itchiness and pain are common scar symptoms and may persist after the wound heals.
Treatment: Applying a cool compress or moisturizing cream to the affected area may reduce itchiness. More invasive treatments, such as chemical peels, dermabrasion, injections, and laser treatments, might reduce the scar's appearance.
16. Circadian Rhythm
Research has found that your body's circadian rhythm may cause nocturnal pruritus, or itchy skin at night. Circadian rhythm is your body's 24-hour sleep-wake cycle that causes behavioral, mental, and physical changes. For example, your body temperature lowers, and your skin loses moisture. Those changes might contribute to the top of your feet itching at night.
Treatment: An antihistamine like Benadryl can relieve itchy feet at night and help you sleep. Keep in mind that Benadryl does not typically alleviate itchiness caused by eczema. You might prevent itchy feet at night by keeping the air moist, limiting stress, and using non-scented creams, lotions, and moisturizers.
Many nutrients support skin health, so deficiencies might result in itchy feet. Deficiencies that may cause itchy feet include iron and vitamins B2 and B3.
Treatment: Contact a healthcare provider or nutritionist if you suspect you may have a nutritional deficiency. If a vitamin deficiency is found, changes in diet and taking supplements may be recommended.
Symptoms of Itchy Feet
Itchy feet can cause you to scratch the skin on your feet. The sensation can affect the top and bottom of your feet and can sometimes be painful or uncomfortable.
Other symptoms that may accompany itching include:
- Blisters
- Bumps and spots
- Dry skin that cracks
- Hives
- Redness
- Skin that appears leathery or scaly
7 Causes of vagin*l Itching
There are many potential causes for itchy feet. Some are mild, such as bug bites and dry skin, which you can easily treat at home with OTC medicines. In contrast, others are more complicated, such as diabetes, kidney disease, and thyroid conditions, and require the help of a healthcare provider. It may help to talk to a healthcare provider if you try treating your feet and the symptoms do not go away.
