Particularly when you have shoes and socks on and can’t seem to scratch the itch, itchy feet can be very annoying. It can have a significant negative impact on your quality of life in addition to causing stress.

Itchy feet may be a sign that your skin needs to be treated because it is unhealthy. This is typically the reason for itchy feet during the winter.

You may be curious about the cause of and possible remedies for itchy feet if you experience them. Here are some possible causes for your foot discomfort:

5 Major Causes of Itchy Feet

Athlete’s Foot

Let’s start with one of the most typical offenders: athlete’s foot. According to the British Medical Journal, up to 30% of people may at any given time be afflicted by this irritating and itchy fungus infection.

You might have athlete’s foot if you have itching and inflamed, scaly skin between your toes. If the infection is left untreated, the fungus will spread because of the moist, warm, dark environment that shoes expose your feet to. Even though the itching can be excruciatingly annoying, scratching only makes matters worse.

Your podiatrist can identify the specific antifungal drug that will get rid of the fungus that’s attacking your feet, leaving you itch-free.

Dry Skin

Dry, flaky skin is another main factor in itchy feet. Your feet lack natural oils, making them susceptible to extreme dryness.

Itchiness may be an indication that your skin needs care. Sadly, scratching is likely to cause more damage, which will make it simpler for dangerous bacteria to infect your body. Additionally, you might experience sores, peeling, and cracking.

A foot cream with urea, which has excellent moisturizing qualities, can help dry skin. Additionally, you could seek the advice of a podiatrist to treat your dry skin specifically and to rule out the possibility of a fungal infection or other underlying cause of your itchy feet.

Chilblains

Do your toes have reddish, itchy swellings? You might have chilblains, which appear when it’s cold and wet outside. The blood vessels near the surface of your toes narrow when they’re cold. The blood vessels can’t handle them when they warm up too quickly, like when you dip your feet into warm water. Chilblains are brought on by blood that seeps into the nearby tissues.

If you scratch the swollen skin, it is prone to splitting and becoming infected.

Calamine lotion can relieve chilblains, but for professional foot care, see your podiatrist if they appear infected or don’t go away in a few weeks.

Sunburn

Going barefoot or wearing summer shoes exposes skin to the sun’s harsh rays, but people frequently forget to apply sunscreen to their feet.

Because of the harm to the skin, sunburned feet itch. Calamine lotion is able to soothe the itch.

However, the issue can occasionally become “hell’s itch.” Your feet will feel like they are being bit by insects all the time if you suffer from this severe sunburn reaction. Antihistamines or peppermint oil may help to relieve the intensely unpleasant symptoms of hell’s itch.

Visit your podiatrist right away if your feet have severe sunburns.

Diabetic Neuropathy

Your body struggles to keep the level of glucose in your blood under control when you have diabetes. The small blood vessels intended to provide your nerves with essential nutrients can’t function properly under conditions of high blood sugar. As a result, you develop diabetic neuropathy, a type of nerve damage that typically affects your feet the most.

They might itch because the outer layers of your skin’s nerve fibers are damaged. Other unpleasant sensations, from mild (tingling or pins and needles) to severe (burning or shooting pains), could also be felt.

How Will the Doctor Diagnose It?

In many cases, a doctor can determine if you have athlete’s foot by simply examining your feet. The precise fungus causing the infection can occasionally only be identified through a skin test. The test, which entails scraping a tiny patch of the infected skin and examining it under a microscope, is relatively painless and can help the doctor make sure that nothing else is going on that could be causing your symptoms.

What Are the Treatments?

You might be able to treat your athlete’s foot with an over-the-counter anti-fungal ointment, depending on the severity of the infection. Your doctor will prescribe topical anti-fungals, steroids (to reduce inflammation), and, in some circumstances, oral antibiotics to treat the infection if your condition is more severe or doesn’t respond to over-the-counter medications.

How You Can Avoid Athlete’s Foot?

It goes without saying that after having athlete’s foot, you’ll want to take all possible precautions to prevent getting it again. If you wear shoes and socks for extended periods or often use public facilities, it’s a good idea to make some small changes in your lifestyle:

• Use soap and water to wash your feet every day
• Take off shoes and socks when you get home to allow your feet to breathe
• Switch off between two or three different pairs of shoes, so each pair has time to air out
• Apply anti-fungal power on your feet and in between your toes before putting on shoes
• Wear flip flops or sandals when using public showers, swimming pools, and locker rooms
• Wear socks that are made of breathable materials like cotton, or those that wick away moisture
• Refrain from sharing towels, socks, or shoes with others

It can be so annoying to have itchy feet! And those who have athlete’s foot are all too familiar with the sensation.

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