Itchy feet medically known as pruritus occur as a result of an irritating feeling happening on your skin which makes you itch. This condition can occur on any part of your skin. The most accessible and vulnerable area for this infection or disease to happen is your feet. The reason why your feet are most convenient to this itchiness is that they are most at times kept in sweaty and moist conditions with a variety of footwear. Numerous factors can cause an individual to develop sweatily and itch feet. These factors include:
- Excess moisture or damp areas
- Dry surrounding which can result to dry and flaky skin
- Infectious viruses, fungi, bacteria, or even parasites.
- Irritants that can affect your foot as a result of walking barefooted.
However, the occurrence of itchy feet need not cause an alarm unless it occurs as a result of a disease or illness. Knowing the type of symptoms that are associated with itchy feet can save you from anxiety or worry.
What Causes Itchy Feet?
There are numerous causes of itchy feet, and they include:
Diseases
Itchiness that occurs as a result of a medical illness can be in close relation to the heightened production of the neurotransmitter serotonin. As a result of this, you might be required to take a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor to reduce the itchiness. Other medical illness which can cause itchiness of your feet to include:
- Kidney illness
- Cancer
- Liver conditions
- Thyroid gland illness
- Peripheral neuropathy: Peripheral neuropathy is known to be the damage that occurs to your peripheral nervous system and moves throughout your entire system. Having damage in your nervous system can cause the occurrence of somebody changes like numbness, itchiness, and even pain in various parts of your body of which your leg is inclusive.
- Cholestasis
- Diabetes: This is a condition that causes a change in tour insulin resistance level and the process in which your body converts food to energy. Diabetes can result in diabetic neuropathy which causes numbness, tingling, and even extreme itchiness of the skin, most especially the feet. The improper circulation of blood which occurs as a result of diabetes can cause painful itchiness. The development of diabetes in an individual can cause the occurrence of fungal and even bacterial infections.
Skin Conditions
There are several types of skin conditions that can result in itchiness in your feet. They include:
- Allergic contact dermatitis: The occurrence of skin allergies can result in itchiness. They can likewise occur as a result of skin illnesses like eczema or even psoriasis. The intake of some medications like antihistamines can help relieve individuals of their allergies, thereby restricting the further occurrence of itchiness.
- Dry or flaky skin: Having dry or flaky skin can cause itchiness of your skin most, especially your feet. Things that can aid in generating dry skin include age, staying in a dry environment, frequent exposure to moisture and water, and spending spare time in water that is chlorinated. Individuals with dry or flaky skin ought to run creams or lotions, which aid in reducing the dryness. You can also be prescribed with over-the-counter creams to reduce dryness and itchiness.
- Atopic dermatitis: This is also known as eczema, which is known to be the occurrence of dehydrated and itchy skin. This condition can occur on any part of your body with your feet inclusive. Research has not shown the exact cause of eczema but has shown that genetics and some environmental factors are inclusive. Dyshidrotic eczema is known to be a particular type of eczema which occurs mostly on the feet. It causes the development of blisters which are incredibly itchy and deep. Women are more likely to develop this particular type of skin disease than men. Individuals can treat this medical condition by placing their feet in cold water for a period or keeping their feet in damp areas rather than moist areas. If this disease persists and causes you much discomfort, you can visit a doctor to prescribe an over-the-counter drug for you.
- Hookworm infections: A hookworm is known to be a parasite that dwells in the intestines of human beings. Individuals can contact hookworms barely by moving barefooted where in places that the larvae are breed. Research has shown that individuals who pick up larvae with their bare feet tend to develop itchiness in such spots. This disease can be treated when medical doctors prescribe drugs that target the hookworms.
- Scabies: This is a medical condition that occurs as a result of the burrowing of the skin by mites which tend to lay eggs. This, in turn, causes itchy and scaly rashes to form on the body of individuals. This disease is highly contagious and can be easily transmitted from one individual to another. It moves through skin contact with an infected person. This disease can be developed on any part of the body of which the feet are inclusive. The use of prescribed lotions on the affected area can cause a reduction in the development and itchiness of scabies.
- Juvenile plantar dermatosis
- Athlete’s foot: This is a type of fungal skin illness that occurs between your toes. It can, however, also affect other areas on your feet. This disease causes a burning and itchy feeling wherever it forms. Fungi survive in moist places like your shoes which causes it to be a rampant disease among individuals most especially athletes. There are particular types of antifungal treatments which can be in the form of lotions or even cream, which aid in effectively treating the disease.
- Psoriasis: This is known to be a skin disease that causes sores and scaly red patches to appear on the skin. It affects every part of the skin when contracted most, especially the feet. This skin disease is most at times, painful and itchier than the rest. This disease occurs when an individual’s immune system begins to attack its skin cells. As a result of this, the production of cells is fastened, thereby leading to red and scaly rashes. Medications which aid in the reduction of this disease are creams and ointments that contain either salicylic acid or even corticosteroids.
- Burns: Most at times, burns tend to attract itchiness even after it has healed. Research has shown that about forty percentages of individuals who have suffered from burns tend to experience itchiness from time to time, even after it has healed.
Exposure to Irritants
An irritant is known to be a substance which results in a reaction on the body. These irritants could be ointments or even medications used for the treatment of other illnesses. Medicines which can aid in causing itchiness of your body and your feet include narcotics or even opioids statins, morphine sulfate, and even ACE inhibitors.
Symptoms of Itchy Feet
Having feet, that itch causes you to itch your body at all times. Having specific changes would be included with an itchy skin most at times. The type of changes which occurs on your skin includes:
- Swelling
- Blisters
- Itching
- White spots
- Rash
- Dry and flaky skin
- Cracked areas
Home Remedies for Itchy Feet
Most at times, itchy feet can be rectified while at home without requiring seeing a doctor or pharmacist. There are few home remedies that aid in reducing the itchiness of the skin. While sometimes you can treat itchy feet at home, most at times you need to visit the doctor or dermatologist for proper diagnosis and treatment. Your body might require some specific types of medications for your particular kind of infection. Most at times, your itchy foot might not occur as a result of something you did, and symptoms of itchy feet tend to look alike with that which is caused by an underlying illness. For instance, itchiness caused by eczema resembles that which is caused by Athlete’s foot. The treatments for these two types of diseases vary, which is why it is advisable to visit your doctor and get prescribed medicine. However, if you are confident of the cause of your itchy feet, you can try out home remedies like:
- Tee tree oil: This oil is beneficial when it comes to reducing itch feet. It contains substances that aid in cooling and soothing the skin.
- Neem oil: This is another excellent essential oil which helps in reducing the effect of itchy skin. This is because it contains antifungal attributes.
You can also reduce the itchiness, which is caused by eczema using:
- Cold compress which would be applied to the skin
- Heavy moisturizers: It would aid immensely if you purchased items like Vaseline to help reduce the itchiness of your feet.
- Anti-itch creams or lotions: You can purchase items like calamine lotion to reduce the itchiness.
When to Visit a Doctor
You must visit your doctor if your itchy feet do not heal after performing these home remedies listed above. They would help in diagnosing the particular cause of your itchy feet and prescribe medications that would enable you to treat them. If your skin is breaking or has sores, you have likely developed a skin infection. Visit your doctor immediately if you have a skin infection.
Conclusion
Itchy skin is a condition that causes your body to itch and makes you feel uncomfortable. There are numerous causes and symptoms of itchy skin. You must visit your doctor if you develop itchy skin to ensure that you are given the right prescription to treat it.