In most cases, dry skin causes itchy feet, especially in winter. However, another very common cause is the overgrowth of fungi, also known as ringworm, which can be treated with antifungal ointments advised by a family doctor or dermatologist.
Itching in the feet can also be caused by less common problems such as allergies, psoriasis or poor circulation, for example, and other symptoms may appear that help identify the problem and determine the most appropriate treatment, which will depend on the origin. Itching.
- The skin of the foot can be easily dry because in this area there are no sebaceous glands and also people often neglect hydration in this area.
- This dryness can cause severe and persistent itching if not treated.
What to do: The treatment of dry skin is simple and consists of applying daily moisturizers on the feet after bathing, the ideal is to opt for highly nutritious creams and with urea or salicylic acid in its constitution that help to eliminate dead skin.
Peripheral neuropathy consists of a set of alterations that occur in the nerves of the body, causing symptoms such as pain, tingling, lack of strength, sensitivity in specific areas of the body and itching; This disease is usually caused by diabetes mellitus, leprosy, severe malnutrition, or autoimmune diseases.
What to do: Treatment is based on each person’s needs, pain relievers such as dipyrone and acetaminophen, and medications to help with sexual dysfunction, such as sildenafil or tadalafil, may be prescribed in addition to physical therapy. used to rehabilitate affected areas.
Psoriasis is a skin condition that causes symptoms such as red spots, dry scales, dry skin, itching and pain. Learn more about this disease.
What to do: Psoriasis won’t heal, but it can be treated with skin creams and ointments and immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory medications, and UV treatments may also be recommended.
Athlete’s foot, also known as pedis or frostbite, is a type of skin moth caused by the Trichophyton, Mycrosporon or Epidermophyton fungi, which mainly affects the areas of the sole and between the toes, causing an itch intense and flaking.
What to do: The treatment consists of applying antifungal creams or ointments, such as clotrimazole or miconazole, if this is not enough, it may be necessary to take itraconazole or fluconazole tablets for about 3 months, it is also necessary to take care of the foot. hygiene and avoid humidity, as this can worsen the condition and prolong the treatment.
Bedbug is a small parasite called Tunga penetrans, which penetrates the skin, mainly in the feet, where it grows rapidly causing symptoms such as pain, itching and redness. See how to identify the permanent error.
What to do: To treat this infection, the skin parasite should be removed in a health center. In addition, camphor-based creams or salicylate vaseline may be used to aid in treatment, or if there are many wounds, the use of antiparasitic agents, such as thiabendazole or ivermectin, is recommended.
Hand-foot-mouth syndrome is a very contagious disease, caused by the virus, which causes symptoms such as high fever, sore throat, poor appetite, appearance of canker sores in the mouth and small blisters or spots on the hands and feet, which it can be very itchy. Learn to identify this syndrome.
What to do: Treatment involves administering fever remedies and anti-inflammatory pain relievers, itching remedies, and mouth thrush ointments to relieve symptoms.
Skin allergy is characterized by an inflammatory reaction that can develop in different areas of the skin, which can be caused by food, cosmetics, medications, the sun or insect bites, for example, and cause symptoms such as itching, redness, flaking, irritation and the presence of red or white spots or spots.
What to do: Treatment is usually with antihistamines such as loratadine or cetirizine, or with corticosteroids such as betamethasone, which are used to treat allergy symptoms and stop the use of the cause of the allergy.
Poor circulation implies difficulty in the passage of blood through the veins, causing symptoms such as cold hands, swelling of the feet, tingling and itching in the feet and legs, and pain in the legs with the appearance of varicose veins.
This problem is more common in women and can become more severe during pregnancy and cause severe swelling of the feet. Learn how to reduce foot swelling during pregnancy.
What to do: to improve blood circulation, exercise regularly, wear compression elastic stockings, avoid sitting or standing for a long time, reduce salt intake and maintain an ideal weight.
Dyshidrosis causes small bubbles filled with clear fluid to appear on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet, especially on the sides of the fingers, which are very itchy and can last up to 3 weeks. It is more common in summer, with high temperatures, or episodes of emotional stress, and although it is not clear what is causing it, it is believed to be associated with atopic dermatitis and contact dermatitis.
What to do: To treat dyshidrosis, the dermatologist may recommend applying corticosteroid creams such as clobétasol or methylprednisolone for example, or using corticosteroid tablets when creams and ointments do not work or in very large cases.
The cutaneous larva migrans, also known as a geographic insect, is caused by a parasite that can be found in soils contaminated with dog or cat excrement and penetrate the skin, through small wounds, causing numerous itching and a red and snake-like lesion on the skin. entry. mainly the feet, legs and hands.
What to do: The treatment of migran skin larvae is done with the use of antiparasitic remedies, such as thiabendazole cream in small lesions, or oral albendazole or mebendazole, in the case of many lesions, learns to identify and deal with geographical error.