Burning Feet Causes - Mayo Clinic

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Causes

By Mayo Clinic Staff

While fatigue or a skin infection can cause temporarily burning or inflamed feet, burning feet are most often a sign of nerve damage (peripheral neuropathy). Nerve damage has many different causes, including diabetes, chronic alcohol use, exposure to certain toxins, certain B vitamin deficiencies or HIV infection.

Possible causes of burning feet:

1. Alcohol use disorder
2. Athlete's foot
3. Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease
4. Chemotherapy
5. Chronic kidney disease
6. Complex regional pain syndrome
7. Diabetic neuropathy
8. HIV/AIDS
9. Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid)
10. Tarsal tunnel syndrome.
11. Vitamin deficiency anemia

Causes shown here are commonly associated with this symptom. Work with your doctor or other health care professional for an accurate diagnosis.

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• Definition
• When to see a doctor

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Jan. 11, 2018 Show references

1. Eleftheriadou I, et al. A patient with type 2 diabetes and a burning sensation in his feet. BMJ. 2014;349:1.
2. Rutkove SB. Overview of polyneuropathy. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed Sept. 20, 2016.
3. Ropper AH, et al. Diseases of the peripheral nerves. In: Adams & Victor's Principles of Neurology. 10th ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2014. http://www.accessmedicine.com. Accessed Sept. 20, 2016.
4. Athlete's foot. American Podiatric Medical Association. http://www.apma.org/learn/FootHealth.cfm?ItemNumber=978. Accessed Sept. 21, 2016.
5. Peripheral neuropathy fact sheet. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/peripheralneuropathy/detail_peripheralneuropathy.htm. Accessed Sept. 21, 2016.
6. Tarsal tunnel syndrome. American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. https://www.foothealthfacts.org/conditions/tarsal-tunnel-syndrome. Accessed Sept. 21, 2016.
7. Polyneuropathy. Merck Manual Professional Version. http://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/neurologic-disorders/peripheral-nervous-system-and-motor-unit-disorders/polyneuropathy. Accessed Sept. 21, 2016.

See also

1. Anti-seizure medications
2. Hypothyroidism: Can it cause peripheral neuropathy?
3. Morton neuroma
4. Peripheral neuropathy
5. Pinched nerve
6. Polycythemia vera

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