Itchy Feet: Causes, Symptoms, And Diagnosis - Healthline

Maybe your like

HealthlineSubscribe

We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Here’s our process

What Can Cause Itchy Feet and How to Treat Them

Medically reviewed by J. Keith Fisher, MD — Written by Rachel Nall, MSN, CRNA — Updated on February 15, 2023

Causes
Symptoms
When to seek help
Treatment
Prevention

Your feet are especially vulnerable to itching because they tend to be placed in sweaty situations with various types of footwear. Itching can be caused by moisture, dry skin, microbes, and other irritants.

Pruritus is the medical term for itchiness caused by an irritating sensation on your skin that makes you want to scratch. This can occur anywhere on your skin.

Many situations can lead to itchy feet, including exposure to:

moisture
dry environments that lead to dry skin
irritants, when walking barefoot
infectious bacteria, viruses, parasites, or fungi

Although itchy feet are not usually a cause for concern, they can indicate an underlying skin condition or even a deeper internal disease. Understanding what symptoms you should and should not be worried about can help you find relief from worry.

What causes itchy feet?

Itchy feet may stem from a number of causes, including:

Diseases

Foot itch caused by a medical condition may be related to an increase in the production of the neurotransmitter serotonin. For this reason, your doctor might prescribe a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) medication to treat itchiness.

Medical conditions that cause itchy feet include:

liver disease
cholestasis, which is decreased forward flow of bile through the biliary tree
cancer
peripheral neuropathy, a condition commonly associated with diabetes mellitus
polycythemia rubra vera
kidney disease
thyroid gland disease
pruritus gravidarum during pregnancy (it may or may not have accompanying cholestasis)

Skin conditions

Skin conditions that cause the feet to itch include:

allergic contact dermatitis, which can be caused by something like new laundry detergent
athlete’s foot, or tinea pedis (fungal infection)
atopic dermatitis
juvenile plantar dermatosis
psoriasis
scars
bug bites
dry skin
pest infestations, such as lice or scabies

Exposure to irritants

An irritant can be any substance that causes a reaction in or on your body. They can even be medications or topical ointments that you use to treat other conditions.

Medications known to cause body and feet itchiness include opioids or narcotics, such as morphine sulfate, ACE inhibitors, and statins.

What are the symptoms and signs of itchy feet?

Itchy feet will make you want to scratch your skin. Changes to your skin may accompany the itchy sensation. Examples of skin changes are:

blisters
cracked, open areas
dry, scale-like plaques
itching
rash
redness
swelling
white spots

It’s also possible for your feet to itch with no accompanying physical skin surface changes.

When to seek medical help

See your doctor if your itchy feet don’t improve with home care or if your symptoms get worse with time.

Your doctor will take a thorough medical history and conduct a physical exam to diagnose itchy feet causes. The questions they might ask you include:

Have you recently started taking any new medications?
Have you been exposed to any potential irritants?
Do you have any chronic medical conditions, such as diabetes mellitus or eczema?
Have any family members, friends, or teammates recently experienced any skin-related concerns?

If necessary, your doctor can perform tests including:

skin scraping
culture
biopsy
blood tests

Some tests can check areas in or on top of your skin for the presence of germs, such as a fungus.

How are itchy feet treated?

Your doctor will treat itchy feet according to the cause. For allergic reactions, avoiding the product or products causing the allergic reaction can help to reduce itchiness.

Treatments that may relieve itchy feet include the following:

An H1-blocker antihistamine, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl), may help relieve itchiness. Antihistamines can have sedative and other unexpected side effects. Older adults may need to avoid using them.
If you have athlete’s foot, antifungal sprays or creams may help. Chronic fungal infections may require a doctor-prescribed antifungal treatment.
Topical anti-itch medication, emollients like petrolatum, and steroid creams may help reduce itching localized on the skin surface.
Additionally, prescription medications like SSRIs, gabapentin, or tricyclic antidepressants may be beneficial in certain patients.

How can I prevent itchy feet?

Good foot care habits can help reduce itchy feet and prevent some causes, such as a fungal infection. This includes always wearing waterproof shoes, such as flip-flops, in shared shower facilities or gym floors. You can also use these foot care measures:

refrain from putting on shoes and socks until your feet are completely dry
wash your feet regularly with mild soap, paying careful attention to the areas between your toes and applying moisturizer after you finish bathing
wear cotton or wool socks
wear shoes that are well-ventilated, such as those with mesh holes that help the feet stay dry

If you experience regular episodes of athlete’s foot, you may need to apply an antifungal powder to your feet before you put on your socks or shoes.

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Athletes foot, jock itch, and ringworm ofthe scalp. (2017).http://my.clevelandclinic.org/disorders/ringworm/hic_athletes_foot_jock_itch_and_ringworm.aspx
Juvenileplantar dermatosis. (n.d.).https://www.dermnetnz.org/topics/juvenile-plantar-dermatosis/
Skin complications. (2014).http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/complications/skin-complications.html
Taylor JS, et al. (2017). Pruritus.http://www.clevelandclinicmeded.com/medicalpubs/diseasemanagement/dermatology/pruritus-itch/

Share this article

Medically reviewed by J. Keith Fisher, MD — Written by Rachel Nall, MSN, CRNA — Updated on February 15, 2023

Health Conditions

Condition Spotlight

Wellness Topics

Product Reviews

Featured Programs

Featured

Lessons

Newsletters

Lifestyle Quizzes

Health News

This Just In

Top Reads

Video Series

Find Your Bezzy Community

Follow us on social media