10 Reasons the Bottoms of Your Feet Are So Damn Itchy—and What to Do About It
Here, we spoke with Lauren Ploch, MD, MEd, a board-certified dermatologist in Georgia, to learn what causes that deep itch on the bottoms of your feet, and how to get relief—with natural remedies and doctor-approved meds.
In This Article
Sometimes itchy feet are just from dry skin. It is one of the most common places to get dry skin, after all, per the Cleveland Clinic. When your skin lacks moisture, it can become scratchy. Other telltale signs include the following, per the Cleveland Clinic:
Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. It will safeguard your skin’s barrier, keeping it soft and supple. Look for products with emollients (which soothe and hydrate the skin) and hyaluronic acid (which increases moisture in the skin), according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Your itchy feet could be caused by fungi (unfortunate, but true). Athlete’s foot—also called tinea pedis—is a fungal infection that triggers an itchy, scaly rash. You can catch it by touching someone who has it, or by touching their belongings—like their socks, towels, or shoes. The fungus can also spread from your feet to other parts of your body.
Other symptoms of athlete’s foot may include the following, according to the Mayo Clinic:
Because athlete’s foot is contagious, you’ll want to nip it in the bud fast. Your dermatologist can treat it with an antifungal medication, says Dr. Ploch.
To avoid athlete's foot in the future, keep your feet dry and cool. Fungi flourish in warm, humid conditions (like damp socks and tight-fitting shoes). Here are few tried-and-true tips to prevent tinea pedis, per the Mayo Clinic:
Other types of skin infections can lead to itchy feet, too. One of the most common? A bacterial skin infection called impetigo—which causes itchy sores and blisters. It typically happens when bacteria enter broken skin (like a cut, bite, or scratch), though you can become infected even if your skin isn’t broken or punctured, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Along with itchiness, other signs of impetigo may involve the following, per the Cleveland Clinic:
Impetigo usually affects children (and forms around the mouth area) but adults can get it, too (and on any body part, including the feet), per the Cleveland Clinic. And like athlete's foot, impetigo is highly contagious. You can catch it through contact with an infected person or contaminated surfaces.
To stop the spread of impetigo, go to your doctor ASAP. They’ll prescribe a topical antibiotic (or an oral one, depending on the severity of the rash). You should see an improvement in your symptoms within a couple days of taking the medication.
Itchy feet? If you're pregnant, you can chalk it up to another strange symptom. Several things can cause itching during pregnancy—one being intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy, Dr. Ploch says. It's a liver condition that triggers intense itching (usually in the hands and feet) without a rash. It typically happens in the third trimester, and the itch gets stronger at night, according to the Mayo Clinic. (We know, as if your growing belly, back pain, pregnancy indigestion weren’t causing enough sleepless nights.)
Like most other pregnancy symptoms, hormones are to blame. “During pregnancy, hormones can slow down the biliary system,” i.e., the organs that make and store bile, Dr. Ploch says. When this happens, bile-related byproducts build up and enter the bloodstream, she says. And this leads to the intense itching.
Other less common symptoms of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy include the following, per the Mayo Clinic:
If you get extreme itchiness during pregnancy, tell your OB/GYN or midwife immediately. Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy can cause potentially dangerous complications for you and your baby, so your provider will want to monitor you both carefully.
If your feet are dry, itchy, and red, you could be dealing with contact dermatitis. This skin condition happens when you come into contact with something (like an irritant or allergen) that triggers a skin reaction.
When your skin encounters an irritant or allergen, your immune system kicks into gear. The itchiness you feel is one sign that your white blood cells—i.e., your body’s defenders—are at work. “For example, some [white] blood cells (called eosinophils) in our body can increase a particular neuropeptide in peripheral neurons and, therefore, trigger itch,” Dr. Ploch says.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, contact dermatitis can also cause a rash that may be:
The best way to reduce contact dermatitis is to avoid the thing that’s causing your skin reaction. The most common allergens that cause contact dermatitis include the following, per the Cleveland Clinic:
The most common irritants that cause contact dermatitis include the following, per the Cleveland Clinic:
In the meantime, you can minimize your itchy, inflamed skin with over-the-counter (OTC) remedies like anti-itch creams, topical or oral antihistamines, and/or corticosteroid creams.
Itchy skin is a hallmark symptom of conditions like eczema and psoriasis, which can affect all different parts of your body—including the soles of your feet. Eczema weakens your skin's barrier function and leads to itchy, dry, bumpy, or leathery patches of skin, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Psoriasis, on the other hand, is an autoimmune condition that can cause thick, scaly areas of skin (called plaques), pain, cracked or pitted nails, and even joint pain, per the Cleveland Clinic.
If you have a mild case of eczema or psoriasis, moisturizers can help manage the itch. “The safest treatment for itch is a bland OTC moisturizing cream that has ceramide lipids,” Dr. Ploch says.
For severe cases, topical steroid creams may also be prescribed. “But there are several non-steroidal medications that are safer and more appropriate based on the underlying condition,” Dr. Ploch says. Talk with your dermatologist about your options.
And keep in mind: Dr. Ploch cautions against treating “itch with OTC corticosteroid creams, because this can worsen some conditions.”
Is there anything itchier than a fresh mosquito bite? (We'll answer that for you: no.) If you were recently outside without shoes (especially in the summertime), it's possible a mosquito made a meal of your exposed feet.
When mosquitoes (and other insects) bite you, they secrete saliva into your skin. This foreign substance activates your immune system, which processes the saliva as an allergen and releases chemicals like histamine, according to Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Histamine is what causes the area to itch and swell.
For most bug bites, itching will begin to fade within 48 hours. In the meantime, resist the urge to scratch (we know, it’s really hard). But scratching just releases more histamine, making the bite even itchier, per Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Plus, you can break the skin if you scratch too hard, which can lead to possible infection.
Instead, minimize the itch with these tips from Columbia University Irving Medical Center:
Most bug bites don’t require a trip to the doctor, but if your bite doesn’t seem to be getting better after a day or so, or it appears to worsen, you may have had an allergic reaction or infection. Seek immediate medical care if you get the following symptoms, per Columbia University Irving Medical Center:
At first glance, itchy feet and diabetes may not seem connected. But diabetes can affect many organs—your skin included.
People with diabetes can get localized itching (especially in the lower limbs and feet) due to poor circulation, according to the American Diabetes Association (ADA). Poor circulation happens when blood vessels become hard or narrow over time from high blood glucose levels.
What’s more, folks with diabetes are also more prone to conditions that cause itch—like yeast infections (think: athlete's foot) and dry skin, per the ADA.
First and foremost, if you notice any changes in your feet, see your doctor. Left unchecked, diabetes can cause potentially life-threatening complications. Along with keeping your condition under control, the key to preventing itchy feet with diabetes is proper foot care. Try these simple strategies, per the ADA:
Many other medical problems can cause a deep itch on the bottom of your feet. Here are just a few, according to Dr. Ploch:
Treatment will depend on the underlying disorder. If you have consistently scratchy skin on your feet, talk with your doctor. They can help rule out other medical issues and determine the right diagnosis.
Prickly feet? It could be a side effect of your medicine. In fact, itching is one of the most common allergic drug reactions, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (AAAAI). Skin rashes are, too.
If your body registers a medicine as an allergen or foreign invader, your immune system sends T-cells (a type of white blood cell) to fight it off, per the AAAAI. This reaction, which typically happens days to weeks after you take the drug, can affect the skin. Hence, the itchy rash on your feet.
Common drugs that may cause allergic reactions include the following, per the AAAAI:
If you think your medicine is making your feet itchy, don’t stop taking it. Instead, tell your doctor right away. They can adjust your dose or prescribe you another drug. However, if you get any of the following symptoms after taking your medication, call 911, per the AAAAI:
These are signs of anaphylaxis—a severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction. They usually happen within an hour of taking a medication.
To get to the "bottom" of your itchy soles, you'll need to rule out and treat any underlying medical conditions. For example, if your itchy feet are due to contact dermatitis, you can identify the irritant and avoid it. Once you properly address the root cause, the itchiness in your feet should fade over time.
In the meantime, you don’t have to suffer with scratchy soles. Try these home remedies, per Dr. Ploch and the Cleveland Clinic
While oral antihistamines may help, Dr. Ploch doesn’t recommend topical Benadryl, “as this can lead to allergic reactions.”
There are many reasons why your feet may itch. While some are no big deal, others are more serious. Head to the doctor’s office if you have the following symptoms, per the Cleveland Clinic:
Nothing’s more maddening than an intense itch that keeps you up at night. Luckily, there are ways to nix the itch quickly (so you can catch some shut-eye).
“The safest way to relieve itch is to use a bland moisturizer,” Dr. Ploch says. She recommends one with ceramide lipids to maintain healthy moisture levels and support your skin’s natural barrier. For even greater relief, keep the moisturizer in the fridge. “So it provides a cooling sensation when applied,” Dr. Ploch says.
Another great tip: “Sleep with soft silk or cotton sheets,” she says. The baby-soft fabrics won’t irritate scratchy, sensitive skin.
Believe it or not, an intense itch in your feet can be linked to a lack of certain nutrients. “There are numerous nutritional deficiencies that lead to itch,” Dr. Ploch says. For example, not getting enough “vitamin A can cause dry skin and itch,” she says. A vitamin A deficiency can affect your skin, but also your heart, lungs, reproductive system, tissues, and immune system, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Because the body doesn’t make vitamin A on its own, you’ll need to get it from your diet (or supplements). Try adding these vitamin A-rich foods to your daily menu, per the Cleveland Clinic:
Similarly, a lack of some B vitamins can affect the skin, too. A lack of vitamin B12 can harm your nerve cells—including the ones connected to your skin. Some vitamin B deficiencies can also cause neuropathy (i.e., damage to the peripheral nerves) and dysesthesias (an abnormal triggering of the peripheral sensory nerves), Dr. Ploch says. And this can lead to itchiness in the skin.
Vitamin B12 is plentiful in many foods like the following, per the Cleveland Clinic:
If you’re eating plenty of foods with vitamin B12, and you’re still having symptoms, tell your doctor. You might have a condition that affects your ability to absorb the nutrient.
Hormonal imbalances can throw your body’s systems out of whack, including your skin.
“Itch can also be caused by low levels of hormones (like thyroid hormone and estrogen),” Dr. Ploch says. “Deficiencies of these hormones lead to dry skin.” Dry skin then triggers “peripheral neurons to transmit the sensation of itch,” she says. This is why, for example, people with thyroid disorders can have scratchy skin.
If you suspect your hormone levels are off, reach out to your doctor. They can perform a physical exam and order blood tests to determine if you have any underlying hormonal imbalances.
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