Itchy feet are usually caused by dry skin, eczema, and infection. Other diseases can occasionally cause itchy feet. Itchy skin is very uncomfortable, and scratching can lead to bleeding and infection. Fortunately, most conditions that cause itchy feet can be treated at home. To relieve itching, you need to determine the cause of the itching and use appropriate natural remedies or medications.

Relieve Itchy Feet at Home

Moisturizes dry skin. Dry skin can cause intense itching, especially in older people with thinner skin. If your itchy feet are dry and flaky, you can apply a daily moisturizer, lotion, or ointment to your feet every day. Apply moisturizer to heels, soles, sides and toes, and between toes. Use petrolatum-based emollient products. In addition to their basic emollient properties, they can even soften and moisturize dry, cracked skin.

Use cold water. Soak your feet in cold water or apply a damp cloth soaked in cold water to the itchy areas of your feet. Cold water can soothe irritated, itchy skin. You can soak your feet in cold water every day, or even several times a day, but if you soak your feet more often, you must moisturize your feet after soaking.

• If you use a damp cloth on your feet, get a special towel to avoid contagion if the itching is caused by fungus.

Try soaking your feet in oatmeal. People have been using oatmeal baths for years to relieve itchy skin. Add two cups of oatmeal and one cup of baking soda to the bathtub and soak your feet. This treatment is safe, and gentle, and can be used every day.

Try a salt water foot soak. Soaking your feet in salt water can reduce pain and also help relieve itching and skin irritation. Add 10 ml of salt to every 470 ml of warm water. As for the amount of water, filling a shallow basin with water is enough. You can also put a few centimeters of water in the bathtub to cover the top of your feet. Put your feet in the basin and soak them for 5 to 10 minutes.

• See if a salt water foot soak works for you. It may help, but salt can also make the skin drier, possibly making the itching worse.
• You can soak once an hour until the itching improves. Salt can dry out the skin, so after soaking in salt water, rinse your feet with cold water and moisturize them.

Identify and avoid irritants. If you’re allergic to something you’re wearing or a product you’re using, your allergic reaction, no matter how mild it may be, can cause itching. Try making small changes at a time to identify your causative factors, such as changing laundry detergent, changing soap, wearing only natural cotton socks, etc. If you can identify the cause of your itching, you can avoid exposure to that causative agent in the future.

• Over-the-counter antihistamines can sometimes relieve itching caused by allergic reactions.

Treatment of Athlete’s Foot

Identify the athlete’s foot. One of the most common causes of itchy feet is, an athlete’s foot often causes a red, scaly rash on the toes and between the toes. When you have athlete’s foot, your feet will feel particularly itchy after taking off your shoes and socks. You may have an athlete’s foot on one foot or both feet at the same time.

• An athlete’s foot is caused by moisture on the feet, usually from sweating during exercise or heat. So be sure to take off your shoes and put on dry socks to keep your feet dry as well.
• Blisters or ulcers may also develop on the feet where the skin peels.
• There is a type of athlete’s foot that first appears on the soles of the feet, causing dryness and flaking, and these symptoms later spread to the sides of the feet.

Use over-the-counter antifungal medications. Mild cases of athlete’s foot can usually be treated with over-the-counter powders, sprays, or ointments that fight fungal infections. You can ask your doctor to recommend one for you or ask a pharmacist at your local drugstore. Common brands include Tinactin, Micatin, Lamisil, and Lotrimin-AF.

• Rinse carefully and dry your feet thoroughly, especially between your toes. Then apply the medicine to the tops, soles, sides, and between all toes of both feet.
• Apply the medication twice daily until the rash goes away. A common athlete’s foot should clear up in about a week.
• If the athlete’s foot persists for 4 to 6 weeks, you may need oral antifungal medication.

Get prescription medicine for stubborn athlete’s foot. If over-the-counter medications don’t clear up athlete’s foot within 4 to 6 weeks, you may need to use a stronger prescription medication. Go to your doctor and find out what medicines are available to you. Some of these medications are topical medications that are applied to the feet, while others are taken orally in pill form.

• Oral antifungal medications can affect the liver, so be sure to tell your doctor if you currently have or have had liver problems.

Keep feet dry to prevent athlete’s foot. Athlete’s foot is caused by fungus, and moist environments are conducive to the growth of fungus. Keep feet dry and change shoes and socks as soon as possible after they get wet. Dry your feet thoroughly before changing socks.

• Athlete’s foot is easily contagious, so if you share a pool or changing room with others, take care to protect yourself. Wear slippers in changing rooms and showers, and do not share towels or linens with people who have athlete’s feet.
• Clean your feet regularly and wash between your toes with soap. You can also use a hair dryer to make sure your feet are dry.

Medical Treatment

Ask your doctor to prescribe some corticosteroid cream. If your itchy feet don’t improve with regular moisturizer, see your doctor. Your doctor can prescribe a steroid cream that is very effective in improving itching symptoms. Topical steroids applied to the skin can also improve redness, swelling, and various rashes, including foot hidrosis. The latter is an allergic reaction that causes blisters that feel very itchy.

Medical diagnosis. Most of the time, itchy feet are caused by benign conditions. But sometimes, itchy feet can be a symptom of a more serious condition. If you try to treat it at home and the problem doesn’t resolve within two weeks, be sure to seek medical attention. In very rare cases, itchy feet may be a sign of an underlying disease.

Treat scabies. Scabies is a small mite that lives under human skin and causes severe itching that worsens at night. You should suspect a scabies infection if multiple people in your home experience similar symptoms of severe itching, or if there are small blisters or signs of colonization on the skin. Seek medical treatment and ask your doctor to prescribe some 5% permethrin cream, lindane, crotamiton, or ivermectin.

• Check to see if the rash occurs on other parts of your body besides your feet. Scabies also usually appear in the armpits or groin.
• Wash all clothing, bedding, and linens in your home in hot, soapy water, then tumble dry on high heat. Doing this will prevent you from getting infected again.

Tips

• Don’t scratch your feet when they feel itchy! Scratching can worsen itching, lead to bleeding, infection, or other problems such as athlete’s foot, and can spread the fungus to your hands.
• If you have diabetes and itchy feet, be sure to seek medical treatment and have your doctor check to see if there are any foot problems. Even if your itchy feet appear to be just ordinary athlete’s feet, don’t take it lightly.
• If foot problems do not resolve after home treatment, seek medical attention.