You have itchy feet, and it’s irritating you, making you want to get rid of it as soon as possible. Well, have you ever wondered what might be underlying your body and causing your itchy feet? So, most commonly, itchy feet are caused due to a fungal or bacterial infection. However, there might be some underlying conditions that might be causing you itchy feet or even numbness.
According to my research and experience, things that might be causing you irritation due to itchy feet mostly depend on your health and conditions. Anyway, if you are seeking details related to it and the remedies that I’ve felt effective over the period, keep reading.
What May Be Causing Your Itchy Feet?
You might want to shove off the fact that your itchy feet are something even to be concerned about. However, there might be something hidden in your body causing your itches that you should be aware of. In my case, where I had diabetic neuropathy, and it caused my itchy feet, which I ignored at first. The thing that triggered my concern was a random suggestion from a friend.
Since then, I’ve done a ton of research on the connection between my diabetes and itchy feet, which has led me to some more causes that you might be suffering from:
➡️Peripheral Neuropathy
If you have an itch in your feet, it can be caused by an underlying condition called peripheral neuropathy. This is a condition in which your central nervous system gets damaged and can even affect your somatosensory systems. Not only that, but it may cause damage to your sensory organs in many ways as well.
If you’re wondering how a nerve-related condition can cause a simple itch, then you should know that this type of itch is also called a neuropathic itch. As I’ve learned about it so far, if you have this neuropathic itch, it might indicate an underlying neurodegeneration or an autoimmune condition in your body.
➡️Possibility Of Liver Diseases
One of the worst itchy feet cases that I’ve come across during my research was people with liver diseases. Most of the people who had any type of liver condition had itchy feet, and they had PBC (Primary Binary Cirrhosis) and PSG (Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis). Individuals who have any of these liver conditions mostly suffer from a blocked or damaged bile duct that leads to the accumulation of bile in their body.
➡️Polycythemia Rubra Vera
As serious as this condition might sound, it’s not that serious of a condition. Polycythemia rubra vera causes itching after you shower from warm water, along with numbness and a burning sensation in your palms and feet. So, if you have an itching along with a burning or tingling sensation in your feet, it might be due to your enlarged spleen, which is termed polycythemia rubra vera.
How Can You Stop Your Itchy Feet?
As much as I’ve found about itchy feet and related conditions so far, individuals can get rid of it with some specific treatments.
One thing that you should know is that if an underlying condition like liver disease or diabetes causes it, you can only treat your itches with these remedies. For the underlying conditions, you should consult your healthcare instructors to get yourself treated accordingly.
➡️Keep The Affected Area Hydrated
When you have itchy feet, it may be caused due to the accumulation of bacteria or even by eczema. To treat these conditions, you should always keep the affected area moisturized and clean. So, make sure you are applying a moisturizing lotion or antibacterial ointments on your affected area for effective relief.
➡️Corticosteroids Might Help
When you have a severe case of itchy feet caused by eczema or other form of infection, make sure you are using hydrocortisone. This is a type of steroid, also known as corticosteroid, and it helps with your itchy feet by calming your inflammation, pain, and itchiness down. Usually, it is prescribed by your dermatologist, so make sure you consult yours before taking any medication.
➡️Prioritize Using OTC Ointments Or Creams
If you have an itchy foot due to a bacterial or fungal infection, remember that it can spread to other parts of your body through touch as well. If you are looking for permanent treatment, make sure to apply an anti-fungal or anti-bacterial ointment on your affected area. Usually, these medications are easily available OTC (over the counter), so you can get them simply from nearby medical stores.
Do Your Itchy Feet Indicate Diabetes?
Well, as some other underlying conditions can cause your itchy feet, one thing that I’ve found is that diabetes is also one of the causes of itchy feet.
So, yes, your itchy feet might be indicating your diabetic neuropathy. When you have serious levels of blood sugar for an extended period, it can damage the nerves present in your feet or legs, causing itchiness or numbness in your feet.
So, if you have a history of diabetes or have had blood sugar issues in the past, make sure you consult your doctor immediately.
Ignoring the signs of itchy feet caused by diabetic neuropathy is a severe condition to be in. As high blood pressure can cause nerve damage in your feet, it can even damage other nerves in your body and can paralyze you for life.
Summing Up
As simple as itchy feet might sound, the underlying conditions causing it are even more serious. As far as I’ve learned about all the causes and health issues that lead to itchy feet, it all relates to a poor lifestyle and ignorance towards an individual’s health.
So, if you have had itchy feet for an extended period, make sure to consult your doctor immediately, as it might signal to you what comes next.
Even if you don’t have any underlying health issue causing your itchiness, make sure you are focusing on your cleanliness and hygiene all the time. Doing so will prevent any type of bacterial or fungal infection from happening in the future.
