What makes athletes foot itch

Athlete's foot Open pop-up dialog box Close. Athlete's foot Athlete's foot is a fungal infection that causes scaly rash that may itch, sting or burn.

Athlete's foot on side of foot Open pop-up dialog box Close. Athlete's foot on side of foot Athlete's foot can cause dry, scaly skin on the bottom and sides of the foot. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references AskMayoExpert. Tinea pedis. Mayo Clinic; Accessed June 8, Thompson DA. Athlete's foot. In: Adult Telephone Protocols. American Academy of Pediatrics; High WA, et al. Special considerations in skin of color. In: Dermatology Secrets. Elsevier; 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. 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. Itchy feet will make you want to scratch your skin.

Changes to your skin may accompany the itchy sensation. Examples of skin changes are:. 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:. Some tests can check areas in or on top of your skin for the presence of germs, such as a fungus.

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. 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:. Diabetes can cause generalized itching of the skin, but it can also be focused on the feet. High blood glucose can cause changes in the skin and body…. You need to leave the paste on for about 25 to 30 minutes.

Now wash out with lukewarm water and an antifungal soap. Be sure to dry your feet thoroughly. While drying, do not rub, but pat gently. This treatment should be done once every single day for as long as it takes for the infection to cure. The fungus tenia pedis is cured by salt, and it also prevents the infection from occurring again. In a bucket pour some warm water. To this, add 6 spoons of salt. Now soak your feet in this solution for 10 minutes and then dry your feet thoroughly using a soft and clean towel.

Now sprinkle some baking soda on your feet to get rid of the extra moisture. You should practice this treatment five times a day until you observe positive results. If you have open sores, then do not use this remedy as it can inflame the area and aggravate the condition further.

The third home remedy is tea tree oil. Tea tree oil kills tenia pedis and averts it from spreading to other parts. Mix olive oil and tea tree oil in a ratio Now apply the mixture on the infected area two times a day. This treatment should be followed for a month or two to treat the infection and also prevent it from occurring again. You can also mix tea tree oil and aloe vera gel in the ratio of Tannic acid makes tea a natural astringent, which averts fungal activity and also prevents an infection from spreading by keeping the feet dry and moisture-free.

To use it as a remedy, all you need to do is steep around 5 black tea bags in a container of boiling water. Leave it undisturbed for about 5 minutes. Once the water cools, soak your infected foot in the water for 30 minutes and then dry them thoroughly.

This remedy needs to be practiced two times a day for a month and a half. To make the best out of it, take about 10 cinnamon sticks and break them into small pieces.

Now add these to about 3 cups of water and bring the container to boil. Simmer the solution for about 3 to 4 minutes. Remover the container from fire, and steep it for half an hour.

Now soak your feet in this water once it is soothingly warm. Soak for 30 minutes and then pat dry.