Why feet itch and how to get rid of itching

Why do legs itch?

1. Your skin lacks moisture

This is perhaps the most popular cause of itching. Doctors call dry skin xerosis. There are many prerequisites for it. Maybe you:

Swimming in a pool of chlorinated water.
You live in a dry, hot climate and forget to protect your feet from the sun - for example, go in shorts.
Spend a lot of time in the water. In this case, the epidermis becomes loose, porous and, once on land, it instantly loses moisture.
Not young anymore. Skin Conditions As You Age The skin becomes thinner and dries up.
Wash your feet with too hot water.

What to do

To curb xerosis, it is enough to take care of moisture for the skin. Use moisturizers after bathing or as needed. Drink plenty of fluids. Control the humidity in the room where you spend most of the day. Take a shower or bath with warm, not hot, water.

2. You don't wash your feet thoroughly enough

Dirt, sweat, dead cells of the epidermis accumulate on the surface of the skin and impair its air exchange. Itching is a predictable consequence.

What to do

Carefully monitor hygiene. Bathe or shower regularly in warm water and mild soap. After bathing procedures, do not forget to apply a moisturizing gel or cream to your skin.

3. You recently shaved your legs

Shaving can irritate your skin, especially if you are using an old, dull blade. Chemicals in shaving creams (or their depilatory cousins) often increase this irritation.

What to do

Make sure the blades in your razor are fresh and sharp at all times. Choose hypoallergenic creams, foams or shaving gels. Perform the procedure slowly and carefully.

4. You wear too tight pants

Excessively tight clothing makes the skin sweat, interferes with its breathing and impairs blood circulation.

What to do

Choose trousers or pants made from soft, breathable fabrics: cotton, linen, knitwear. Try to give up tight clothes or wear them not every day, but only for special occasions.

5. You have allergic contact dermatitis

It is possible that some substance your feet come into contact with is causing an allergic reaction. At the initial stage, this type of dermatitis manifests itself as itching. If contact with an irritant continues, a rash, swelling, and painful cracks may appear on the skin.

Allergens can be:

some plants that you came into contact with when walking in nature in short shorts;
harsh chemicals found in laundry detergent, fabric softener or, for example, self-tanning cream;
clothes or shoes made of rubber or latex if they come into contact with the skin;
some antibiotic ointments, such as Neosporin.

What to do

To begin with, stop contact with a potential allergen. If you have just returned from a walk, wash your feet thoroughly. If you use cosmetics or ointments, temporarily discard them and monitor the condition of your skin. Try changing the detergent to a hypoallergenic one and don't forget about the double rinse mode when washing.

6. You are nervous

Stress can be a potential cause of The Vicious Cycle of Itch and Anxiety of pruritus. And here there is a risk of falling into a vicious circle: you are nervous, therefore you itch; because of the itching, you worry - and you worry even more.

What to do

Don't worry about trifles. Learn to control your stress levels. Sleep at least 8 hours a day and regularly arrange weekends, devoting time exclusively to relaxation.

7. You have eczema

Eczema - also known as atopic dermatitis - can occur on any part of the body, including the lower limbs. Its main symptom is itching. However, there are others: redness, the appearance of colored (pink, grayish, brownish) spots and moisture-filled vesicles on the itchy area of the skin.

What to do

If you notice signs of eczema, see a dermatologist. A specialist will select an individual treatment course for you.

8. You have diabetes

This disease often affects Why Do My Legs Itch? on the skin condition, causing increased dryness and itching.

What to do

If your feet are itchy due to diabetes, talk to your doctor. He will tell you how and with what means you can get rid of itching.

9. You have a medical condition - perhaps not yet diagnosed

Itching is often the first symptom of a rather serious ailment. He may testify about:

liver diseases - for example, about viral hepatitis or cirrhosis;
kidney disease;
problems with the thyroid gland - hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism;
some types of cancer (for example, itching can manifest itself as Hodgkin's lymphoma or skin cancer).

What to do

Consult a doctor (for a start, a therapist) for a diagnosis and further treatment.

When to see a doctor urgently

Here are some clear indications that you should consult with a therapist as soon as possible.

Legs itch for more than two weeks, despite the fact that you follow hygiene, moisturize your skin and limit contact with possible allergens as much as possible.
The itching is so severe that it interferes with sleep at night or distracts from work and personal life during the day.
A strong desire to scratch occurs regularly and for no apparent reason.
Itching slowly spreads to the whole body.
"Scabies" is accompanied by a feeling of constant fatigue or fever.

Any of these symptoms indicate that you may have a serious medical condition. It needs to be diagnosed and treated.

How to get rid of itching if your feet itch right now

1. Use a cool compress

Apply a soft cloth soaked in cold water or an ice pack (frozen vegetables) wrapped in a thin napkin to the itchy area.

2. Make an oatmeal bath

Not the one you cook for breakfast (although, for lack of an alternative, it's also an option). The product you need is lotions that contain colloidal oats. Dilute 1-2 tablespoons of the product in the foot bath and use it for 10-15 minutes.

3. Moisturize your skin

This will help hypoallergenic moisturizers and gels. Ideal if the products also have a cooling effect.

4. Take an over-the-counter antihistamine

This recommendation is relevant if you suspect an allergic reaction. In other cases, taking an antihistamine will be useless.

5. Try not to itch

Yes, it can be difficult. But it is important to control yourself. By scratching your skin, you only increase the itching. In addition, an infection can get into the scratches, and then you will have to fight not only with "scabies", but also with painful rashes.