What Causes Chronic Itch?

Your podiatrist in Austin sees a lot of issues with feet, including chronic itch. Chronic foot itch is more common than you might think. It’s a condition that affects people all over the world, and it doesn’t matter how young or old you are. However, there are several possible causes of chronic foot itch, which is why a professional diagnosis by your Austin podiatrist is always recommended.

Athlete’s Feet

Athlete’s feet is so-called because it most often occurs in athletes. This is actually a fungal infection and fungi thrive in dark, warm, and moist environments, like that inside of sweaty socks after exercising. Athlete’s feet causes chronic itch, but there are other symptoms like redness and skin sloughing. It can be quite painful, but it’s easily remedied with over the counter powders and sprays. If your athlete’s feet doesn’t respond to over the counter treatments or if it looks like it’s getting infected, talk to your podiatrist.

Allergies

Sometimes the cause of chronic itchy feet may be something as benign as an allergic reaction. Allergies can develop suddenly, even if you’ve never had allergies in the past. Your podiatrist may ask if you’ve been traipsing barefoot anyplace new, or if you’ve recently bought a new pair of shoes or switched laundry detergents. Discovering the source of your chronic itchy feet sometimes requires a bit of detective work on the part of your Austin podiatrist, but soon the mystery will be solved!

Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a condition that causes rash, itching, and flaking on the skin. All parts of the body can be affected, including the feet. Depending upon where the chronic itch is and whether or not it appears on other parts of the body, you may be diagnosed with psoriasis. If this happens, your podiatrist will be able to recommend treatments.

Don’t assume that your chronic itch is nothing to be concerned about. If you have chronic itchy feet, talk to your podiatrist. Diagnosis and treatment options are available. Contact us today.

Kidney Disease

Obviously, if you have kidney disease you’ll need to see a specialist. But diagnosing kidney disease often involves first diagnosing the cause of your chronic itchy feet. If you have chronic itchy feet and your podiatrist can see no other obvious reason, you may be referred to a physician for more tests. This is just one example of how a chronic itch can indicate a serious problem.