What should you know about itchy feet?

The location helps provide clues. Scaling between the toes or along the sole can occur with Athlete's Foot. Tiny fluid-filled blisters on the sides of the feet may fit Dyshidrotic Eczema, while redness after a new shoe, sock, detergent, or product may suggest Contact Dermatitis.

Sweat and enclosed footwear can leave the skin damp and more prone to irritation. Fungal infection may cause itch, peeling, cracking, or a burning sensation, often beginning between the toes. Eczema can produce intense itch, dryness, blisters, or soreness. A rash that matches the area touched by a material or product points toward an external irritant or allergy.

Do not scratch until the skin breaks: open areas are easier to irritate and can become infected. Itch without a rash, marked swelling, or symptoms affecting other body areas deserves an assessment because the cause may not be limited to the foot.

Wash gently, dry carefully between the toes, and change damp socks. Choose breathable footwear and alternate shoes so they can dry. Avoid fragranced products and any new item that seems to trigger the rash. A cool compress and a plain moisturiser on dry skin may ease irritation; keep moisturiser out of moist spaces between the toes.

If the pattern suggests a fungal problem, a pharmacist or clinician can advise whether Topical Antifungal Treatment is suitable and how long to use it. Follow the product directions and seek advice if the skin is cracked, treatment irritates you, or symptoms do not improve.

Arrange medical care for spreading redness, warmth, increasing pain, pus, fever, deep cracks, or swelling. Seek prompt advice if you have diabetes, reduced circulation, or a weakened immune system and develop a foot rash or wound. A clinician can examine the skin when the diagnosis is unclear, symptoms keep returning, or self-care has not helped.

Ask: Which cause best fits the location and appearance of my itch? Could this be Athlete's Foot, Contact Dermatitis, or Dyshidrotic Eczema? Should I use an antifungal, moisturiser, or another treatment? What changes would mean I should return sooner?