If your feet are itchy, you may be suffering from a foot rash caused by a fungal infection. A person with a foot rash may experience symptoms such as a burning itch, oozing blisters, peeling skin, and red bumps.
These symptoms may be caused by various reasons such as eczema or contact with something that you are allergic to (e.g., the dye in your socks). A foot rash is also a common symptom of fungal infections like athlete’s foot.
There are different home remedies for foot rash, but you need to find out what's causing the irritation before you can determine how to treat the condition. If you're not sure what caused the foot rash, consult a healthcare professional before trying the treatments below.
Allergic reaction
If your foot rash is caused by an allergic reaction, you need to determine what's causing the irritation. It could be something common, like poison ivy, or something obscure, like a chemical used in an article of clothing. Consider any recent changes you've made in your life, then remove them one by one. Once your rash clears, you've identified the irritant causing the foot rash.
While you're trying to find out what's causing the allergic reaction, a soothing oatmeal foot soak can relieve your symptoms.
Ingredients:
- 1 gallon of hot water
- 1 cup of Epsom salt
- 1 cup of milk
- 1 cup of oatmeal
- 1/4 cup of baking soda
- 1/4 cup of honey
Steps:
- Pour the hot water into a basin.
- Add the baking soda, Epsom salt, honey, and milk. Mix the ingredients well.
- Transfer the mixture to a large tub, then soak your feet until it feels better.
The ingredients for this foot soak help minimize skin inflammation, relieve itchiness, and soothe minor irritations.
Eczema
The word "eczema" comes from a Greek word that means "to boil over," which also describes the red, inflamed, itchy patches that people experience during flare-ups. The condition can range from mild, moderate, to severe.
The skin condition is caused by extremely rapid rates of skin growth. Tough, thick patches of skin form when new cells beneath make their way to the surface before the current cells are shed. When this happens, you may experience itching, peeling, and burning. Eczema flare-ups are characterized by the formation of red pustules, scales, crusts or scabs, either alone or in combination. The condition is incurable, but it isn't contagious and its symptoms can be treated.
If you have eczema, a milk foot bath can help relieve your symptoms. Milk contains vitamins that can nourish the skin and reduce the itchiness. Lactic acid can help loosen and dissolve skin plaques.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of powdered milk
- 1 gallon of hot water
Steps:
- Add the powdered milk to the hot water. Stir the mixture well.
- Transfer the hot milk to a shallow tub.
- Soak your feet in the milk bath for about 10 minutes. Repeat the treatment two to three times daily until your symptoms subside.
Fungus
If the remedies for an allergy and eczema don't cure your foot rash, you may have a fungal infection. The symptoms of a fungal infection include skin damage that occurs between the toes instead of across the base of the foot. This kind of infection is very contagious, and you can get infected if you walk barefoot in damp areas like beaches, pools, or saunas.
This apple cider vinegar foot bath can help cure some common forms of fungus. Both tea tree oil and apple cider vinegar have potent antifungal properties, but they they may be too harsh if applied to the skin undiluted. (Related: Plantar warts on your feet can be easily treated with tea tree oil.)
Ingredients:
- 2 cups of apple cider vinegar
- 2 cups of warm water
- 1 tablespoon of tea tree oil
Steps:
- Combine the apple cider vinegar, tea tree oil, and warm water.
- Transfer the solution to a large tub or container. Let your feet soak in the apple cider foot bath for at least 20 minutes.
- Use a clean towel to dry your feet. Use a hair dryer set on low to blow-dry the skin between your toes.
- Put on a clean pair of cotton socks and wear well-ventilated footwear. Soak your feet in this apple cider foot bath twice daily until the infection clears up.
Once you've determined the cause of your foot rash, try the natural remedies listed above to soothe the pain and itching.
Read more articles about home remedies for skin conditions like eczema and itchy feet at Healing.news.
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