When the majority of Americans hear that someone has itchy feet and ankles, thoughts of athlete’s foot (tinea pedis) tend to immediately come to mind. Although it is often one of the chief causes of intense itchy, it by far, isn’t the only one. There are actually many conditions that may be behind the intense itching and home foot care may not be enough to solve the problem. Here’s a look at just some of the other podiatry issues that could be spurring on a person’s overwhelming need to scratch:

Xerotic Eczema

If the temperatures have already started to dip and relative humidity is low, a person’s feet could show signs of xerotic eczema. It could also be caused by dehydration, malnutrition, allergic reactions to soap and taking too many hot showers in the winter months. In addition to the itching, people affected by the condition may experience redness, scaling, peeling and cracked skin too. Foot care may involve the use of washing powders, non-steroidal creams, steroidal creams, medicated oils and other thick emollients.

Dyshidrotic Eczema

If a person has many of the symptoms mentioned above but their feet and ankles also happen to be covered with clusters of little blisters, it could be dyshidrotic eczema instead. Although both genders have the potential to develop the skin problem, it tends to affect women more often than not. Podiatrists frequently attribute its cause to seasonal allergies. Therefore, it typically shows up on the feet and ankles during the spring, summer and fall. Treatment for the condition involves many of the foot care products used to resolve xerotic eczema.

Scabies

Itchy feet and ankles may be caused by scabies mites as well. It is one of those podiatry problems that require professional care. Sometimes it is accompanied by crusty patches of skin, rashes, blisters and discolored lines that run near those items. Foot care to kill off the mites tends to last a month and requires the use of prescription medications. So anyone that feels he or she may be suffering from the condition should contact the Foot Care Team of Dr. Peter F. Gregory, D.P.M. right away.