Why is bottom of my feet peeling

The cause of dry skin on the feet can either be external or internal. External causes include sunburn, prolonged hot showers or baths , low humidity inside or outside your home , dehydration, smoking and stress. Internal causes include a genetic predisposition so it runs in the family , your age, health and other medical conditions like thyroid problems, and whether you suffer from an underlying cause or not, you could be making your dry skin condition worse unknowingly.

If your body is dehydrated, focus on getting an adequate water intake daily. If you live in a dry climate, consider whether a humidifier could be good for your overall skin health and not just for your feet!

The best thing to do to treat peeling skin is to moisturise frequently — at least once a day — especially right after a warm shower or bath. When your skin is damp, it more readily soaks in the moisturiser, which will help solve the dryness, and the peeling, sooner.

For maximum impact, put on socks directly after moisturising. Most nonspecific dermatitis is caused by skin contact with a substance that provokes a reaction, which could be anything from plants to soap to jewelry to fabrics. Some may be due to an autoimmune condition, where the body's immune system attacks itself. Risk factors include a family or personal history of allergies, asthma, or other condition which weakens the immune system; or constant contact with metals, plant life, or chemicals.

Symptoms commonly include red, swollen skin rash with itching, blistering, or oozing, which may become painful and infected. Dermatitis itself is not contagious but can interfere with quality of life.

A medical provider can help with managing the symptoms. Diagnosis is made through patient history, physical examination, and sometimes skin biopsy and patch testing. Treatment involves using protective measures if the substances cannot be avoided; making nutritional improvements to strengthen the immune system; using corticosteroid or other creams; and phototherapy.

Symptoms that always occur with non-specific dermatitis skin inflammation : red rash. Irritant contact dermatitis means a skin reaction that is caused by directly touching an irritating substance, and not by an infectious agent such as a bacteria or virus.

Common causes are soap, bleach, cleaning agents, chemicals, and even water. Almost any substance can cause it with prolonged exposure. Contact dermatitis is not contagious. Anyone who works with an irritating substance can contract the condition. Mechanics, beauticians, housekeepers, restaurant workers, and health care providers are all susceptible.

Symptoms include skin that feels swollen, stiff, and dry, and becomes cracked and blistered with painful open sores. A medical provider can give the best advice on how to heal the skin and avoid further irritation. Self-treatment can make the problem worse if the wrong creams or ointments are used.

Diagnosis is made through patient history, to find out what substances the patient comes into contact with, and through physical examination of the damaged skin. Treatment involves avoiding the irritating substance if possible. Otherwise, the person can use petroleum jelly on the hands underneath cotton and then rubber gloves.

Top Symptoms: rash with well-defined border, itchy rash, red or pink, rough patch of skin, painful rash, red rash. Symptoms that always occur with irritant contact dermatitis: rash with well-defined border. Symptoms that never occur with irritant contact dermatitis: fever, black-colored skin changes, brown-colored skin changes, blue-colored skin changes. Eczema atopic dermatitis is a non-contagious chronic skin condition that produces an itchy rash.

It is caused by a genetic condition that affects the skin's ability to protect itself from bacteria and allergens. The most susceptible are those with a family hi.. Oral antifungal medications or antibiotics may be necessary for more significant causes of foot peeling.

Prescribed foot creams are also available. Questions may relate to diseases, illnesses, or conditions you may have or that may run in your family. Your answers will help us provide you with medical information and identify services that may be relevant to your health. Buoy Health uses reasonable physical, technical, and administrative safeguards such as firewalls, encryption, identity management, and intrusion prevention and detection to protect your information. We will not share your information with third parties unless you give your consent or unless permitted by applicable law.

Try our AI assistant here. Informed by current CDC guidelines. Skip to main content Skip to accessibility services Buoy Logo. Well, peeling feet can be about more than just pounding the pavement or braving the elements.

Here are seven reasons why your feet might be peeling. The most common reason patients have peeling feet is a fungal infection like athlete's foot —although they might not always realize it.

So if your skin starts mysteriously peeling all of a sudden, get it checked out sooner rather than later. Once you have a fungal infection on your skin, it can easily infect your toenail , which Pruthi warns can be very difficult to get rid of. If it's a minor fungal infection like athlete's foot, then an OTC anti-fungal spray or cream might get the job done, according to Tauber.

Either way, if you have a fungal infection on your feet then it's likely in your shoes too, Tauber says. So, be sure to keep your kicks dry and hit them with an anti-fungal spray as well. Excess perspiration and moist environments often cause these foot infections, which lead to peeling.

That might mean that your gym regimen , especially if there's some hot yoga thrown in, can contribute to your peeling feet. Pruthi warns that "anything you're doing barefoot, or if you're sharing mats, or if you're doing hot yoga in a moist environment" can lead to this bacterial or fungal infection. See a doc if you think you have it. She also recommends wearing cotton socks to wick sweat away, using orthotics such as those with a soft top cover that absorbs moisture, and, if possible, investing in a second pair of workout shoes to rotate between the two.

Many women, including Pruthi, love to wear strappy shoes in the summer. But as anyone who hasn't properly broken in her new heels knows, snug footwear can cause some serious friction. Don't allow too much of that to dig into your skin. Flip flops are also a culprit of foot discomfort and peeling. At the end of the day, however, your best bet is stop wearing those shoes all together and, if possible, go for a pair made of natural materials read: no plastic.

An excellent accompaniment to your foot file is a thorough exfoliating and moisturizing routine. For exfoliating, you can make a homemade foot scrub with epsom salt or sugar, or look into purchasing a trusted product to simplify the process. Creams are also excellent moisturizers. This cream aims to rid your feet of scaly and dry skin by reawakening skin cells, and also acts as a defence against conditions that cause dead skin. If the peeling or dry skin is primarily located on your heels in the form of cracked heels, you can try moisturizing regularly with Dermal Therapy Heel Care Cream.

Cracked heels, if ignored, can become irritated, inflamed and can even bleed, especially during the harsher winter weather.

Not only a great product for your heels, this product locks in moisture and fights intensely dry skin on your feet. The superstar component of this cream is urea, which binds moisture to skin cells. Furthermore, this product is able to keep dry, peeling skin and cracked heels from becoming inflamed or worsening.