Foot eczema

Eczema can affect the entire body, "from head to toe". Feet are the subject of this article. Eczema on the feet is associated with severe itching, which is particularly bothersome in everyday life.

What are the symptoms of foot eczema?

The symptoms of foot eczema are quite varied and depend on the initial cause of the eczema:

• In atopic dermatitis, foot eczema resembles eczema on the body and can also affect the ankles, especially in children with skin fold eczema;
• Eczema under the foot, or plantar eczema, is most often related to dyshidrosis, also known as bullous eczema. This chronic skin disease causes the appearance of blisters on the hands and feet. When the blisters break due to rubbing or scratching, the fluid in the blisters spreads and a crust forms. Dyshidrosis of the foot may be accompanied by dyshidrosis of the toes, which increases the patient's discomfort;
• In some cases, feet eczema and toe eczema are due to an allergy to shoes or one of their components. Foot eczema is located in the areas of contact between the skin and the shoe;
• Leg eczema, also known as varicose eczema, is caused by poor circulation and can spread to the feet.

Finding the cause of foot eczema allows for rapid implementation of appropriate treatment and/or avoidance measures in case of contact eczema.

What treatment for foot eczema?

The treatment of foot dyshidrosis and foot dermatitis in general, is based on the application of cortisone creams and emollients. In the evening before going to bed, apply the treatment in generous layers and put on a pair of cotton socks.

To avoid new flare-ups of bullous eczema of the foot, limit the risk factors of plantar dyshidrosis such as heat, humidity, perspiration or stress.