Causes of Itchy Feet in Toddlers: 4 Home Remedies to Relieve the Itching

Itching is extremely irritating and tickling sensation that is experienced all over skin surface or limited to particular area of the body. In medical terminology itching is called pruritus. Itching leads to scratching of the affected part. This may depend on individualized level of tolerance. Itching in children and toddlers is not uncommon.

Itching can occur in any skin surface, but it is frequently observed in toddler’s feet. In many cases this discomforting sensation is accompanied with rash, warmth and redness. It makes child irritable and cranky at times. Wearing shoes and chappals can be extremely uncomfortable for the child. Several factors are responsible for itching in a toddler’s feet. Simply dry skin or too much moisture in feet can cause itching. Scabies and athlete’s foot are medical reasons for itchy feet. If you suspect fungal infection or scabies in your child’s feet immediately consult your pediatrician.

Causes of itchy feet in toddlers:

Itching feet in toddlers is not uncommon. It can develop due to several reasons.

Some of them may be as minor as mosquito bite while other reasons can be more serious. Itching in feet is often accompanied with rash and blisters. This may prevent the child from wearing shoes. The most common reason for itchy feet in children and toddlers is overly moist feet. If your child’s feet are extremely dry, it may also cause itching and rash.

Medical reasons such as fungal infection (athlete’s feet) can also make the child’s feet itchy. In this condition the fungus thrives in warm and damp area between the toes. Children wearing shoes and sneakers for long period of time can increase the risk of fungal infection in feet. The fungus thrives and spreads its colony inside the warm and wet shoes. Fungus causing athlete’s feet is contagious and can spread through cuts and bruises on the feet. Even from walking bare foot in public places such as wet floor besides the swimming pool or locker rooms, a person can get infected with the fungus.

Another important cause is scabies. It is a contagious skin disease caused by scabies mite. This mite burrows through the skin and hatches egg, preferably between the webs of toes. The mode of spread is usually from prolonged skin to skin contact. Sometimes contact with shoes, clothes, that are infested with scabies germs may be responsible for scabies infection in feet.

Itchy feet in children and toddler can develop due to contact dermatitis. The child’s feet may have come in contact with certain allergens and chemicals present in soaps and detergents or in plants. It may also occur from swearing socks, especially synthetic socks with dark dye.

Home Remedies for Itchy Feet in Toddlers

Toddler’s itchy feet need proper medical attention. As sometimes it can lead to secondary bacterial infection due to scratching. Treatment will depend on the underlying reason. For example if itching and rash results from fungal infection, applying anti-fungal cream locally for few days will be effective in curing the condition. See that the child’s feet remain clean and dry.

Let the child wear sandals instead of shoes. Sandal allows proper ventilation and keeps the area dry. In case of scabies infection in feet, follow prescription remedy as suggested by the doctor. While treating scabies, all other members of family must also be treated. The clothes of child and towel must be separately washed.

Certain remedies are useful to relieve itching in feet:

• Baking soda paste: Prepare baking soda paste and apply on the affected area of feet. To prepare the paste, take one teaspoon of baking soda and two to three teaspoon of water. Mix it well till it forms smooth paste. Apply it on the affected area and let it remain for 10 minutes before you rinse it cool water. Pat the feet dry with clean cloth once you have washed the feet.
• If an itchy foot is caused due to dry skin, apply a moisturizer.
• In case of fungus infection, mix few drops of tea tree oil and aloe vera gel. Apply this mixture on the affected feet after cleaning them. It must be preferably applied when the child is sleeping at night.
• Apply paste prepared by mixing oatmeal with water. Keep it for 10 minutes before rinsing it with cool water. Pat the feet dry with towel. It helps to relieve itching.