Finding red blotches on your feet one day can be a little disconcerting: What does it mean? What's wrong?
Rashes aren't necessarily painful, but they tend to be itchy and uncomfortable and they are certainly not something you want to deal with for too long. But how do you figure out what is causing your discomfort?
Here are a few common rashes on the feet:
- Allergies. Sometimes your rash is related to a simple allergy. Usually something touched your foot that that your skin was sensitive to, and it broke out in a rash.
- Athlete's Foot, This is actually caused by a fungus that thrives in moist, warm environments. Athlete's foot will often first appear between the toes, but it can move to other parts of your foot as well. If your child has a rash on his or her foot, there's a good chance it might be athlete's foot; it's very common in children because they are more likely to walk around barefoot and use public pools.
- Eczema. This is a chronic skin disorder that will occasionally cause scaly, itchy patches of skin to occur. There is some evidence that eczema is more common with people who have a family history of allergies or asthma.
- Psoriasis. This is a chronic autoimmune condition that commonly causes red, raised patches on the skin covered by a silvery layer of dead skin. It is not contagious, but it is a lifelong condition. Outbreaks will need to be handled on a case-by-case basis. Psoriasis cannot be completely cured.
If the rash on your foot isn't going away or it is getting worse, you really need to consider having it looked at by a professional. Fixing Feet Institute in Surprise, AZ treats many skin rashes on the feet and will be able to tell you if it's a more long-term condition like psoriasis or eczema, or if it is a shorter-term situation like athlete's foot or allergies.
