How to Stop Persistent Itching on the Foot

So you're sitting in a job interview, on a first date or even standing at the altar when it happens: your foot itches uncontrollably. It's not some garden variety itch that will eventually go away if you don't think about it.

Serious foot itching can happen at the worst times. (Image: Pixland/Pixland/Getty Images)

Rather, it's an intense and persistent itch that has you daydreaming of ripping off your shoe and sock, doing the stop, drop and roll technique and scratching furiously. Thankfully there are other ways to stop the persistent itching on your foot.

Step 1

Change soaps. Soaps that you use to wash your body and clothes can contain fragrances and alcohol. These are drying agents that can leave skin irritated and itchy. Try soaps with natural products or ones that are hypoallergenic. They reduce skin inflammation. For clothing detergent, use one that is free of perfumes or dyes, which cost the same and could solve your itching problem.

Step 2

Wear shoes or at least flip-flops. Locker room floors, public showers and pools are a paradise for that abominable fungus known as athlete's foot. Shoes act as a barrier between it and your feet. Besides the uncontrollable itchy feeling, athlete's foot can cause infection by bacteria, bad odor and peeling. There are many over-the-counter medicines to treat athlete's foot.

Step 3

You might not notice you have a bite on your foot until the itch starts. (Image: Wavebreakmedia Ltd/Wavebreak Media/Getty Images)

Investigate possible allergic reactions. Your feet come into contact with all types of things that can cause an allergic reaction -- from pollen you pick up walking in grass barefoot to a bug or spider bite that you didn't notice until it started to itch. Check your feet for bites or any type of allergic rashes. You can use over-the-counter creams containing cortizone to provide relief. If allergic symptoms worsen or your rash spreads to other areas of the body, contact your physician.

Step 4

Consult a dermatologist. The itching you've been feeling may be caused by eczema, a skin disease that produces red, itchy patches followed by scaling and flaking of the skin. Another skin disease that can cause severe itching is psoriasis. This can increase cell production in the skin, which will cause the skin to become red, thick and have silver or white scales. Both eczema and psoriasis should be diagnosed and treated by your dermatologist.