Home Remedies for Soothing Itching Feet

While chronic diseases and other factors can make feet itch, the most common reasons for itchy feet are that they are too moist, or, conversely, too dry. These issues are easy to solve with home remedies.

However, you should note that there are times when you will need to call your general care physician or podiatrist. Painful blisters or skin that is smelly, scaly, red, or severely cracked should be cause for concern. Additionally, if you are showing symptoms of a fungal infection, like athlete’s foot, you will also want to visit your physician as these sorts of infections can turn into more serious bacterial infections.

Usually, though, itchy feet can be cured at home with a few simple ingredients.

Walnut Hulls

There are many walnut hull recipes that can help you put together a moisturizer to alleviate the itching associated with dry feet. One such recipe is to mix together a cup of water and a teaspoon of ground walnut hulls. Simmer in a saucepan at medium heat for half an hour. After that, pour the mixture through a mesh sieve to strain it. While it’s still warm, pour half of a cup on your feet. Then, dry them with a towel, preferably an old one as the mixture may stain. Add eucalyptus oil (5 drops), tea tree oil (10 drops), and calendula oil (3 tablespoons) to the remaining liquid. You should then massage your feet with the mixture.

Please note, walnut hulls have not been approved by the FDA to treat athlete’s foot.

Saltwater

A saltwater soak can sometimes alleviate irritation and stop itching. You should mix salt (2 teaspoons) with warm water (2 cups). Pour the liquid into a tub and soak your feet for five to ten minutes. You can soak feet once an hour until the itching eases. Again, please note that the FDA has not approved saltwater as a treatment option for fungal infections.

Baking Soda

A baking soda paste has also been known to help stop the discomfort and burning associated with itchy feet. To make the paste, add one tablespoon of baking soda to two to three teaspoons of water. Stir the mixture until it turns into a paste.Wipe the paste over the feet and make sure you saturate each part of your foot, especially the skin in between your toes. Let the paste dry for five to ten minutes. Then, put your feet under cool water to rinse off the paste. Dry your feet with a towel. Then, dust your feet with cornstarch to remove any lingering moisture. Fungi love damp feet, so you want to make sure that you’re keeping yours cool and dry to avoid further fungal infections.

As with all of the remedies discussed here, the FDA has not approved baking soda as a treatment for fungal foot infections. However, it will give you temporary relief from itching.

If the itching continues, or if the problem worsens, it is important to see your doctor right away as the condition may transform into something more serious, like a bacterial infection.