Itchy, red, swollen foot.feet

[ChiAlex]

In April during a 5 hour car trip my feet became very itchy- it itched them and they became red and swollen in areas. The whole foot was not swollen: but certain parts became itchy and red- under toes, sides of feet, a little on top- no ankle swelling or redness.  These itchy red areas become hard and painful to walk, the outbreaks last about 24-48 hours.  The first time this to both feet and I passed it off to wearing new and cheap high heals for over 13 hours the day before (I teach).  That day I also had some trouble with a family member who was staying with me- so I felt stress may have been a contributor?

However, about 3 weeks later this happened again… and I went off to the doctor’s.  The swelling doesn’t occur in the same area each “outbreak”- however the onset is always the same, itchy, red, turns hard, becomes painful- sometimes in one foot, other times in both.  My family doctor looked at my like I was crazy for being concerned; I am a healthy 24 year old.  However, this has happened since April 4 more times.  It has happened right (one-two days) before menstrual cycle in May, June and now July- I am not pregnant.  

I have seen a podiatrist- who took xrays and did blood work (I know the blood work was for lupus and arthritic counts but not sure the scope of the tests).  He concluded my foot is mis-shaped and molded orthotics for me.  However, this has happened two more times- I am trying to understand what is triggering this as nothing relieves the swelling, itchiness or pain.  

As I have tracked these episodes they don’t seem to happen with any certainty- meaning I have tracked my physical activity (I workout a lot), bought and wear 4X Width cross trainer shoes- even to work, and the only pattern that exists with these outbreaks is many of them are occurring right before I begin my period.  Could this be a part of PMS? They checked my blood pressure at the doctors all times I have been there- the only other thing I can think of is a circulation problem- sometimes the pain travels up to my calves (feels very sore like the day after a hard workout).  But at this point I feel like I am guessing with no guidance?

[ClareOne]

This is in response to ChiAlex and Dr_Aparna. Recently I started wearing new flats to commute to work, and I change them out for my normal footwear while at work. They are leather, and while walking I felt the numbness begin along the outer sides of my feet and little toe. About two days later I got a terrible itch on the little toe and ankle of my right foot. I thought it was a flea bite. However, I could see no sign of redness/rash or anything...just an itch. It spread along the outer side of the foot. Then within hours I got the same symptoms on the same areas of my left foot, then on both feet along the inner sides. I thought it was coincidence but on the morning of the 2nd day (today), I saw some redness in circles on the inner side of one foot, on two baby toes, and the outer sides had circular pads that felt hard to touch and slight pain when pressure was applied. The red areas got swollen when I scratched it. Still no breaks in the skin. When the itch subsided, I got a slight burning sensation. I visited the doctor this afternoon and she said what Dr Aparna said it might be: an allergic reaction to the material of the shoes (ruling out me stepping into dirty water/pools or walking around bare-feet) that manifested as an under-the-skin fungal infection. She prescribed Nizoral pills and allegra. I took the pills about 4 hours ago and I got some relief from the itching (which comes and goes). I'm also using a topical hydrocortisone which provides little or no relief. My doctor didn't want to prescribe a topical fungal application because she said the infection is under the skin (not like the circular fungus we all come to know and hate). Anyway - it is a 10-day treatment. Will let you all know if it goes away within 10 days. @ChiAlex - my period came today - exactly two days after the first signs of this annoyance. I hope this is not a PMS from hell :( .

[itchyfeet208]

Hi, I'm a 53 year old male and it is driving me crazy. It started a couple of weeks ago. During the night I started to get this itch on the ball of my left foot, the itch just got intense as the night progressed. When I finally was able to get an hour sleep I woke up to a swollen, achy itchy foot, very tender to the touch and hard my first thought was that I had been bitten by a spider, but I couldn't  find any signs of a bite, it  hurt !!!! within 48 hrs. was gone. It comes to a peak and then starts to get better. The 4th of July started again, this time my right foot started first fallowed by the left  but on top. I was outside and wearing flip flops (I never wear flip flops) so I thought they were mosquito bites and again I couldn't see any bites. The itch just intensified and started to swollen up, changed my flip flops for sneakers, thought it was an allergic reaction to the flip flops since the itch started  between my toes and along the flip flops materials on both feet , I had a miserable night  and almost call in sick to work. Again swollen, itchy, hard and tender to the touch. And then  again last night the heal on my left and the right edge on my right foot. couldn't sleep to say the least .

   have been trying to find a common denominator but so far can't come up with nothing. I've tried half a dozen itch relief gels to no avail . Benedryl seems to relief it a bit, but I hate the side effect, can't function. Just glad I'm not the only one  with this symptoms. Just hope it doesn't have nothing to do with Gluten, I don't like restrictions on my food. Anyway thanks to everyone who has shared and if I come across something that works against it I WILL SHARE IT.        


            

[red10356]

I had this twice and turned out to be cellulitis. Happened almost over night. Itchy, blood-red, swollen, hot to touch. Very painful.

[milan793]

Hi,
Red, itchy and stiff skin with burning sensation! I have also this symptoms. However the symptoms happen on different places!  my feet, face, back and even on my penis shaft. I had this symptoms normally one time per six months and I do not know what should I do. i have been in different doctors and no response yet.

[cecetoes]

first time tonight my toes have really freaked out-- any updates on what's going on with your toe issue?  it is only my toes-- all of them-- the rest of my feet seem to be doing ok-- toes are inflamed, red, and wicked itchy!!!!!!!!  it is incapacitating-- only thing I can think of is that I am having an allergic reaction to the lotion I put on earlier today-- because my feet were so dry-- then in winter boots, nylon socks-- my feet got sweaty--30 minutes ago I was invests itchy agony and now I feel it calming down-- I took an antihistamine and rubbed a strong hydrocortisone ointment on them.  still itchy but not as red, swollen or insanely itchy.  so what gives???  did you ever find out what yours is?  take care--

[skyec]

I have had this exact same problem for a decade now.  I find being on my feet alot triggers it.  The doctors don't know what it is but I did get a Cortisone injection in the area that was hard and inflammed and that stopped the issue for 6 months.  Has anybody worked out what this problem actually is?