Itchy feet could be a warning sign of three life-threatening health conditions. If you’re experiencing this symptom, particularly alongside other concerning signs, it’s crucial to seek medical attention promptly.
While it’s common to have the occasional itch due to benign factors such as dry weather or insect bites, persistent itchiness may indicate a more severe issue. Healthline experts caution that your feet are especially prone to itchiness and highlight that it can signal serious conditions like liver disease, diabetes, and kidney disease.
Liver disease
Liver disease can be caused by excessive alcohol consumption or an accumulation of fat in the liver, and it’s a grave condition that prove be deadly without proper treatment. The Liver Foundation notes that itching is one of the symptoms of liver disease.
“You might itch anywhere on your body, but it’s most common on the arms and legs, or the palms of your hands or soles of your feet,” it said. “Some people itch all over. Itching in liver disease can vary from mild to exhausting.”
The foundation further explained that with liver-related itching, there won’t be any visible skin rash or insect bite marks. However, incessant scratching can lead to skin damage. Additionally, the severity of the itching tends to escalate with the progression of the disease.
“You might notice it’s worse in heat, including a hot bath, at night, or when you wear certain clothes,” it said. The exact cause of itching in liver disease isn’t fully understood, but it’s thought to be related to various factors such as the accumulation of bile salts in the bloodstream and changes in blood chemicals like histamine, serotonin, female sex hormones, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) due to the illness.
Other symptoms of liver disease include persistent fatigue, loss of appetite leading to weight loss, decreased libido, jaundice, and nausea.
Diabetes
Diabetes.co.uk highlighted that itching in the feet, legs, and ankles is “common” among those with diabetes, stating: “Itchy skin can be a sign of diabetes, particularly if other diabetes symptoms are also present.” It explained that prolonged high blood sugar levels can lead to itchy skin, which may sometimes result from diabetes-related complications such as nerve damage or kidney disease.
Additional key indicators of diabetes to look out for are excessive thirst, increased urination especially at night, extreme tiredness, weight loss and muscle bulk reduction, genital itching or recurrent thrush, and blurred vision.
Kidney disease
Kidney Care UK said that itching is “very common” in those with kidney disease, particularly noting that about half of individuals with advanced kidney problems experience this symptom, and it intensifies as the condition progresses. “You may find that you get itchier as your kidney function gets worse,” the charity warned.
Factors such as dry skin, high temperatures, inadequate dialysis, or elevated calcium levels in the blood could contribute to itching in kidney patients.
Other warning signs of kidney disease include weight loss and poor appetite, swollen extremities due to fluid retention, shortness of breath, fatigue, the presence of blood in urine, increased night time urination, insomnia, muscle cramps, nausea, headaches, and erectile dysfunction in men. People who observe any of these symptoms should consult their GP.