Burning Feet Sensation

The medical term used to describe burning feet sensation is Grierson-Gopalan syndrome. When the burning sensation turns severe, it starts stinging on the feet. It gives rise to reddening and excessive swelling of the feet, and also painful feet. These symptoms are felt on the sole area of the feet, but in some rare cases it may get extended to the ankles and the calves as well. Though it occurs commonly in people who are above the age of 50, it may also be found in many women in the age group of 25 to 45.

Causes

There are several factors which can contribute towards the condition of burning feet sensation. Among them, the major causes are as follows:

Athlete's Foot: This is a form of fungal infection caused by a type of fungus that grow in moist places. The burning sensation is felt on the infected part of the feet and is accompanied by redness, scaling and cracking of skin. As a result, the skin becomes itchy.

Diabetes: Diabetic patients tend to develop a condition known as diabetic neuropathy where the nerves of the feet are damaged which leads to burning feet sensation at night. Other symptoms of this problem is numbness of feet and "pins and needles" sensation. It can happen to people of any age group who have diabetes.

Allergy on Feet: If you have a sensitive skin, then it can adversely react when it comes in contact with the leather dye of your shoes or fabric of the socks or sometimes the detergent used in washing the socks. This results in allergic reactions and give symptoms of burning sensation.

Hot and Sweaty Feet: If your feet tend to sweat a lot, then excessive friction between the damp skin and the shoes or socks may result in the feeling of burning feet. This occur mostly in those people who spend long hours wearing shoes that do not properly ventilate the air.

Other Causes: Some people may inherit this problem but in maximum cases it is a symptom of another disease. There are some serious diseases that can trigger burning sensation in feet. They are: arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, liver or kidney failure, hypothyroidism,alcoholism etc. Erythromelalgia is another medical condition that affects the blood vessels and give burning sensation on feet. It can also occur in obese people whose job involves standing all through the day.

Treatment

When the burning feet sensation is accompanied by numbness or the pain spread towards the legs, then you should consult your doctor as soon as possible. Never ignore burning feet for a long time and consult the doctor. Treatment for the problem of burning sensation on feet is based on the cause of the problem. For this proper diagnosis of the condition is very important. The diagnosis of the problem involves studying the medical history of the patient, physical examination off the feet and laboratory tests like x-ray, MRI, nerve conduction and blood test.

If any serious disease is diagnosed then, proper medicinal treatments are given to treat that particular disease. Fungal infection is treated with anti fungal ointments. Otherwise, feet care and change in lifestyle is advised. Resting the foot in an elevated condition is good in this condition. Soaking the feet in cold water have a soothing effect on the feet. However do not apply ice on the burning feet. Switch to such kind of shoes and socks that can make your feet feel comfortable. Diabetic patients are advised to do some exercise like walking to improve blood circulation in the feet. Massage on the feet also relieves the symptom to some extent.

When you have a tendency to get burning feet sensation, then you have to watch out what you eat to keep the symptoms under control. Vitamin rich food is very essential when you get burning feet. So fresh fruits and fruit juices should be a part of your diet. Cutting down on alcohol consumption and smoking is also a must. Most importantly, keep your feet clean and give them enough scope to breathe.