Why Do My Feet Itch At Night?

What does it mean when your feet itch only at night?

Why Do My Feet Itch At Night So you had a whole day without a single peep from your feet. And when you get into bed at night, all of a sudden your feet feel itchy. You scratch the itch and go back to resting. But the itch is still there. So you repeat. Repeat. Get frustrated. Repeat. Why is it that your feet seem to suddenly itch at night? Not like you’re wearing itchy socks.

  1. Not like your sheets are any different than they were last night.
  2. So what’s up? Certain theories tend to get trotted out about itchy feet at night.
  3. There are some common assumptions about it that probably aren’t correct,” says Brian S.
  4. Im, M.D., co-director at the Center for the Study of Itch at Washington University School of Medicine.

One classic hypothesis is that people are less distracted at night and all of a sudden tune into the itch. “I don’t think it’s that simple,” says Dr. Kim. That said, it’s not entirely clear what a more complex answer is yet. A newer hypothesis is that nighttime itching could be a result of end-of-day changing circadian rhythms, Dr.

  • Im says. At night, the anti-inflammatory chemicals in your body are lower, and they may have to do with regulating the sensitivity of itching.
  • You may get a cleaner kind of signal from a nighttime itch,” he says.
  • Evolutionarily, that stronger, cleaner itch signal at night might have served us well.
  • I’m getting really speculative here, but if you don’t move at all at night, you may be more susceptible to getting infestations with mites, or even getting bitten by mosquitoes,” says Dr.

Kim.

What causes bottom of feet to itch?

Summary – Itchy feet can come from several causes. Sometimes your skin is just dry. Other times, you may have a condition like athlete’s foot, eczema, or contact dermatitis. Moisturizers, antifungals, or corticosteroids can help clear up many problems and stop your feet from itching.

Is itchy feet a symptom of diabetes?

Itchy feet can come from a variety of causes. It can be extremely uncomfortable and disruptive to one’s life, especially if it is chronic. Itchiness, or pruritis, can be cutaneous, systemic, neuropathic, psychogenic, or a combination of these factors. Cutaneous itchiness means the itch results from a problem on the surface of the skin.

Systemic itchiness comes from something going on throughout the body. Neuropathic itching is related to the nerves or nervous system. And psychogenic itchiness arises from a psychological issue. One possible reason for itchy feet is diabetic neuropathy. Diabetes involves insulin resistance and high blood sugar levels, which can have serious health consequences.

Neuropathy, often associated with diabetes, can cause tingling, itchiness, and numbness in the feet. Poor circulation from diabetes can also cause itchiness. If you have diabetes, it is strongly suggested that you include a podiatrist on your medical team for regular foot examinations and diagnosis of anything abnormal going on with your feet.

  • Diabetic foot care is important in preventing foot ailments such as ulcers.
  • If you are suffering from diabetes or have any other concerns about your feet, contact one of our podiatrists from Podiatry Care Specialists,
  • Our doctors can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.
  • Diabetic Foot Care Diabetes affects millions of people every year.

The condition can damage blood vessels in many parts of the body, especially the feet. Because of this, taking care of your feet is essential if you have diabetes, and having a podiatrist help monitor your foot health is highly recommended. The Importance of Caring for Your Feet

Routinely inspect your feet for bruises or sores. Wear socks that fit your feet comfortably. Wear comfortable shoes that provide adequate support.

Patients with diabetes should have their doctor monitor their blood levels, as blood sugar levels play such a huge role in diabetic care. Monitoring these levels on a regular basis is highly advised. It is always best to inform your healthcare professional of any concerns you may have regarding your feet, especially for diabetic patients.

Can stress cause itchy feet at night?

Are you experiencing itchy feet? You may be experiencing pruritus, a medical term that describes the sensation on your skin that gives you the urge to scratch. Pruritus can be an acute or chronic condition. It can be generalized, affecting large portions of your body, or localized which means that it is concentrated in specific areas like your hands and feet, arms, or legs.

The skin on your feet is susceptible to pruritus because your feet regularly withstand extreme temperatures, direct contact with irritants, and moisture-rich shoe environments. Exposure to stress or irritants can trigger you to develop dry, itchy feet, or lead you to develop fungal infections and rashes that increase the urge to scratch.

Most of the time, irritated or itchy skin is not worrisome, but occasionally can be a symptom of a more serious underlying medical condition. If you are experiencing intensely irritated feet, itchy feet at night that impacts sleep, the feeling is accompanied by a rash, bumps, or blisters, or if it persists for more than two weeks, you may have a medical condition that requires treatment.

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Why do the bottoms of my feet get so hot at night?

Why Do My Feet Get Hot at Night? As the body prepares for sleep, it lowers core body temperature by increasing blood flow to the hands and feet. This process, known as distal vasodilation, can make your feet feel hot at night. The increased peripheral blood flow to the feet and hands typically helps you fall asleep faster.

  1. But for some people, the warmth in the feet may become an unpleasant burning sensation when vascular or nerve dysfunction is present.
  2. We discuss some of the most common causes of burning feet that can interrupt sleep and ways to alleviate these symptoms.
  3. Burning feet syndrome is characterized by painful, hot feet.

Some people may feel a dull ache or heaviness running up their legs. Burning feet syndrome may be due to problems in distal blood flow or dysfunction of the peripheral nerves when sensing pain and temperature National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.

Distal blood flow is the movement of blood outside the central trunk of the body, and peripheral nerves are the nerves in the arms, hands, legs and feet. When damage to peripheral nerves causes discomfort, it is referred to as peripheral neuropathy. A variety of disorders can cause burning feet syndrome, so diagnosis includes a physical exam combined with a clinical history to determine if the symptoms relate to an underlying medical condition, a circulation disorder, or nerve damage.

Sometimes the cause can be due to psychological factors or remain unknown. During certain times of hormonal change, such as and menopause, hot flashes at night are fairly common. These hot flashes or increase circulation and lead to vasodilation. The increased blood flow causes a sudden rise in temperature UpToDate More than 2 million healthcare providers around the world choose UpToDate to help make appropriate care decisions and drive better health outcomes.

UpToDate delivers evidence-based clinical decision support that is clear, actionable, and rich with real-world insights. starting in the fingers and toes, leading to hot, burning sensations in the feet. During, peripheral neuropathy may occur due to the declining levels of reproductive hormones National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.

This type of nerve damage combined with hot flashes at night may lead to stinging, burning foot discomfort that can disturb sleep. Hormonal shifts can also result in extra sensitive skin by amplifying any discomfort, creating the sensation of hot prickly feet.

But if the increased blood flow at night leads to persistent, discuss these symptoms with your health care provider. Some nerve damage first develops in the nerve endings farthest away from the brain and spinal cord, so people with peripheral nerve damage National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) NINDS aims to seek fundamental knowledge about the brain and nervous system and to use that knowledge to reduce the burden of neurological disease.

may experience symptoms that start in the feet. Paresthesia, or the sensation of burning and numbness, in the feet may worsen at bedtime and occur due to many conditions that involve dysfunction of the peripheral nerves.

  • Autoimmune diseases: Autoimmune diseases like Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) or lupus can cause peripheral neuropathies that lead to painful, burning hot feet.
  • Infections: Infections like Lyme disease or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) may injure distal nerve endings. Painful, burning feet due to peripheral nerve damage occurs in 20% of people with HIV.
  • Injuries: Accidents, medical procedures, or body stress from repetitive activities can crush, compress, and stretch nerves. These injuries to the peripheral nerves may cause burning pain and swelling in the feet.
  • Genetics: Some rare inherited conditions like Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) can damage the nerves and cause peripheral neuropathy that often starts with pain and numbness in the feet. CMT affects about 100,000 people in the U.S.

Depending on how and where nerves were injured, the treatment for nerve damage can vary. and vitamins are critical to cell growth and function as well as sleep. When the body does not get enough of a vitamin, deficiency may occur and lead to peripheral neuropathy. People with conditions that disrupt digestion and the body’s ability to absorb nutrients are at risk for vitamin deficiencies and peripheral neuropathies National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.

  • Vitamin B12: About 20% of people aged 60 and older Medscape Medscape is on online destination for healthcare professionals worldwide, offering expert perspectives, drug and disease information, and professional education. have vitamin B12 deficiency. Gastrointestinal problems or certain types of anemia may prevent the body from absorbing vitamin B12.
  • Vitamin B1: Vitamin B1 deficiency, also called a thiamine deficiency, often occurs with chronic use. Dry beriberi, a type of peripheral neuropathy characterized by burning in the hands and feet, may occur with chronic thiamine deficiency.
  • Vitamin B5: Vitamin B5 deficiency is very rare and can be caused by a genetic condition that inhibits the absorption of pantothenic acid. Vitamin B5 deficiency can cause burning feet syndrome.
  • Vitamin B6: Vitamin B6 helps the body produce enzymes that enable metabolic processes. Both deficiency and excess of vitamin B6 can cause peripheral neuropathy and painful, burning feet.
  • Folate: Excessive alcohol consumption can limit folate absorption and the development of peripheral neuropathy. This painful tingling starts as a prickling or numbness in the feet that frequently happens at night.
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The diagnosis of a vitamin deficiency involves a clinical history, physical exam, and laboratory testing. Treatment often focuses on vitamin replacement and monitoring symptoms in response to vitamin supplementation. But vitamin B12 and folate deficiency may require additional testing to identify any underlying medical conditions driving low vitamin levels.

  • Diabetes: can cause a rise in blood sugar that may lead to peripheral neuropathy, causing painful hot sensations in the toes and feet that get worse at night. Sometimes these aching, sharp sensations make touching the bed sheets unbearable National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. and disrupt sleep.
  • Kidney disease: Uremic polyneuropathy, a type of nerve damage common in end-stage kidney disease, causes tingling and prickling in the extremities. Nearly half of the people with chronic kidney disease experience “paradoxical heat sensations” in their feet UpToDate More than 2 million healthcare providers around the world choose UpToDate to help make appropriate care decisions and drive better health outcomes. UpToDate delivers evidence-based clinical decision support that is clear, actionable, and rich with real-world insights., meaning cold temperatures register as hot.
  • Hypothyroidism: may manifest in fatigue, cold intolerance, weight gain, dry skin, and various neurological disorders Medscape Medscape is on online destination for healthcare professionals worldwide, offering expert perspectives, drug and disease information, and professional education., In some cases, peripheral neuropathy develops and causes burning, tingling feet that often get worse near bedtime.

A medical history, physical, and neurological exam may help diagnose neuropathy. Additional evaluation may involve laboratory and genetic testing as well as tests to evaluate nerve function. Erythromelalgia is a rare syndrome that causes severe pain, burning, and swelling in the feet and hands.

  1. The symptoms may worsen as blood flow increases to the feet at night.
  2. Although the cause of erythromelalgia is not well understood, distal vasodilation, peripheral neuropathy, and genetics may be involved UpToDate More than 2 million healthcare providers around the world choose UpToDate to help make appropriate care decisions and drive better health outcomes.

UpToDate delivers evidence-based clinical decision support that is clear, actionable, and rich with real-world insights. Less than 10% of erythromelalgia cases are associated with a group of diseases called myeloproliferative disorders. Treatment options typically focus on relieving symptoms with lifestyle changes, topical creams, or aspirin.

  • Cool your feet: Use chilled water or a to cool your feet for 5 to 10 minutes, every few hours. Avoid putting ice directly against your feet.
  • Apply topical creams: Topical creams and patches that contain lidocaine or capsaicin may provide some relief from pain. It is best to consult with a health care provider before using medications.
  • Wear comfortable clothing: Use breathable, during the day and sleep in lightweight, moisture-wicking bed cloths at night to help regulate body temperature.
  • Use comfortable shoes: Get shoes with arch supports or wear open-toed shoes to help increase the comfort of your swollen, painful feet.
  • Adjust room temperature: Most people consider a temperature of 65º to 68º to be the most comfortable for sleep. Consider how to before bedtime.

Sensations like burning, painful feet that interfere with a good night’s sleep may be caused by another medical condition or disorder. Contact a health care provider if you experience the following symptoms in your feet:

  • Burning, tingling, or persistent pain
  • Swelling of a joint, redness, fever, or an open wound
  • Bleeding, bruising, or sudden severe pain disrupting sleep or daily activity
  • Swelling, redness, or pain in conjunction with diabetes or circulation disorder
  • Worsening symptoms that do not improve after one to two weeks of home treatment or that are regularly interfering with sleep

Examinations for painful, burning feet are an important part of maintaining one’s well-being when you have a metabolic, circulation, or medical disorder that disrupts sleep UpToDate More than 2 million healthcare providers around the world choose UpToDate to help make appropriate care decisions and drive better health outcomes.

UpToDate delivers evidence-based clinical decision support that is clear, actionable, and rich with real-world insights. Foot ulcers, infections, and neuropathy can cause burning sensations. Speak with your doctor about any burning, cracks in the skin, fissures, calluses, redness, or other problems with your feet.

If your foot is warm to the touch or swollen with red streaks, talk with your health care provider since these symptoms may indicate signs of an infection.

  1. Makkar, R.P., Arora, A., Monga, A., Gupta, A.K., & Mukhopadhyay, S. (2003). Burning feet syndrome. A clinical review. Australian Family Physician, 32(12), 1006–1009.
  2. Santen, R.J., Loprinzi, C.L., & Casper, R.F. (2022, October 24). Menopausal hot flashes. In R.L. Barbieri, & W.F. Crowley, Jr. (Eds.). UpToDate., Retrieved April 21, 2023, from
  3. Singh, A., Asif, N., Singh, P.N., & Hossain, M.M. (2016). Motor nerve conduction velocity in postmenopausal women with peripheral neuropathy. Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research, 10(12), CC13–CC16.
  4. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. (2023, March 13). Peripheral neuropathy., Retrieved April 10, 2023 from
  5. Hammond, N., Wang, Y., Dimachkie, M.M., & Barohn, R.J. (2013). Nutritional neuropathies. Neurologic Clinics, 31(2), 477–489.
  6. Mohila, C.A. (2018, July 30). Vitamin B nutritional disorders. Medscape., Retrieved April 21, 2023, from
  7. Tavee, J., & Zhou, L. (2009). Small fiber neuropathy: A burning problem. Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine, 76(5), 297–305.
  8. Palmer, B.F. (2023, February 10). Uremic polyneuropathy. In J.S. Berns, (Ed.). UpToDate., Retrieved April 10, 2023, from
  9. Noor, E.M. (2021, July 20). Metabolic neuropathy clinical presentation. Medscape., Retrieved April 10, 2023, from
  10. Davis, M.D.P. (2022, January 28). Erythromelalgia. In Callen, J. (Ed.). UpToDate., Retrieved April 10, 2023, from
  11. Wexler, D.J. (2021, September 23). Evaluation of the diabetic foot. In Nathan D.M. (Ed.). UpToDate., Retrieved April 21, 2023, from
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: Why Do My Feet Get Hot at Night?

What happens if you itch your feet too much?

Dry Skin – Another major cause of itchy feet is dry, flaky skin. Your feet are vulnerable to excessive dryness due to their lack of natural oils. Itchiness can be a warning sign that your skin is in poor condition. Unfortunately, scratching is likely to damage it further, making it easier for harmful bacteria to infect your body.

Can stress cause itchy feet at night?

Are you experiencing itchy feet? You may be experiencing pruritus, a medical term that describes the sensation on your skin that gives you the urge to scratch. Pruritus can be an acute or chronic condition. It can be generalized, affecting large portions of your body, or localized which means that it is concentrated in specific areas like your hands and feet, arms, or legs.

  • The skin on your feet is susceptible to pruritus because your feet regularly withstand extreme temperatures, direct contact with irritants, and moisture-rich shoe environments.
  • Exposure to stress or irritants can trigger you to develop dry, itchy feet, or lead you to develop fungal infections and rashes that increase the urge to scratch.

Most of the time, irritated or itchy skin is not worrisome, but occasionally can be a symptom of a more serious underlying medical condition. If you are experiencing intensely irritated feet, itchy feet at night that impacts sleep, the feeling is accompanied by a rash, bumps, or blisters, or if it persists for more than two weeks, you may have a medical condition that requires treatment.

Is itchy feet a symptom of diabetes?

Itchy feet can come from a variety of causes. It can be extremely uncomfortable and disruptive to one’s life, especially if it is chronic. Itchiness, or pruritis, can be cutaneous, systemic, neuropathic, psychogenic, or a combination of these factors. Cutaneous itchiness means the itch results from a problem on the surface of the skin.

  1. Systemic itchiness comes from something going on throughout the body.
  2. Neuropathic itching is related to the nerves or nervous system.
  3. And psychogenic itchiness arises from a psychological issue.
  4. One possible reason for itchy feet is diabetic neuropathy.
  5. Diabetes involves insulin resistance and high blood sugar levels, which can have serious health consequences.

Neuropathy, often associated with diabetes, can cause tingling, itchiness, and numbness in the feet. Poor circulation from diabetes can also cause itchiness. If you have diabetes, it is strongly suggested that you include a podiatrist on your medical team for regular foot examinations and diagnosis of anything abnormal going on with your feet.

Diabetic foot care is important in preventing foot ailments such as ulcers. If you are suffering from diabetes or have any other concerns about your feet, contact one of our podiatrists from Podiatry Care Specialists, Our doctors can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet. Diabetic Foot Care Diabetes affects millions of people every year.

The condition can damage blood vessels in many parts of the body, especially the feet. Because of this, taking care of your feet is essential if you have diabetes, and having a podiatrist help monitor your foot health is highly recommended. The Importance of Caring for Your Feet

Routinely inspect your feet for bruises or sores. Wear socks that fit your feet comfortably. Wear comfortable shoes that provide adequate support.

Patients with diabetes should have their doctor monitor their blood levels, as blood sugar levels play such a huge role in diabetic care. Monitoring these levels on a regular basis is highly advised. It is always best to inform your healthcare professional of any concerns you may have regarding your feet, especially for diabetic patients.