Rash on the sole of the foot

What is a rash on the sole of the foot?

A rash on the sole of the foot is understood to mean skin symptoms that develop acutely and spread over the sole of the foot. Characteristic is the "sowing" or the "blooming" of the skin change, which in the word Rash plugged. This term is used in medical jargon instead of a rash. It indicates that the rash is spread over larger areas of the sole of the foot.

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causes

Rashes on the soles of the feet can have a variety of causes. They can arise through endogenous trigger mechanisms. Here they are usually arranged symmetrically. These endogenous mechanisms are caused, for example, by viral inflammation, fungal infections or drug reactions. A common cause of a rash on the sole of the foot and between the toes in adults is athlete's foot. Viruses and certain drugs can also trigger hand-foot (mouth) syndrome, including a rash on the soles of the feet.

But they can also arise from exogenous triggers. In these cases, asymmetrical distribution patterns appear.Contact dermatitis can cause a rash on the sole of the foot. A distinction is made between allergic contact dermatitis and toxic contact dermatitis. In the allergic form, a certain allergen triggers the reaction when it comes into contact with the sole of the foot. The response is independent of the dose. In the toxic form, the sole of the foot reacts depending on the amount of the irritating, toxic substance.

Read more on this topic at: Contact dermatitis

Also, inexplicably, a fungal infection can sometimes appear asymmetrical. Rashes on the soles of the feet can also develop without infections. In these cases one speaks of parainfectious rashes. Increased perspiration or heat and excitement can lead to rashes on the soles of the feet and palms. Furthermore, a distinction is made between an allergic and a pseudo-allergic cause.

Rheumatic diseases or other autoimmune diseases can also trigger a rash on the soles of the feet. In children, cold often causes skin changes on the soles of the feet in the winter months. In addition, a rash on the soles of the feet and on the palms of the hands can be caused by a special form of psoriasis. However, this is less common.

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diagnosis

The dermatologist will first conduct an interview. He wants to find out since when the rash on the soles of the feet started. It is helpful if the patient can describe how he started. It is also important to distinguish in which situations, in your free time or at work, the complaints occurred. Known allergies should be named and if an allergy pass is available, it should be brought with you for a medical examination. In addition, knowledge of the frequent occurrence of skin diseases in the family is helpful for making a diagnosis. Travel infections must also be taken into account if a trip has been made beforehand. In addition, the indication of medication is very important. Medicines that have recently been taken should also be listed. Because certain drug allergies can also occur with a delay. If it is a child, teething troubles must also be ruled out.

Based on the medical history, the doctor will examine the rash carefully. The spread pattern of the skin appearance on the sole of the foot can provide important clues as to the cause. He also feels the temperature and whether there are any protrusions on the skin of the soles of the feet. It is important to distinguish whether it is an infectious or non-infectious rash on the sole of the foot. To do this, other signs of inflammation in the body must be examined. That means the question and examination of exhaustion, general feeling of illness, swollen lymph nodes and fever. If necessary, a blood test is carried out. If athlete's foot is suspected, the doctor can have a skin sample examined in the laboratory. If an allergy is suspected, an allergy test is done. Increased laboratory values ​​of the immunoglobulin E (IgE) and / or of the eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) can indicate an allergy.

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Concomitant symptoms

An infection may be accompanied by exhaustion, a general feeling of illness, fever or swelling of the lymph nodes. Most of the time, the swollen lymph nodes are in the neck or armpit area. In addition to the rash on the sole of the foot, there may be burning pain and itching. In addition to the rash on the sole of the foot, there may be skin changes on other parts of the body. The mucous membranes can also be affected. Swelling can also occur. Skin flaking is also possible. These can express themselves in different ways.

Red dots

A rash is usually characterized by changes in the skin. However, these can also show up in the form of individual red dots on the sole of the foot. They can be flat or raised. The cause can be skin irritation caused by allergic or toxic contact dermatitis. But inflammatory processes can also trigger red spots on the soles of the feet. It is important to check whether this rash is present anywhere else in the body. Infectious diseases should be considered in children. In adults, other concomitant symptoms must be checked and the suspicion of sexually transmitted diseases excluded in the context of the anamnesis.

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itching

A rash on the soles of the feet can cause mild to severe itching. Due to cellular processes in the context of allergies and inflammation, the messenger substance histamine is released. This activates nerve endings and can cause pain or itching. The pathomechanism of pruritus is also often related to the body's own messenger substance interleukin 31.

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How is rash on the sole of the foot treated?

Treatment depends on the cause. For fungal diseases, antifungal agents are given. Oily ointments such as Vaseline® are used for very dry skin. If the rash on the soles of the feet is dry, urea (urea) be used. In the case of an acute rash, however, it has a burning effect and is contraindicated. If the rash is characterized by oozing blisters, zinc ointments or zinc oxide shaking mixtures are used. Furthermore, various creams and care products for hand and foot baths are recommended for local treatment. Tannins, baths with oak bark extract, sage or apple cider vinegar are used. Antiseptic ointments and oils are also recommended.

In exceptional situations, temporary use of cortisone ointments may be advisable. These baths and creams can relieve itching and improve the complexion. The itching, however, is only indirectly inhibited. An antagonist to interleukin 31 is under development, but not yet available. Depending on the severity of the severity of the rash, further measures are often necessary. In the case of severe symptoms, it is sometimes advisable to take cortisone in tablet form. The application should be discussed with the doctor.

In addition, the active ingredients Neogitason and Alitretinoin can also promote the healing process in some cases. In addition, certain alternative medicine methods also provide relief and additional support. Alternative measures can include cleansing the intestines, using homeopathic medicines, acupuncture, and Tibetan herbal medicine. Relaxation-promoting measures and lifestyle modifications, including stress reduction, can also be helpful. In addition, individual skin care should be taken into account for all skin diseases. After showering or bathing, especially in the case of fungal infections, the soles of the feet and the skin areas between the toes should be dried very thoroughly. Of course, contact with the allergen should be avoided in the case of allergies.

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Additional rash on the palms of the hands

If rashes appear on the soles of the feet and palms of the hands, the type of rash provides an indication of the cause. If small, very itchy, lymph-filled blisters appear between the fingers, on the palms of the hands, and the soles of the feet, this is often an indication of dyshidrosis. This is a skin condition that shows up particularly on parts of the body that have many sweat glands and a thin layer of horny skin. In the area of ​​the sole of the foot, it is the archesus. In dyshidrosis, blisters usually appear in bursts. If these are split open, dry, cracked skin is usually left behind. In some cases, severely inflamed, oozing skin areas can occur. This can severely restrict walking and grasping. Since these complaints often occur in the summer months, some authors suspected that the cause is a malfunction of the sweat glands. There are now different opinions.

The causes and treatment are controversial among experts. Often these skin changes occur in people who suffer from allergies, neurodermatitis or psoriasis. Often the complaints also occur in the context of psychological stressful situations, or stress can trigger the complaints. Genetic aspects can also play a role. More rarely, a special form of psoriasis can cause a rash on the soles of the feet and the palms of the hands. Here, pus-containing vesicles and reddening form, which can be differentiated from the appearance of the dyshidrosis.

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