Why does the skin on my feet peel?

Peeling skin on the soles is one of those things patients often come in worried about, and it's completely understandable! It can look alarming, especially if it happens suddenly or keeps coming back. The good news is that in most cases it's easily explained, and usually just as easily treated. Here's what's normally behind it.

The usual suspects:

Friction and sweat

Some of us are simply more prone to peeling than others, and it's often made worse by sweaty feet or the wrong footwear. I tend to see more of this in the summer months.

Athlete's foot (fungal skin infection)

This is by far the most common cause I see in clinic. It can affect the soles or, very typically, between the toes, and very occasionally comes with itching. It also has a strange habit of sometimes only affecting one foot!  An antifungal treatment usually clears up most cases within a few weeks, and we can then advise you on how to avoid this happening in the future.

Psoriasis

Psoriasis can turn up on the soles of the feet as scaly patches, and sometimes as peeling rather than obvious scale. If you've had psoriasis elsewhere  - your scalp, elbows or knees - or a family member has psoriasis, that's often a helpful clue. Around a third of people with psoriasis have a family history of it.

Contact dermatitis

This is less common, but it can happen when moisture softens the skin on the soles enough to let an irritant in - often something from your footwear, like a dye or adhesive. It tends to show up as redness, itching and peeling. Once we identify what's causing it, treatment (usually a short course of steroid cream from your GP, plus some good emollient and footwear advice) tends to settle things quickly.

Everyday environmental causes

Cold weather, central heating, over-washing, or strong soaps and chemicals can all dry out and peel the skin on your feet, just as they can on your hands.

Medications

A few medications, including some cholesterol and blood pressure tablets, can cause general skin dryness, which sometimes shows up as peeling on the feet.

Less common causes

Occasionally, peeling skin can be linked to rarer, often inherited skin conditions, or in children, to certain childhood illnesses. These are uncommon, but it's exactly why it's worth getting any persistent or unusual peeling properly assessed rather than guessing. The right diagnosis means getting the right treatment quickly.

What to do if your feet peel:

I'd always recommend getting peeling skin checked.

A good history and a proper look (our HEINE Dermatoscope can come in very handy here) is usually all it takes to get to the bottom of it. Please don't just battle on with the same cream if things aren't improving, get in touch and let's get it sorted properly.

Final Thoughts

Peeling skin on your feet is usually nothing to worry about and can often be managed with simple treatments. However, if you're unsure what’s causing it or things aren’t improving, a podiatrist can help you get to the bottom of it and recommend the right treatment.

Your feet work hard—taking care of them keeps you comfortable, active, and confident.

To make an appointment please email info@mrpodiatrist.co.uk or leave a voicemail on 0161 427 4937 and we will get back to you as soon as possible