Don’t you hate it when your big toe starts itching like mad, and every two minutes you have to take off your shoe and scratch it like crazy?
None of the other toes are affected by this sudden and relentless itching; it’s just your big toe.
“Itching of only the big toe is a very specific symptom to encounter,” says Tejas Patel, MD, a board certified dermatologist with Reforma Dermatology in NYC.
“Causes could possibly include: contact/allergic dermatitis, pustular psoriasis, dyshidrotic eczema and pemphigus vulgaris, athlete’s foot, chilblains, atopic dermatitis, gout, bunion, diabetes, fungal infection or more.
“It is important to visit your local dermatologist to further get your toe examined.”
Now don’t let all of this scare you, because if you experience an itching big toe only occasionally, and it looks perfectly normal during these times, it’s just probably a stubborn but benign itching.
But if you keep scratching the toe – using fingernails against bare skin – this can cause it irritation and inflammation, worsening the itching.
Usually, big toe itching goes away on its own before you know it.
If it persists but the toe and nail look normal, see what happens when you rinse it and then put on a fresh sock.
The reason that only the big toes sometimes itches may be because the other toes are too small to be affected enough to have a noticeable itch.
Dr. Patel treats all skin types and welcomes the most challenging skin problems. Dr. Patel specializes in both medical and cosmetic dermatology, and treats patients of all ages.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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