If you look down at your feet and notice that they have a reddish hue to them, you’re going to want to get to the bottom of the issue. Reddish or discolored feet can be the result of a minor issue, or it could be an indication of a major problem, so it’s a wise decision to figure out what’s causing your foot discoloration. In today’s blog, we take a closer look at five common causes of red or pink feet.
Five Reasons Your Feet Are Red
There are more than five reasons why your feet may have a red tinge to them, but a number of these causes can fall under one of five larger umbrella categories. Below, we spotlight those five categories and talk about some of the reasons your feet may be red.
Traumatic Causes – Let’s start with the most obvious cause – trauma to the foot. If you recently dropped a heavy object on your foot, stubbed your toe on a door or got stepped on during a soccer game, there is a good chance that the redness you’re seeing is just part of your body’s natural response to injury. Odds are you don’t need to worry about the redness, but you may need to receive care for a fracture or similar injury.
Environmental Irritants – The skin on your feet could also be responding to some environmental irritants that are triggering a reaction. For example, you could be dealing with a reaction to:
- Heat
- Cold
- Sunburn
- Allergens, like poison ivy, grass, pollen
- Cosmetic additives, like ingredients found in lotions, makeup, or soaps.
Rinsing the area or getting your feet into an area with a more controlled temperature can be helpful, but if these symptoms are accompanied by pain or other severe symptoms, see a healthcare professional.
Vascular Causes – Your foot redness could also be the result of an issue with your vascular system, which helps carry blood to and away from your heart. Both a blocked vein and a blocked artery could lead to foot redness, cramping, coldness or numbness in the foot area. If your redness is accompanied by any of those additional symptoms, talk to your doctor about the possibility of a blood flow issue in your foot.
Skin Infection – A skin infection is also a common cause of foot redness. You can develop a fungal or bacterial infection, and they are caused by the introduction of fungus or bacteria to the skin or an opening in the skin’s surface. If you want to reduce your risk of a skin infection, avoid going barefoot in heavily-trafficked public areas, like gyms, locker rooms or community pool changing areas. Oftentimes these infections can be treated with antibiotics or topical cremes.
Systemic Diseases – The final umbrella category is for systemic diseases that oftentimes trigger an inflammatory response in your foot. These systemic issues can affect multiple areas of your body, including your feet. This is especially common with different forms of arthritis, like gout, osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. Working to control your underlying issue can oftentimes help to resolve the redness you’re experiencing in your feet.