FOOT ECZEMA

Juvenile Plantar Eczema or "foot eczema" is skin inflammation triggered by friction of the sole of the foot often from rubbing against the inside of an ill-fitting synthetic athletic shoe or trainer. Juvenile Plantar Eczema is also known as juvenile plantar dermatitis, forefoot dermatitis, atopic winter feet, dermatitis plantaris sicca, forefoot eczema, peri-digital dermatitis, sweating sock dermatitis.

Juvenile plantar eczema most often occurs in boys between 3-15 years of age, but it occasionally occurs in adults and females. When it occurs in children it does tend to gradually improve. It is usually most severe during the summer months. The synthetic materials or chemicals used in the shoes or socks often play an important role in foot eczema. Sweat retention and covering of the feet by woolen or polyester socks aggravates this condition. Keeping the foot for a long time in a shoe or sock without aeration is an important triggering factor. Changing to leather footwear and wearing cotton socks may help relieve the problem. Above all else it is important that the footwear fits well and the sole of the foot is not sliding against the insole of the shoe. Walking barefooted on woolen or polyester carpets may contribute to juvenile plantar eczema as this may lead to static electric charges that may play a role in skin dryness and initiation of this condition.

Juvenile plantar eczema is characterized by symmetrical smooth, red-glazed appearance of the skin with fissuring, loss of epidermal ridge pattern, and fine scaling. It causes the sole of the foot to become red, hot, and sore. The most common symptoms are redness, irritation, cracking, and soreness, itching is seldom reported. The plantar surfaces of the larger toes are the first areas to be involved. Other weight-bearing areas are subsequently affected, but there is relative sparing of the instep and inter-digital web spaces of the foot.

The symptoms of foot eczema are characterized by the sudden onset (1 to 3 days) of deep-seated, clear blisters. In the later stages, scaling, thickening, and painful fissuring may occur. Secondary bacterial infection is very often a complication with Juvenile plantar eczema. Successful treatment may include wearing socks that are 100% cotton and changing shoes every day -- alternate 2 to 3 pairs of shoes. Follow recommended treatments for at least 4 months after skin has healed. It takes a long time for skin to recover, and unless you're careful the eczema will reoccur.