Peeling feet in children

Children are more prone to suffering from various skin diseases than adults. The main reason lies in the fact that children's skin is more delicate and can get damaged more easily.

One skin condition that can affect both adults and the children is peeling feet. A person who suffers from peeling feet will experience a state where most of his or her top skin layer will lose its natural texture, get damaged, and slowly peel off over time. A person with peeling feet can easily remove portions of peeling skin, which can in time lead to the loss of epidermis, which is the top layer of the skin.

In most cases, people who experience peeling feet will experience an itchy sensation as well, while pain and bleeding are also possible, especially if the person picks at the peeling skin on their feet. In some cases, peeling feet can be a symptom of an underlying medical condition, but the skin on the feet usually starts peeling because of some external factors, for instance too much exposure to the sun.

Peeling skin on feet in children: What causes peeling feet in kids?

Sweating

Many children with peeling feet suffer from that condition because of too much sweating. A lot of kids wear shoes for too long and in the hot seasons that leads to over-sweating. When sweat occurs and cannot evaporate, the feet remain wet all the time. This is why peeling feet occur, especially in shoes not made of breathable materials, such as synthetic fabrics. 

Athlete’s foot

Another reason why children may suffer from peeling feet is a condition called athlete’s foot. Athlete’s foot is actually a fungal skin infection that most often occurs between the toes. A red skin rash is usually apparent when a child suffers from this infection, which can be treated quite easily with over-the-counter antifungal medications.

Dry skin

Dry skin is probably the most common cause of peeling skin in children. In most cases, a child will experience an itching sensation and the skin will appear dull and flaky. Try to moisturize the skin with a good moisturizer like shea butter or coconut oil, and the peeling feet might well clear up in no time.

Medications

Certain medications are known to have dry skin as one of its side effects. People who take medications for high blood pressure are prone to suffer from dry skin, and while that is unlikely to play a factor in peeling feet in children, if your child takes any medication, you could ask their doctor about it.

Kawasaki disease

A child who has a high fever for a couple of days along with peeling feet may be suffering from Kawasaki disease. Children under the age of five are usually hit by this disease.

Apart from these conditions, children may suffer from peeling feet due to cold weather, staph and some other infections, and eczema. Parents need to know that peeling feet in children is not a serious problem and does not require medical attention in most cases. Parents can use lotions in order to ease the irritation, but if the peeling skin persists, seeking medical attention is recommended.