Hives on Soles of Feet

by Pepper
(New Orleans)

Occasionally, and with unknown cause, I develop painful, debilitating hives on the soles of my feet. The problematic skin hives almost always occur in the arches or balls of my feet, and when they occur, walking is too painful. The hives on the soles of my feet usually resolve themselves in about 24 hours, but as you can imagine, being lame for almost 24 hours is quite an interruption in my life. As a result of what I am experiencing I have a question - does anyone else out there suffer similarly, and if so, have you found anything - especially something over the counter (OTC) - that significantly diminishes the pain of the skin hives or speeds up the healing?

In my own personal experience with dermatographism and reading many submissions from dermatographism sufferers on this website, I cannot remember hives on the soles of feet being specifically mentioned as a dermatographism symptom or problem. From a logical perspective, the soles of the feet are regularly subjected to pressure being applied to them, especially when walking or standing. Therefore, it makes perfect sense that if you have the dermatographism skin problem, which means that hives or welts form with applied pressure, then hives forming on the soles of the feet should not be that unusual. What is unusual is that I have not heard about the soles of the feet being affected too often. However, everyone is different and perhaps it just affects you in this way. Does the skin on other parts of your body form welts with applied pressure?

Treatment depends on whether you actually have dermatographism or not. I would first recommend a visit to a doctor to get a proper diagnosis. Over the counter medications to treat dermatographism involve the use of antihistamines, but getting the dosage and type of antihistamine correct for your condition requires the expertise of a doctor. Often a higher dose than available over the counter will be required. One tip to note is that dermatographism hives are often worse with heat and may actually form with heat. Therefore, keeping your feet cool and wearing well ventilated footwear may help reduce the hives on the soles of your feet or may at least make the reaction less severe.

Comments for Hives on Soles of Feet

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Mar 07, 2018
HIves on Soles and Natural Treatment
by: Anonymous

I have suffered with bouts of urticaria for 10 to 15 years now and I am in my fifties. The last 5 to 10 years it started to affect my feet. I have shellfish allergies which I avoid. I can agree that any area of my body that endures applied pressure results in hives in that area. I was on my knees cleaning under my bed and later both knees experienced hives causing edema in both knees. Hives can become so painful as they swell until it feels like the skin is going to pop. I have not found relief in applying ice as doctors advise. Ice cools the warm/hot swelling areas but seems to aggravate them as a source of pressure and they become larger.

Hives on the soles and toes are the worst ever. Prolonged standing and long periods of walking are triggers. High-heels are a guaranteed cause, but cushioned shoes are not a deterrent either. The time spent with the weight of your body being supported by your feet is what breeds them.

I have not tried fexofenadine yet and I am convinced this is uncurable once they start. I just started a regimen to eat extremely healthy and shed pounds to ease the pressure my body puts on my feet. When I was lighter the occurrences were minimal. I do a lot of standing and walking at work and I am only buying shoes with built-in comfort insoles. My goal is to find natural ways to reverse this. Good Luck!

Feb 22, 2018
Long Time Hives Sufferer
by: Jedagi

Mine stated in grade school. The areas were eyelids, lip,tongue,sides of nose, stomach around belly button, hip, hands, and of course the bottom of my feet. I am now 53 years old. Most of the time the hives occur on the bottom of the feet nowadays. Occasionally, the problem appears on my tongue, lips, or nose. The hives on the feet are the most irritating. Deep severe itching and swelling results. I have had these hives start for no apparent reason. I have walked across grass and been barefooted on a mat in martial arts and the hives flare up. However, sometimes it happens and sometimes it does not.

I have cut out all types of foods and avoided going barefoot. Nothing has changed. I may go months without any symptoms and then it may happen several times per week during any time of year. Benadryl and Zyrtec will make the hives go away slowly but the medications put me to sleep. I have given up on figuring it out. I have had this for nearly 40 years. Good luck to you all.

Oct 07, 2017
Exactly the Same Hives Problem
by: Jack

I have exactly the same problem. Hives on random parts of my body for six months and now started on soles of my feet and in palm of my hands.


Aug 29, 2017
Is it Hives?
by: ChrissieJ

I am not sure if it's hives on my soles but the itching is maddening. It is from one end of my soles to the other end. It gets so bad I use a hard hair comb and/or a coarse wash brush. It leaves my feet swollen. As I type this my soles are swollen and the swelling has now reached up to my knees. My legs are stiff and shiny. Antihistamines are my only help.

May 25, 2017
Hives on Soles of Feet Caused by Allergies
by: Anonymous

Well, I have it on my thighs and I also have a few hives on my palm but the most annoying part of having hives is that I always have it on the soles of my feet because I cannot do much. Of all the places, I really hate hives because of having them on the soles of my feet.

For a while, the hives kept on showing during random times almost twice every year for three years now and I do not know why. Fortunately, when I have my training (I am an athlete) and have my marathon, I did not have the hives. Recently, I have learned that it is an allergy that triggered the appearance of the hives. So, I just try to avoid what triggers it the most which is the allergies.

Mar 03, 2017
Same Foot Problem
by: Anonymous

I suffer from exactly the same problem. The arches of my feet (or sometimes a single arch) become very painful and sometimes simultaneously itchy. This usually does not include the rest of the sole of the foot and it is not accompanied by huge welts that would indicate a pressure cause. They are generally smaller and may also be on the ankles of the same foot.

I have genetic mutations consistent with connective tissue disorders. Perhaps this is the major factor? I am also being evaluated for MCAD/MCAS. Again, another possible contributor.

I do not have any advice for relief. I just wanted you to know you are not alone.

Aug 01, 2014
Hives on Feet and Antihistamine
by: Anonymous

It was good and it was helpful to read your comments on hives on soles of feet.

I just want to add that you need 180mg of Fexofenadine to relieve hives or uticaria and it takes about two weeks to take effect. The 120mg dose is not effective. Check with your doctor.

May 22, 2013
Delayed Pressure Urticaria (Hives)
by: Gail

The presence of hives on the soles of the feet is more common than you think. I suffer (and I mean really suffer) from Delayed Pressure Urticaria (DPU), which means that I get welts on the skin of any part of the body that I have put pressure on earlier in the day. For example, under my bra or the waistband of tight clothing are areas that are commonly affected. Also, if I squeeze out a mop or sweep up the welts appear on my palms of my hands or if sit for too long on a hard chair welts appear on my buttocks. With me the welts can appear any time from a couple of hours to the next day after the pressure was applied to my skin. They are most painful and last longer on the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet. Causes for the hives on the soles can be anything from wearing new shoes, wearing high heels or even stepping onto a ladder.

The problem is that when you manage to get an appointment with the doctor the hives have usually disappeared and so in my case I took photographs to show the doctor and also my GP had heard of this type of welts but told me there was no cure. I have tried every antihistamine available but they only ease the symptoms and do not prevent them from reoccurring. Antihistamines are not a cure. I heard that oral steroids may help but at this stage my GP doesn't want me to go down that route.

The only thing is to try to protect yourself from pressure on the skin by wearing gloves for household chores and shoes with insoles for extra cushioning and avoid wearing heels. However, when you wear a new pair of shoes your feet will get used to them in time and the hives may not appear the next time. With me alcohol makes the skin hives or welts worse as does getting over heated. I am currently keeping a diary to see if there are any trigger points that I could avoid and the GP has just prescribed me Fexofenadine 120mg but it is not helping as of yet.

I have read that DPU can last from a few months to forever so there doesn't seem to be much hope other than easing the symptoms and protecting yourself.

Good Luck

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