Both the hands and the feet say a lot about what happens in our bodies. The presence of spots on the feet can be due to multiple causes such as poor circulation, pigmentation disorders, or conditions caused by fungi. If they are detected in time, any of them can be treated appropriately.
Fortunately, most causes of foot spots are relatively easy to treat once diagnosed. If you want to know in detail why stains appear on the feet and how to remove them with the appropriate natural treatments and remedies, keep reading this article from FastlyHeal.
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Why do foot spots appear: causes
There are several causes for which spots may appear on the feet. Let’s see below the most frequent ones:
Stains on the feet due to poor circulation
A deficit in blood flow, known as poor circulation, can cause changes in the legs and feet’ color. In some cases, the skin may be whitish. In others, purple in color, and some people, it manifests as brownish spots.
In addition to this, there is a disease related to poor circulation called Raynaud’s phenomenon. This disorder is characterized by narrowing the blood vessels that go to the hands and feet.
Raynaud’s phenomenon is usually triggered by stress or cold situations, generating a lack of oxygenation in the hands and feet and changes in skin color. What to do in this case will depend on the specialist’s assessment.
Pigmentation disorders
An excess or deficit of melanin can cause spots on the skin of the feet:
- Spots on the feet due to hyperpigmentation: there may be spots on the feet due to pigmentation acquired in them due to overexposure to the sun, generating an increase in the intensity of the color of the skin of the feet or any of its areas, manifesting as stains.
- Stains on the feet from simple lentigo: not related to overexposure to the sun. Small, isolated, dark spots may appear anywhere on the feet.
- Peutz-Jeghers syndrome: this is a rare syndrome that, in addition to manifesting itself with spots on some parts of the body (hands, fingers, and toes), can be associated with the presence of polyps in the gastrointestinal system. It is a rare syndrome that will require an immediate diagnosis, not so much because of spots on the skin but because of the permanence of gastrointestinal polyps.
- Vitiligo: Certainly, the cause of this disease is not well defined. It is believed to be related to a hereditary factor. It is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks our body’s healthy cells, causing the appearance of white spots on the skin. These tend to manifest themselves in places exposed to the sun.
Other causes
In addition to those previously described, spots on the feet, in this case, dark spots, can appear due to other causes such as pregnancy and aging. Fortunately, they are superficial stains and can be easily removed.
Finally, white spots may appear on the feet due to superficial mycoses or fungi, such as the athlete’s foot. They are characterized by clear, well-defined, and mostly scaly patches. In the following article, you can learn about the types of foot fungus.
How to remove stains from feet?
Before knowing how to remove stains on the feet, you must bear in mind that it is essential to define their causes. Once you have identified a change in the color of the feet, you should go to your GP to evaluate you and determine the exact reason why these spots exist and what to do about it.
In general, to remove stains on the feet, treatment may include:
- Antifungals: Medications such as clotrimazole or miconazole can help remove fungal stains on the feet. Treatment should be carried out for several weeks until the fungal stain has completely disappeared.
- This may require multiple medical treatments for vitiligo spots, such as topical creams with low-dose or no corticosteroids, UV light treatments, and, in severe cases, surgery. It all depends on the severity of the spots and the impact or emotional impact they have on the affected people.
- The poor circulation and stains caused by this can be triggered by risk factors such as high temperatures, stress, alcohol, smoking, and caffeine. Once the risk factor (s) has been identified and limited, circulation will improve considerably, and, in turn, the spots will disappear. If not, inspection and specialized medical treatment will be necessary.
Some natural remedies that can help reduce skin blemishes that are not related to a condition like the ones above are:
- Buttermilk: this dairy derivative used two times a day favors cell renewal and makes the spots that have appeared disappear for the most part.
- Vitamin E supplement: the consumption of supplements that have this vitamin acts directly on skin blemishes. You can include supplements of this vitamin or apply its oil now on the spots.
- Orange: ground orange peel can help treat skin blemishes. It is possible to exfoliate the skin, eliminating dead cells and making existing spots disappear.
Tips to prevent stains on the feet
In addition to the above, it is essential to:
- Exercise daily to avoid poor blood circulation.
- Avoid overexposure to the sun.
- Use sunscreen if necessary.
- Avoid cigarette smoking.
- Avoid excessive alcohol consumption.
This article is merely informative. At FastlyHeal .com, we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor if you present any condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Stains on the feet: why do they appear, and how to remove them? We recommend that you enter our category of Skin, hair, and nails.
I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.