# Why do my girlfriend's feet burn and itch after a bath? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 23, 2004, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-girlfriends-feet-burn-and-itch-after-a-bath/230676 "2004-02-23T15:00:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![smootman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4af34b/32.png) [@smootman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smootman)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-girlfriends-feet-burn-and-itch-after-a-bath/230676/1 "2004-02-23T15:00:15Z")
When my GF bathes, she likes them hot… but when she gets out of the bath tub, they burn and itch really bad and she has to rub lotion on them and put them in slippers to make them feel better… she was wondering why this happens… I’m assuming it similar to that prickly feeling you get after your foot ‘falls asleep’ … but i could be a big liar. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-girlfriends-feet-burn-and-itch-after-a-bath/230676/2 "2004-02-23T15:15:09Z")
It sounds like she’s getting athlete’s foot. Get some Desitin for her feet and clean the tub with Lysol or diluted bleach. ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-girlfriends-feet-burn-and-itch-after-a-bath/230676/3 "2004-02-23T15:18:03Z")
If fungus treatment doesn’t work, or dry itchy treatments don’t succeed…and it is persistent and near the soles of the feet, it could be a sign of diabeties. Now, this isn’t to raise fear, but to let you know that it could be that. And it isn’t far fetched, so don’t let her live with it if basic treatments fail to help. ---
**Author:** ![Sarah23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/50afbb/32.png) [@Sarah23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarah23)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-girlfriends-feet-burn-and-itch-after-a-bath/230676/4 "2004-02-23T15:21:27Z")
> [@Philster](#): > > If fungus treatment doesn’t work, or dry itchy treatments don’t succeed…and it is persistent and near the soles of the feet, it could be a sign of diabeties. > > Now, this isn’t to raise fear, but to let you know that it could be that. And it isn’t far fetched, so don’t let her live with it if basic treatments fail to help. I was thinking it sounds like her feet are swelling due to the temperature…are they red and/or puffy? LOL ---
**Author:** ![tourbot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@tourbot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tourbot)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-girlfriends-feet-burn-and-itch-after-a-bath/230676/5 "2004-02-23T16:37:11Z")
Heat can cause in increase in production of histamine, which is what causes the burning and itching of mosquito bites and other allergic reactions. It’s possible there is some underlying allergy and the heat is making the reaction more pronounced. Or it’s possible that some people have a natural level of histamine production and are more sensitive to heat. I am not a medical professional, so I don’t know which of these is more likely. ---
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-girlfriends-feet-burn-and-itch-after-a-bath/230676/6 "2004-02-23T16:59:42Z")
Strange, I often get a similar thing happen to my hands as a result of the _cold_ (sometimes the heat like when I’m washing dishes). (And no I don’t mean cold extreme enough for forst bite, just cold in which mittens are optional, not necessary). My hands get itchy, a little puffy and it feels like a rash, but then goes away when my hands go back to a more “regular” temperature. I’ve always assumed it was either a circulatory kind of thing or a histamine thing (with my body mistaking “cold” for some other irritant, like an allergen, and sending histamines out to “fix the problem”.) Never really thoguht about it though. Curious as to what the real answer is. ---
**Author:** ![LorieSmurf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a587f6/32.png) [@LorieSmurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LorieSmurf)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2004, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-girlfriends-feet-burn-and-itch-after-a-bath/230676/7 "2004-02-24T02:59:36Z")
Yeah, it does sound like a reaction to the hot bath. I don’t like to take hot baths, usually just really warm ones. But when I do take 'em hot (like if I’ve had a hard night at work), my feet are often red and itchy.