Burning feet, the sensation that your feet are painfully hot, can be mild or severe. Sometimes, your burning feet may be so painful that the pain interferes with your sleep. With certain conditions, burning feet may also be accompanied by a pins and needles sensation (paresthesia), numbness, or both.

While fatigue or skin infection can cause temporary burning or inflamed feet, burning feet are often a sign of nerve damage (peripheral neuropathy). Nerve damage has many causes, including diabetes, chronic alcohol use, exposure to certain toxins, certain B vitamin deficiencies, or HIV infection.

Causes For Burning Feet

Alcohol use disorder
Athlete’s foot
Chemotherapy
Chronic kidney disease
Complex regional pain syndrome (chronic pain due to a dysfunctional nervous system)
Diabetic neuropathy (nerve damage caused by diabetes)
HIV/AIDS
Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid)
Tarsal tunnel syndrome
Vitamin deficiency anemia

Is It Time to Call a Podiatrist?

Seek emergency medical care if:

The burning sensation in your feet came on suddenly, particularly if you may have been exposed to some toxin.
An open wound on your foot appears to be infected, especially if you have diabetes.

Schedule an office visit if you:

Continue to experience burning feet despite several weeks of self-care.
Notice that the symptoms are becoming more intense and painful.
Feel the burning sensation start to spread up into your legs.
Start losing the feeling in your toes or feet.

If your burning feet continue, your doctor will need to do tests to determine if any of the various conditions that cause peripheral neuropathy are to blame.

At Advanced Foot Care of NJ, LLC, Dr. Anant Joshi and his staff treat a range of conditions and are committed to providing results. We are conveniently located in Woodland Park and welcome our neighbors in Little Falls, Cedar Grove, Verona, Stoney Road, Sandy Hill, Albion Place, and Great Notch. To schedule an appointment, contact his office at 973-256-0002.