On an initial glance, you may find that the bottom of your feet has a yellowish hue. A case of bottom of feet yellow is nothing to worry about as it is normally harmless and tends to go away on its own.
The discoloration on this area of your feet could be an indication of excess beta-carotene presence in your diet, an exposure to harmful chemicals, or it could mean that there is a serious, underlying health condition.
To identify what is causing bottom of feet yellow, you may need to visit a physician for a proper medical diagnosis. In this article, we are going to look at its causes, symptoms, treatment, and home remedies.
What does it mean?
Skin discoloration is normally very perplexing when a person does not understand what is causing it. Yellow discoloration on the bottom area of your feet normally indicates that there could be a compound burdening your body.
Therefore, you should not ignore it, even if you notice that the staining is responding to medication, or if its etiological aspect happens to be benign.
Normally, there are various factors which can cause your skin to start turning yellow, and it is essential that you speak to a physician about them. A number of examinations may need to be carried out, e.g., X ray, sonogram, and a blood photo to determine what is causing the discoloration.
Symptoms
Foot problems are likely to increase as you age, primarily because of the fact that they will start to spread and thereby lose their fatty pads, which cushion the bottom area of your feet. If you have been carrying extra weight, it means that your ligaments and bones will start taking on an extra beating.
Additionally, any abnormalities that you may have been born with are likely to become more pronounced as the joints in your foot start to lose their flexibility. Age tends to make them become more rigid. Wearing shoes that fit too snugly can complicate matters for you as these problems are likely to worsen.
It is also important to note that the skin on your feet will start becoming drier as you age, making it easier for infections to come by. Some of the symptoms you need to be on the lookout for will include:
- Yellow discoloration
- Numbness or cold
- Dry skin
- Thickened or brittle nails
- Unnatural nail or skin colors
- Tingling or burning sensations
What if it is;
Yellow Orange?
The thyroid is in charge of controlling your body’s metabolism. Therefore, the metabolism is likely to become messed up when the thyroid starts to falter in its functions. When you notice yellow orange color at the bottom of your feet, it means that the metabolism of vitamin A has become affected and is therefore causing carotenemia.
This refers to the yellowing of your skin. In many cases, you will notice it at the bottom of your feet as well as in the palms of your hands. The condition is normally associated with eating foods that are high in beta carotene, e.g., sweet potato, carrots, spinach, squash, and pumpkin.
The problem is very common among children as they are normally subjected to these prepared foods all day. In rare cases, it has been found that a genetic defect could be the cause of this condition.
Yellow and hard
The yellowing and hardening of your skin occurs when corns and calluses start forming on the affected foot. Calluses starts forming due to a process known as Hyperkeratosis.
This is a condition where your skin starts to thicken due to the additional pressure. It normally occurs on the bony structure that is located on your foot.
It can occur when you have been standing on your feet for too long. Some of its causes include:
- Any surgery performed on your foot extremities
- Wearing high heeled shoes
- Walking abnormalities
- Standing for long durations
- Having a high arched foot
- Too much weight on your body
- Having bunions
Yellow and Peeling
Changes to your skin color can be very worrying, regardless of whether it happens overnight, or occurs at once. Yellowing and peeling is one such discovery that is normally noticed on the bottom part of your feet. One of its least worrisome causes include your chosen diet.
It is, however, recommended that you see a physician as the yellowing may be caused by something that is more serious than initially anticipated.
According to the International Journal of Dermatology, some of the conditions that can cause yellowing and peeling in the bottom of your feet include liver disease, diabetes, kidney disease, high blood fats, and hyperthyroidism.
Before you visit a physician, it is always best to establish whether this yellowing has been caused by staining. Tanning lotions, for instance can change the color of the skin, making it seem as though it is discolored.
If you do not notice any external sources of this color, then it means that this discoloration of your feet may have been caused by a medical condition, and should be checked immediately.
In rare cases, yellow and peeling skin may be caused by side effects of a drug or by a genetic disorder.
Causes-Why are the Bottom of my Feet Yellow?
The following are some of the causative factors associated with bottom of feet yellow:
1. Jaundice
It is a condition that occurs when there is too much bilirubin in your blood. Bilirubin is the buildup of all the old red blood cells which have already passed through the liver for processing.
This buildup occurs when your liver has become damage, is overwhelmed by the retirement of many RBCs, or is diseased. It can also take place when your biliary duct has a disorder.
The bilirubin that has not been able to escape from your body will manifest itself as yellow pigmentation. Neonatal jaundice is considered normal, and this is where a bruise turns to turn yellow in color when it is healing.
However, hepatitis, pancreatic cancer, and malaria are considered to be more severe cases of jaundice.
2. Hypercarotenemia
This is a harmless condition that takes place when there is a high buildup of beta carotene in your body tissues. It can occur when you ingest in excessive amounts of foods that are rich in beta carotene, e.g., spinach, carrots, oranges, sweet potatoes, and squash. Too much consumption of these foods will cause the soles of your feet to turn a yellow hue.
3. Yellow Nails
The nails turning yellow means that there is something slowing down their growth. Lymphedema and respiratory disorders are the leading causes of this problem.
4. TNT Poisoning
Trinitrotoluene or TNT is an explosive that has been known to poison any person that comes into direct contact with it. Any person who works with this explosive is likely to get discoloration in their feet and hands.
It mainly takes place due to the presence of nitro groups inside the explosive substance, which then starts reacting with the melanin present in your skin.
Yellow Skin/Soles of Feet Treatment/Get rid
If you notice that you have feet and hands that are persistently yellow, it will be best to make sure that you consult with your physician. It will be necessary to ensure that the correct diagnosis is made in order to understand what could be causing this particular discoloration.
- When the investigative tests have been completed, your doctor can now determine which line of treatment will be best for you.
- Causative factors, e.g., anemia, TNT, and hypercarotenemia are easily tackled and addressed. All you need to do is ensure that you reduce your intake of foods that are rich in beta carotene.
- For underlying causes such as cancer, hepatitis, malaria, and cirrhosis, suitable treatment will need to be recommended immediately.
- Respiratory conditions and lymphedema will also need to be addressed with their correct medications.
Medical treatment
It is recommended that you seek medical attention if you notice some pain, circulatory problems, development of fragile skin, or if you suffer from diabetes. Consult a podiatrist for advice on what needs to be done.
Normally, your podiatrist will start by examining the foot, and may make some inquiries pertaining to your lifestyle, in addition to checking the kind of shoes that you wear daily.
If the yellowing on your foot has been caused by corns or calluses, some of this hard skin may be removed. The skin surrounding it is first removed before the center part can be approached.
Once the patch has been trimmed, a bandage with forty percent salicylic acid will then be applied. This bandage must be replaced on a regular basis. Before you can apply the new bandage, you must ensure that you use a metal nail file or pumice stone to rub away the dead skin in that area.
If you have an infection, or the doctor determines that there is a risk of being infected, then an antibiotic treatment could be prescribed for you. You can check whether the area on your feet is swollen or reddish in color to determine whether it is infected.
In the event that the doctor determines that there could be a problem with the underlying problem, an X-ray will be taken, and where necessary surgery performed to deal with the underlying causes of the feet getting a yellow hue.
Home Remedies
You can use the following home remedies to deal with feet that have become yellow:
Chocolate Weed Leaves and Turmeric
Chocolate weed leaves are a tropical plant that is normally found in wasteland regions. Its small flowers tend to be white in color but there are instances where they can be pinkish or yellowish. The bottom part of the leaves is broad while the tip is a bit narrow.
Normally, this plant is found as a weed in rice, soya beans, and cotton plantations. Turmeric has for many years been used for its antiseptic properties. The plant which is native to India is normally used as a domestic cuisine.
But despite being used as a cuisine, the plant tends to have very potent medicinal properties that are known around the world. To use it to treat the yellowing feet, follow these steps:
- Take a handful of chocolate leaves
- Clean them add a spoonful of turmeric powder
- Combine them and then proceed to grind them
- Apply them to the bottom of your feet
- Repeat application each day for seven days
Garlic
This is another home remedy that comes in handy when one is dealing with yellow feet soles.
According to Mayo Clinic, garlic has antibacterial and antifungal properties that can assist you deal with any skin infection.
Its extracts have amazing properties that can also be used to treat warts and corns. To use it, ensure that you follow these steps:
- Take a garlic and cut it into two pieces
- Take one piece and rub it on the soles of your feet each night
- Allow it to dry and then wrap it with a bandage
- Wash this area with warm water when you wake up in the morning
- Repeat application until the discoloration goes away
It is recommended that you consult your physician if these remedies fail to work for you.
References:
- Corns and calluses. (2016, April 15). Retrieved from https://patient.info/health/corns-and-calluses
- How to treat corns and calluses. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.aad.org/public/skin-hair-nails/skin-care/corns-and-calluses
- Salicylic acid for corns and calluses. (2010, January 6). Retrieved from http://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/ug2463
- Nordqvist, C. (2017, December 21). “All about corns and calluses.” Medical News Today. Retrieved from
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/172459.php.
