The problem: burning feet, often in the evening and at night
In the evening on the sofa your feet get hot, in bed the duvet has to go because even that bothers you. Some describe a feeling like sunburn even though the skin looks completely normal, others feel the burning when walking, under the ball of the foot or between the toes.
Burning is a symptom, not a diagnosis. It can come from the skin, the nerves or the blood vessels. Three questions help: can you see anything on the skin? Are both feet affected or only one? And what triggers it: warmth, walking, cold or nothing at all?
Why feet burn – and what winter has to do with it
Heat, moisture, pressure. In lined boots and thick socks made of synthetic fibres, feet stay warm and damp for hours. Going into heated rooms, you feel this as burning in the evening, especially after long days on your feet. This is our assessment from everyday experience. If it passes quickly with rest, air and coolness, it is usually harmless. Why feet sweat so much in winter shoes is explained in Sweating in winter: causes and what you can do; how sweat turns into odour in Changed body odour.
A reaction to shoes and socks. A contact allergy to shoes shows up as redness, swelling, blisters or cracks, and it can burn, itch and hurt. Triggers are found in leather, rubber, adhesives, insoles or dyes; heat, friction, lack of air and sweat increase the risk. Both feet are usually affected in a similar way (DermNet: Shoe contact dermatitis). Substances in socks or tights can also trigger such an allergy; how laundry detergent residues act on the skin is explained in Rash from laundry detergent.
Athlete's foot. It appears mainly between the toes with redness, cracks and flaking that can itch; the cracks in particular hurt (IQWiG: Fußpilz). How to tell it apart from dry skin is explained in Dry feet or athlete's foot? Signs and when to see a doctor. If your toenails change at the same time, Nail fungus or something else? will help.
Chilblains. A few hours after being in the cold, small itchy or burning patches can appear on the toes. The vessels have narrowed in the cold, and when you warm up, those near the surface widen faster than the deep ones (NHS: Chilblains). More in Chilblains on toes and fingers: how to spot them, prevent them and what helps.
Irritated or damaged nerves. Polyneuropathy, damage to the long nerves, typically starts in the feet and slowly moves upwards, because the longest nerves are affected first (NHS: Peripheral neuropathy). It shows as tingling and numbness and as burning, stabbing or shooting pain; sometimes even a light touch hurts, and the sense of temperature fades (NHS: Peripheral neuropathy). That explains why the duvet bothers you even though the skin looks unremarkable. The most common cause in the UK is diabetes; others are years of heavy drinking, a lack of vitamin B12 or other vitamins, an underactive thyroid, chronic liver and kidney diseases, viral infections, injuries and side effects of medicines (NHS: Peripheral neuropathy).
If only the finest nerve fibres are affected, this is called small fibre neuropathy. It is increasingly recognised as an important cause of painful burning feet, especially in older age, while strength is preserved. The most common identifiable cause is diabetes; impaired glucose tolerance, a preliminary stage, and parts of the metabolic syndrome are also linked to it, and sometimes no cause is found (Tavee & Zhou 2009). In our assessment, it is more noticeable at night partly because nothing distracts you any more and the bed is warm.
Erythromelalgia. This rare condition causes attacks of burning pain with redness and hot skin, usually on the feet. An attack lasts minutes to days and is triggered by a rise in body temperature, for example from exercise, warm or tight clothing and shoes, warm temperatures, stress, alcohol, spicy food or not drinking enough (NHS: Erythromelalgia).
Burning when walking. A stabbing or burning pain between the third and fourth toes can come from an irritated nerve, Morton's neuroma. Tight, pointed shoes and high heels make it worse (NHS: Morton's neuroma).
Skin burning without redness. Skin can also burn elsewhere, for example on the thigh or back, without anything being visible. Nerve irritation can be behind this. If a strip burns or tingles on one side of the body only, it can be the start of shingles: the rash usually appears a few days later, and in rare cases it does not appear at all (NHS: Shingles).
The following table sorts typical pictures according to the specialist sources named. It is a guide, not a diagnosis; only a medical examination gives clarity.
| What you notice | Often behind it | What you do |
|---|---|---|
| Burning after a long day in warm shoes, passes with rest and air | heat, moisture, pressure | change shoes and socks, air your feet |
| Redness, blisters or cracks where the shoe rests, on both feet | contact allergy to shoe materials | change shoes, have an allergy test done by a dermatologist |
| Whitish, cracked, itchy skin between the toes | athlete's foot | pharmacy or doctor |
| Itchy, burning patches on the toes hours after cold | chilblains | warm up slowly, not on the radiator |
| Burning, tingling or numbness in both feet, skin looks normal | polyneuropathy | have it checked by a doctor |
| Attacks of hot, red, burning feet triggered by warmth | erythromelalgia (rare) | cool without ice, have it checked by a doctor |
| Stabbing, burning pain between the third and fourth toes when walking | Morton's neuroma | wide, flat shoes, doctor or podiatrist |
| Burning strip on one side of the body, rash days later | shingles | see a doctor quickly |
Sources for the table: NHS: Peripheral neuropathy, NHS: Erythromelalgia, DermNet: Shoe contact dermatitis, IQWiG: Fußpilz, NHS: Morton's neuroma, NHS: Shingles, NHS: Chilblains.
The solution step by step
| Step | What you do | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Right away | Take off shoes and socks, raise your feet, cool them briefly with a fan or a cool, not cold, gel pack | This is what the British NHS advises for burning attacks; ice and cold water can damage the skin |
| Right away | Look at both feet, including the soles and between the toes: redness, blisters, cracks, wounds? | With reduced feeling, injuries are noticed late |
| Every day | Wash your feet in lukewarm water, dry them well, also between the toes; fresh socks made of cotton or wool | Dry feet give fungi less to work with |
| Every day | Airy, wide shoes with a low heel; alternate pairs so they can dry | Tight, warm shoes are among the most common triggers |
| In the evening | Keep the bedroom cool, stick your feet out from under the duvet, no hot water bottle on your feet | Warmth can make the burning worse |
| One to two weeks | Note when it burns: time of day, shoes, alcohol, exercise, cold, new medicines | The pattern helps your doctor assess it |
| If it persists | Have it checked by a doctor, with blood sugar, vitamin B12 and other values as your doctor sees fit | The earlier neuropathy is recognised, the better the damage can be limited |
Sources for the table: NHS: Peripheral neuropathy, NHS: Erythromelalgia, IQWiG: Fußpilz, NHS: Morton's neuroma. The entry on the bedroom and the notes are our suggestion. How to check your feet with diabetes is explained in Dry skin with diabetes: causes and care for feet and legs; why warmth in bed also makes itching worse in Itchy skin at night in bed: why it gets worse in the evening and what helps.
Skincare plays only a minor role here. No foot cream belongs on burning, reddened or inflamed skin. Once the burning has subsided and your heels are simply dry and rough, the Solid Foot Cream – Rosemary & Sage fits; according to its product page it is intended for dry, rough feet and heels. It does not belong on injured skin or between the toes. It contains essential oils of rosemary, eucalyptus and clary sage and, according to its product page, is not suitable for children under 7. With diabetes or reduced feeling in the feet, skin changes should be checked by a professional early on, as the product page also says.
What helps – and what doesn't
| Product or habit | Assessment |
|---|---|
| Raising your feet, a fan, a cool gel pack | helps many people during an attack; use briefly |
| Ice, ice water, cold foot bath | no; can damage the skin |
| Hot foot bath, hot water bottle, feet on the radiator | no; makes symptoms worse, and with reduced feeling there is a risk of burns |
| Vinegar, salt or herbal foot baths | no reliable evidence; they can sting on cracked skin |
| Vitamin B supplements just in case | rather not; a deficiency has to be confirmed by a doctor, and tablets do not clarify the cause |
| Cooling menthol creams | rather not on irritated skin; they mask the sensation and clarify nothing |
| Less alcohol | useful; alcohol can damage nerves and trigger attacks |
Sources: NHS: Peripheral neuropathy, NHS: Erythromelalgia, NHS: Chilblains. The entries on foot baths, hot water bottles, menthol creams and vitamin supplements are our assessment.
Common mistakes
- Standing your feet in ice water. It feels good for a moment but can damage the skin.
- Only applying cream. Care does not clarify a cause, and on inflamed skin a cream tends to make things worse.
- Taking vitamins just in case. That way diabetes or another cause goes undetected.
- Seeing numbness as an improvement. If the burning fades because feeling is fading, that is not a good sign.
- Carrying on walking in new, tight shoes. Blisters and pressure marks go unnoticed when feeling is reduced.
- Not checking socks and shoes as the cause. A few days without the new boots often shows more than any ointment.
When to see a doctor
Your first port of call is your GP. Have yourself examined soon if
- the burning keeps coming back or lasts longer than a few days without an obvious trigger,
- you notice numbness, tingling, weakness or unsteadiness when walking (NHS: Peripheral neuropathy),
- you have diabetes or drink a lot of alcohol; with diabetes, your feet should be examined regularly, also by a podiatrist (NHS: Peripheral neuropathy),
- a blister, crack or wound on your foot does not get better; with numbness these can turn into ulcers (NHS: Peripheral neuropathy),
- the skin is red, weepy, forms blisters or cracks between the toes; see also Skin peeling between the toes and Peeling skin on the feet,
- your feet become hot, red and painful in attacks (NHS: Erythromelalgia),
- you are taking new medicines; do not stop them on your own, but talk to your doctor or pharmacist,
- a burning rash with blisters appears on one side of the body; medicines against shingles should be started within three days of the rash appearing; if it is on the eye or nose, it is urgent (NHS: Shingles).
The same day you should see a doctor or go to the emergency department for: a leg or foot that swells on one side, throbs and turns red or changes colour; this can be a thrombosis. With shortness of breath or chest pain, call 112 immediately (NHS: DVT). Also have these checked right away: a hot, reddened foot with fever or spreading redness and, with diabetes, any open wound, even if it does not hurt.
Frequently asked questions
Why do my feet burn at night?
In bed it gets warm and nothing distracts you any more. If the nerves are involved, the burning is especially noticeable then; even a light touch from the duvet can bother you. If it happens often, have it checked.
My feet burn like fire: what should I do?
Shoes and socks off, raise your feet, cool them briefly with a fan or a cool gel pack. No ice and no cold water. Look at your feet and get medical advice with numbness, wounds or diabetes.
Which home remedies help with burning feet?
Most likely air, raising your feet and light cooling without ice. We know of no reliable evidence for vinegar, salt or herbal baths, and they can sting on cracked skin.
Why do my feet burn when walking?
Often because of friction, heat and shoes that are too tight. A burning pain between the third and fourth toes can come from an irritated nerve. Wide, flat shoes are the first step; if it persists, have it looked at.
My feet burn and itch at night: what could it be?
Often athlete's foot, a reaction to shoes or socks, chilblains or dry skin in the warm air of the bed. If the skin looks different, have it looked at.
Skin burning without redness: what could it be?
Such sensations often come from the nerves. If a strip burns on one side of the body only, think of shingles. If it persists, see your GP.
Which deficiency causes burning feet?
A lack of vitamin B12 or other vitamins is one of the possible causes of nerve damage. Whether this applies to you can only be shown by a blood test; supplements just in case do not replace it.
Can I apply foot cream to burning feet?
Not on reddened, irritated, inflamed or injured skin. Foot cream looks after dry, rough heels; it is not intended for burning.
At forpeople
We have no product against burning feet; the burning itself needs to be checked. For dry, rough heels on intact skin in adults there is:
Solid Foot Cream – Rosemary & Sage, 40 g, €9.90: water-free, made from sunflower and olive oil, beeswax and shea butter, with essential oils; according to the product page not for injured skin and not for children under 7.
More on this: Foot cream overnight with socks: does it help? · Cracked heels: when to see a podiatrist or doctor
Sources
- NHS: Peripheral neuropathy (overview, symptoms, causes, complications). Last reviewed 10 October 2022, accessed 30 October 2026. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/peripheral-neuropathy/
- Tavee J, Zhou L (2009): Small fiber neuropathy: A burning problem. Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine 76(5): 297–305. https://doi.org/10.3949/ccjm.76a.08070
- NHS: Erythromelalgia. Last reviewed 18 August 2023, accessed 30 October 2026. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/erythromelalgia/
- DermNet: Shoe contact dermatitis. Thompson H (July 2022), accessed 30 October 2026. https://dermnetnz.org/topics/shoe-contact-dermatitis
- Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG): Fußpilz (athlete's foot). gesundheitsinformation.de, updated 9 July 2025, accessed 30 October 2026. https://www.gesundheitsinformation.de/fusspilz.html
- NHS: Morton's neuroma. Last reviewed 12 June 2025, accessed 30 October 2026. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/mortons-neuroma/
- NHS: Shingles. Last reviewed 23 November 2023, accessed 30 October 2026. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/shingles/
- NHS: Chilblains. Last reviewed 22 April 2026, accessed 30 October 2026. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/chilblains/
- NHS: Deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Last reviewed 30 April 2026, accessed 30 October 2026. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/deep-vein-thrombosis-dvt/
