Author: Dr Ian Coulson, Consultant Dermatologist and Editor-in-Chief, 2023.
Edited by the DermNet content department
This 6-year-old boy has problems with both feet — they are dry and split producing painful fissures.
The forefoot is dry, red and fissured; the typical features of juvenile plantar dermatosis.
It occurs more commonly in boys with an average age of onset of 8. It is more common in atopic children.
It is thought to be due to impervious occlusive footwear, and exacerbated by friction. In a small proportion of children, it is due to an allergic footwear dermatitis, identified by patch testing.
Avoiding synthetic socks, and wearing two pairs of cotton or wool socks may help. Emollients or humectants such as urea cream may help.
Applying steroid impregnated tape over fissures or using paste bandages accelerates healing. Topical steroid ointments are sometimes useful.
