menopause and hot feet
By Andrea Donsky | Fact Checked | Sources
You’ve probably heard the expression “cold feet,” but how about hot feet? One of the less common symptoms of menopause is burning, hot feet, a condition that can be associated with a number of other factors. Are your feet on fire? What can you do about it?
What are hot feet?
Generally, hot or burning feet are a sensation that individuals experience at night and can be mild to severe. Although the feet may feel like they are on fire, the only physical sign may be some redness. Otherwise, the hot feeling may be accompanied by pins and needles, swelling, and numbness.
Hot feet are often associated with nerve damage (neuropathy) in the foot and can be caused by:
- Nutritional deficiencies: A deficiency of vitamins B6, folate, and B12 can contribute to neuropathy
- Diabetic neuropathy: Nerve damage to the feet, hands, arms, and legs is a complication of both types 1 and 2 diabetes.
- Chemotherapy: Damage to cells in the feet from chemotherapy can cause neuropathy.
- Chronic kidney disease: An accumulation of toxins that can occur with dysfunctional kidney function can result in neuropathy of the feet.
- Hypothyroidism: This form of thyroid disease, which is common among women, can result in tingling, pain, or heat in the feet because low thyroid levels can lead to nerve damage.
- Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease: This is a type of hereditary neuropathy that can be characterized by burning feet. Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease affects both men and women and about one in every 2,500 people in the United States.
- Other medical conditions: Neuropathy of the feet may also be caused by vasculitis, sarcoidosis, or chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy.
Other causes of hot feet can include:
- Athlete’s foot: One symptom of athlete’s foot, which can affect up to 25 percent of the population at any given time, is hot feet.
- Poor foot care: Wearing ill-fitting shoes or walking or standing for prolonged periods of time can result in burning feet.
Read about menopause and tingling extremities
How are hot feet associated with menopause?
Fluctuating and declining hormone levels that occur during perimenopause and menopause can result in a rise in body temperature and/or hot, burning feet. This condition is sometimes referred to as erythromelalgia.
What is paraesthesia, and why does it happen during perimenopause?
If you’ve ever experienced an odd tingling, prickling, or burning sensation on your skin, chances are you’ve encountered paraesthesia. This symptom often creeps up as women transition through perimenopause, the turbulent period when hormone levels resemble a roller coaster at Coney Island.
Paraesthesia most commonly targets areas like your face, hands, and—of course—your feet (because what better time for your body to add to your list of mysteries?). The exact cause isn't entirely clear, but researchers suspect it ties back to fluctuating estrogen levels. Since estrogen helps regulate how your nervous system relays messages, dips and spikes can muddle those signals, leading to all sorts of surprises, like the sensation that your skin is auditioning for a fireworks display.
You might notice these feelings intensify during times when hormones are especially low or unpredictable, such as just before your period or throughout menopause. So, if you catch yourself wondering why your feet are tingling or your face feels oddly zippy, you can thank your ever-evolving hormones.
Why are burning feet symptoms often worse at night?
Ever notice how your feet seem to turn up the heat just as you’re ready to relax? There’s a reason those sizzling sensations often flare up in the evening. As night approaches and your body shifts into sleep mode, it naturally redistributes blood flow to your hands and feet to help lower your core temperature, a clever trick known as distal vasodilation. The downside? This increased blood flow can amplify a burning or hot sensation, especially if your nerves are already feeling sensitive or irritated.
For some women, pre-existing nerve issues, hormonal fluctuations, or medical conditions like diabetes or hypothyroidism can intensify nighttime symptoms. The quiet and stillness of the night also means fewer distractions, so you’re more likely to notice any discomfort that’s been simmering under the surface all day.
If you find you’re tossing off the covers and wiggling your toes long after bedtime, you’re not alone—this phenomenon is surprisingly common among women navigating menopause.
How can you manage hot feet naturally?
If you are experiencing hot, burning feet during menopause, there are a few things you can do.
- Check for medical causes. An underlying medical condition, such as those mentioned here, may be the cause of your hot feet.
- Consider acupuncture. Hot feet associated with neuropathy may be helped by acupuncture treatments that stimulate blood flow and restore nerve damage.
- Review your medications. A few drugs are known to contribute to neuropathy, including heart drugs (amiodarone, hydralazine, perhexiline), chemotherapy drugs (cisplatin, docetaxel, paclitaxel, vincristine), infection fighters (chloroquine, isoniazid, metronidazole, nitrofurantoin), autoimmune drugs (etanercept, infliximab, leflunomide), antiseizure drugs (carbamazepine, phenytoin, phenobarbital), and others (emtricitabine, tenofovir, colchicine, disulfiram).
- Inventory your shoes. Make sure all of your shoes fit properly and allow adequate airflow.
- Change shoes. Allow your shoes to air out by wearing different ones every other day or so. Wear sandals or other open shoes when possible.
- Cool your feet. Relax your hot feet in a basin of cool water at the end of the day or whenever you have been on your feet for an extended time. You can also try putting a fan at the foot of your bed and leaving your feet out from under the covers, wearing socks that have been in the refrigerator to cool them down, or placing an ice pack near your feet at night.
Additional Ways to Soothe Burning Feet
- Opt for open, comfortable footwear. Choose shoes with good arch support and stick to cotton socks instead of synthetic ones to keep your feet cooler and more comfortable, especially during warmer months.
- Soak your feet for quick relief. When symptoms flare up, soaking your feet in cool (but not ice-cold) water for about 15 minutes can help ease the burning sensation.
- Try vitamin B supplements. Deficiency in vitamin B12 is fairly common during menopause and can contribute to nerve issues like burning feet. A B12 or B-complex supplement may help, but be sure to consult your doctor before starting any new supplement, especially if you have been diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy.
- Ask about HRT. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may help some women with burning feet symptoms, though it doesn’t work for everyone. Talk to your healthcare provider to see if it’s an option worth exploring.
- Consider capsaicin cream. It may sound counterintuitive, but this cream—made from the substance that makes chili peppers hot—can sometimes help by desensitizing nerves when applied to the affected areas.
- Explore medications for nerve pain. Standard painkillers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen don’t tend to relieve nerve pain. If peripheral neuropathy is diagnosed, your doctor might prescribe medications such as amitriptyline, duloxetine, pregabalin, or gabapentin, which are commonly used for nerve-related symptoms.
Remember, finding what works best for you may take some trial and error, and it's always wise to check with your healthcare provider for guidance tailored to your specific situation.
When to see your doctor
If you suspect nerve damage is causing your hot feet or your hot feet persist for no apparent reason, consult with your doctor. Also call your physician if the burning sensation travels up your legs, if the sensation of hot feet occurs suddenly, of if you being to lose feeling in your toes or feet.
Bottom line
For women in perimenopause and menopause, hot feet can be a temporary symptom associated with fluctuating hormone levels. The burning sensation may also be associated with a health issue, which should be checked by a medical professional.
