What causes peeling skin on the soles of the feet?

Peeling skin on the soles of the feet may be caused by several factors: 1. **Dryness**: The skin on the soles of the feet has less exposure to air and is frequently compressed and rubbed by shoes, making it prone to dryness. 2. **Excessive thickening of the stratum corneum**: When the outer layer of skin (stratum corneum) on the feet becomes excessively thick and is not cleaned regularly, it can lead to extreme dryness, peeling, and cracking. 3. **Vitamin deficiency**: A单一 or improper diet leading to deficiencies in vitamin A or the B-complex vitamins can compromise the skin's barrier function and cause peeling of the soles. 4. **Fungal infection**: The soles of the feet are often in a moist environment; if not cleaned and dried promptly, they become susceptible to fungal infection. This can lead to the breakdown and shedding of the stratum corneum, causing athlete's foot (tinea pedis). Athlete's foot is a common fungal skin infection characterized by itching, scaling, and accompanied by peeling skin. 5. **Chemical irritation**: Prolonged contact with irritating or corrosive chemicals, such as strong acids or alkalis, can irritate the skin on the soles of the feet and result in peeling.