Sweaty Sock Syndrome (Juvenile Plantar Dermatosis):
A parent's guide to condition and treatment information

The doctor will probably check your child for a fungal infection (athlete's foot) by scraping a small amount of surface skin (scale) and examining it under a microscope. If fungus is not seen, the doctor will probably consider the diagnosis of sweaty sock syndrome.

However, athlete's foot is much more common than sweaty sock syndrome, so the physician may want to try a course of topical antifungal creams before concluding that your child has the later.

Once the diagnosis of sweaty sock syndrome has been confirmed, the doctor may recommend the following in addition to the self-care measures mentioned above:

• Prescription-strength topical corticosteroid (cortisone) cream
• Antihistamine pills, if itching is severe