The Eczema Prevention Picture: Footwear

The chief cause of eczema in footwear is the thermoplastic or rubber-boxed toes, and the cements and dichromates used in tanning. Dyes, anti-mildew agents, formaldehyde and nickel eyelets or nickel in arch supports also can cause dermatitis. A waterproofing silicone spray externally applied to the shoe can also be the cause. The dermatitis usually begins on the big toe and spreads to the rest of the foot. Socks washed in Bold or bleached with a strong whitener can also cause dermatitis.
Formaldehyde is used in the tanning of white leather shoes in "elk," "white kid" and "new bucks." Tannins obtained from trees are used to tan leather (vegetable tanning) and do not cause dermatitis. However, if the shoe is made of vegetable-tanned leather, the lining should not be chrome- tanned.
Sweat leaches out chromates from the leather, so controlling perspiration is essential. Zeasorb Powder (Stiefel) and Dr. Scholl's foot granules in soap are excellent for reducing some of this.