Burning feet syndrome can be inherited, or it can be caused by pressure being put on the nerves. Links also exist between this syndrome and diseases such as hypothyroidism, diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis; links are also "believed" to exist between this syndrome and vitamin B (specifically pantothenic acid) deficiencies and renal failure.

It seems to be a small fiber neuropathy.

Burning feet syndrome, also known as Grierson-Gopalan syndrome, is a medical condition that causes severe burning and aching of the feet, hyperesthesia, and vasomotor changes of the feet that lead to excessive sweating. It can even affect the eyes, causing scotoma and amblyopia. The condition occurs more frequently in women, and usually manifests itself when a person is between twenty and forty years old.

Other causes may include:

- Anticonvulsant pharmaceutical drugs, such as topiramate, sultiame, and acetazolamide

- Anxiety and/or panic disorder

- Benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome

- Beta alanine

- Carpal tunnel syndrome

- Cerebral amyloid angiopathy

- Chiari malformation

- Coeliac disease (celiac disease)

- Complex regional pain syndrome

- Decompression sickness

- Dehydration

- Dextromethorphan (recreational use)

- Fabry disease

- Erythromelalgia

- Fibromyalgia

- Fluoroquinolone toxicity

- Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS)

- Heavy metals

- Herpes zoster

- Hydroxy alpha sanshool, a component of Sichuan peppers

- Hyperglycemia (high blood sugar)

- Hyperkalemia

- Hyperventilation

- Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)

- Hypocalcemia, and in turn:

- Hypermagnesemia, a condition in which hypocalcemia itself is typically observed as a secondary symptom

- Hypomagnesemia, often as a result of long term proton-pump inhibitor use

- Hypothyroidism

- Immunodeficiency, such as chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP)

- Intravenous administering of strong pharmaceutical drugs acting on the central nervous system (CNS), mainly opioids, opiates, narcotics; especially in non-medical use (drug abuse)

- Ketorolac

- Lidocaine poisoning

- Lomotil

- Lupus erythematosus

- Lyme disease

- Menopause

- Mercury poisoning

- Migraines

- Multiple sclerosis

- Nitrous oxide, long-term exposure

- Obdormition

- Pyrethrum and pyrethroid (pesticide)

- Rabies

- Radiation poisoning

- Sarcoidosis

- Scorpion stings

- Spinal disc herniation or injury

- Spinal stenosis

- Stinging nettles

- Syringomyelia

- Transverse myelitis

- Vitamin B deficiency

- Vitamin B deficiency

- Withdrawal from certain selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (or serotonin-specific reuptake inhibitors) (SSRIs), such as paroxetine or serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) such as venlafaxine

The cause of PPE is unknown. Existing hypotheses are based on the fact that only the hands and feet are involved and posit the role of temperature differences, vascular anatomy, differences in the types of cells (rapidly dividing epidermal cells and eccrine glands).

In the case of PPE caused by PLD, the following mechanism has been demonstrated: sweat deposits and spreads the drug on the skin surface; then the drug penetrates into the stratum corneum like an external agent; palms and soles have high density of sweat glands, and their stratum corneum is approximately 10 times thicker than the rest of the body, and becomes an efficient long-term reservoir for the penetrating PLD, which was deposited on the skin before.

There are not a lot of studies that have investigated the prevalence of EM, so far only four have been conducted.

The mean of all the studies combined results in an EM estimation incidence of 4.7/100,000 with a mean of 1 : 3.7 of the male to female ratio, respectively.

In 1997 there was a study conducted in Norway that estimated that the annual incidence of 2/100,000, with a 1 : 2.4 male to female ratio in this study

population, respectively. In 2009 there was a population-based study of EM in the USA (Olmsted County, Minnesota), that reported that the annual incidence was 1.3/100,000, with a 1 : 5.6 male to female ratio in this study population, respectively.

The incidence in this study of primary and secondary EM was 1.1 : 0.2 per 100 000 people per year, respectively.

A study of a single centre in the south of Sweden in 2012, showed the overall annual population-based incidence was 0.36/100,000.

In New Zealand (Dunedin) a study estimated that in 2013 the incidence of EM is 15/100,000, with a 1 : 3 male to female ratio in this study

population, respectively. This last study has an estimation that is at least ten times higher than the prevalence previously reported. This study recruited individuals based on self-identification of symptoms (after self-identification, patients where invited for an assessment of an EM diagnosis), instead of participants that are identified through secondary and tertiary referrals that was conducted by the other studies.

The cause is unknown, but it may be partly a genetic trait. Aging and environmental factors may also contribute to the appearance.

Acral erythema is a common adverse reaction to cytotoxic chemotherapy drugs, particularly cabozantinib, cytarabine, doxorubicin, and fluorouracil and its prodrug capecitabine.

Targeted cancer therapies, especially the tyrosine kinase inhibitors sorafenib and sunitinib, have also been associated with a high incidence of acral erythema. However, acral erythema due to tyrosine kinase inhibitors seems to differ somewhat from acral erythema due to classic chemotherapy drugs.

The consumption of two species of related fungi, "Clitocybe acromelalga" from Japan, and "Clitocybe amoenolens" from France, has led to several cases of mushroom-induced erythromelalgia which lasted from 8 days to 5 months.

Paresthesia or "persistent anesthesia" is a transient or potentially permanent condition of extended numbness after administration of local anesthesia and the injected anesthetic has terminated.

Potential causes include trauma induced to the nerve sheath during administration of the injection, hemorrhage about the sheath, type of anesthetic used, or administration of anesthetic potentially contaminated with alcohol or sterilizing solutions.

BMS is fairly common worldwide, (however, other sources describe it as rare), and affects up to five individuals per 100,000 general population. People with BMS are more likely to be middle aged or elderly, and females are three to seven times more likely to have BMS than males. Some report a female to male ratio of as much as 33 to 1. BMS is reported in about 10-40% of women seeking medical treatment for menopausal symptoms, and BMS occurs in about 14% of postmenopausal women. Males and younger individuals of both sexes are sometimes affected.

Asian and Native American people have considerably higher risk of BMS.

It is a relatively common condition, with an estimated prevalence of 6.8%–11% amongst children. Males are more commonly affected. The condition may be seen at any age, but generally affects older people more frequently. The condition also generally becomes more accentuated with age. The prevalence of the condition increases significantly with age, occurring in 40% of the population after the age of 40.

Juvenile plantar dermatosis (also known as "Atopic winter feet," "Dermatitis plantaris sicca," "Forefoot dermatitis," "Moon-boot foot syndrome," and "Sweaty sock dermatitis") is a condition usually seen in children between the ages of 3 and 14, and involves the cracking and peeling of weight bearing areas of the soles of the feet. One of the earliest descriptions was made by British dermatologist Darrell Wilkinson.

Daily oral muscle physical therapy, or the administration of antidepressants have been reported as effective therapy for occlusal dysesthesia patients. Tooth grinding, and the replacement or removal of all dental work should be avoided in patients with occlusal dysesthesia, despite the frequent requests for further surgery often made by these patients.

Antidepressants are also often prescribed for scalp dysesthesia.

Prakash et al. found that many patients suffering from burning mouth syndrome (BMS), one variant of occlusal dysesthesia, also report painful sensations in other parts of the body. Many of the patients suffering from BMS met the classification of restless leg syndrome (RLS). About half of these patients also had a family history of RLS. These results suggest that some BMS symptoms may be caused by the same pathway as RLS in some patients, indicating that dopaminergic drugs regularly used to treat RLS may be effective in treating BMS as well.

BMS is benign (importantly, it is not a symptom of oral cancer), but as a cause of chronic pain which is poorly controlled, it can detriment quality of life, and may become a fixation which cannot be ignored, thus interfering with work and other daily activities. Two thirds of people with BMS have a spontaneous partial recovery six to seven years after the initial onset, but in others the condition is permanent. Recovery is often preceded by a change in the character of the symptom from constant to intermittent. No clinical factors predicting recovery have been noted.

If there is an identifiable cause for the burning sensation (i.e. primary BMS), then psychologic dysfunctions such as anxiety and depression often disappear if the symptom is successfully treated.

There is strong evidence to show that chronic orofacial pain (including AFP) is associated with psychological factors. Sometimes stressful life events appear to precede the onset of AFP, such as bereavement or illness in a family member. Hypochondriasis, especially cancerophobia, is also often cited as being involved. Most people with AFP are "normal" people who have been under extreme stress, however other persons with AFP have neuroses or personality disorders, and a small minority have psychoses. Some have been separated from their parents as children.

Depression, anxiety and altered behavior are strongly correlated with AFP. It is argued whether this is a sole or contributing cause of AFP, or the emotional consequences of suffering with chronic, unrelieved pain. It has been suggested that over 50% of people with AFP have concomitant depression or hypochondria. Furthermore, about 80% of persons with psychogenic facial pain report other chronic pain conditions such as listed in the table.

Acrogeria is extremely rare, with only about 40 cases having been reported in the medical literature, since 1941.

Of the millions experiencing strokes worldwide, over 30,000 in the United States alone have developed some form of Dejerine–Roussy syndrome. 8% of all stroke patients will experience central pain syndrome, with 5% experiencing moderate to severe pain. The risk of developing Dejerine–Roussy syndrome is higher in older stroke patients, about 11% of stroke patients over the age of 80.

Webbed toes in humans are a purely cosmetic condition. This condition does not impair the ability to perform any activity, including walking, running, or swimming. Depending on the severity and structure of the webbing, there can be some minor consequences.

People with more severe webbed toes may have a slight disadvantage for activities that benefit from prehensile toes, due to the toes being unable to split or move laterally. Although not scientifically proven, some believe that this condition can possibly allow for a slight advantage, specifically, in athletics. Considering your big toe is a main source for balance, having your second and third toe webbed could virtually be seen as having two big toes. Thus, allowing for better balance in athletics such as running or dance.

Psychological stress may arise from the fear of negative reactions to this condition from people who do not have webbed toes, particularly in severe cases where the nails are stuck visibly close together. Many people with webbed toes can physically feel the toes touching under the fused skin, which can cause psychological discomfort. This is due to the nerves of each toe fully developing and independent muscles working. In other cases where the toes are partially webbed, the webbing holds the separate tips of the toes against one another and prevents the muscles from spreading the toes apart, causing the toes and sometimes nails to press together.

However a disadvantage would be a difficulty in wearing flip-flops or other such footwear in warm countries. People with webbed toes may be unable to wear Toe socks or Vibram FiveFingers shoes. Difficulty navigating rough terrain barefoot, such as rocks at a beach is also common. In some cases the toes grow at different lengths causing the toes to buckle or bend and many people with severe webbed toes experience cramping in these toes due to the muscles and ligaments being strained.

People of any age, race, or sex can fall victim to this disorder, though it is more commonly found in men. People who sweat or wash excessively tend to be prone to pitted keratolysis. The prolonged wearing of occlusive footwear, such as tight shoes or rubber boots, also makes one more susceptible. Not surprisingly, athletes and soldiers are extremely prone to this problem. Hot and humid weather is another factor for raising the risk. Those on immunosuppressive drug therapy or diabetes sufferers are also more likely to succumb to pitted keratolysis.

Dysesthesia (or dysaesthesia) comes from the Greek word "dys", meaning "not-normal" and "aesthesis", which means "sensation" (abnormal sensation). It is defined as an unpleasant, abnormal sense of touch. It often presents as pain but may also present as an inappropriate, but not discomforting, sensation. It is caused by lesions of the nervous system, peripheral or central, and it involves sensations, whether spontaneous or evoked, such as burning, wetness, itching, electric shock, and pins and needles. Dysesthesia can include sensations in any bodily tissue, including most often the mouth, scalp, skin, or legs.

It is sometimes described as feeling like acid under the skin. Burning dysesthesia might accurately reflect an acidotic state in the synapses and perineural space. Some ion channels will open to a low pH, and the acid sensing ion channel has been shown to open at body temperature, in a model of nerve injury pain. Inappropriate, spontaneous firing in pain receptors has also been implicated as a cause of dysesthesia.

Patients suffering from dysesthesia can become incapacitated with pain, despite no apparent damage to the skin or other tissue. Patients suffering from dysesthesia also often suffer from psychological disorders.

Achard syndrome is a syndrome consisting of arachnodactyly, receding lower jaw, and joint laxity limited to the hands and feet. Hypermobility and subluxations of the joints, increased lateral excursion of the patellas and other findings reflect the increased ligament laxity. It is clinically similar to Marfan syndrome.

Pitted keratolysis can be reduced and eventually stopped by regularly applying a liberal amount of antiperspirant body powder to the inside of the shoes and socks of the sufferer. Regular powder application will greatly reduce foot perspiration and keep the plantar surface of the foot dry therefore creating an environment hostile to the Corynebacterium.

The cause of acrogeria is still not well determined. This disorder is thought to be inherited as an autosomal recessive genetic trait. However, the mode of genetic inheritance is not accurately known. It has been considered autosomal dominant and autosomal recessive, though most reported cases own a positive family background.

Mutations in the COL3A1 gene, located at chromosome 2q31–q32, have been reported in varied phenotypes, including acrogeria and vascular rupture in Ehlers-Danlos' syndrome (more especially type IV).

In the fibroblast culture, a reduction of RNA messenger cells in collagen types I and II was found, as well as reduced life expectancy of the fibroblasts most prematurely showing morphological alterations typical of aging.

This seems perfectly compatible with the patients' aged phenotype.

AFP is sometimes described as being fairly common, and one estimated prevalence is about 1–2% of the general population. However, the IASP described PIFP as being rare, less common than trigeminal neuralgia (which has a prevalence of about 0.01–0.3% in the general population), and possessing no available epidemiologic data for estimated prevelence in the general population. The predominant age group is 30–50, and females are more often affected than males, with most reports stating that about 80% of people with AFP are female.

HSAN I constitutes a clinically and genetically heterogeneous group of diseases of low prevalence. Detailed epidemiological data are currently not available. The frequency of the disease is still reflected by reports of a handful affected families. Although the impressive clinical features of HSAN I are seen by neurologists, general practitioners, orthopedists, and dermatologists, the condition might still be under-recognized particularly for sporadic cases and patients who do not exhibit the characteristic clinical features.