My dog licks/chews his paws throughout the day, sometimes until they bleed a little. Any suggestions?

Our vet is recommending a steroid shot, but that doesn't sound healthy. A friend recommended Benadryl @ 1 mg per pound? He's 90 lbs so it seems like a lot. Another friend recommended soaking his feet in Lysterine. I tried on one paw and he still licked it, I can't imagine him ingesting Lysterine is good. Has anyone solved this problem? Is Benadryl the answer?