8 Common Foot Problems
- Fungal and Bacterial Conditions, including athlete's foot, occur
because our feet spend a lot of time in shoes - a warm, dark, humid place that
is perfect for fungus to grow. Fungal and bacterial conditions can cause dry
skin, redness, blisters, itching, and peeling. If not treated right away, an
infection may be hard to cure. If not treated properly, the infection may
reoccur. To prevent infections, keep your feet - especially the area between
your toes - clean and dry. Change your shoes and socks or stockings often to
help keep your feet dry. Try dusting your feet daily with foot powder. If your
foot condition does not get better within 2 weeks, talk to your doctor.
- Dry skin can cause itching and burning feet. Use mild soap in small
amounts and a moisturizing cream or lotion on your legs and feet every day. Be
careful about adding oils to bath water since they can make your feet and
bathtub very slippery.
- Corns and calluses are caused by friction and pressure when the bony
parts of your feet rub against your shoes. If you have corns or calluses, see
your doctor. Sometimes wearing shoes that fit better or using special pads
solves the problem. Treating corns and calluses yourself may be harmful,
especially if you have diabetes or poor circulation. Over-the-counter medicines
contain acids that destroy the tissue but do not treat the cause. Sometimes
these medicines reduce the need for surgery, but check with your doctor before
using them.
- Warts are skin growths caused by viruses. They are sometimes painful
and, if untreated, may spread. Since over-the-counter preparations rarely cure
warts, see your doctor. A doctor can apply medicines, burn or freeze the wart
off, or take the wart off with surgery.
- Bunions develop when the joints in your big toe no longer fit together
as they should and become swollen and tender. Bunions tend to run in families.
If a bunion is not severe, wearing shoes cut wide at the instep and toes, taping
the foot, or wearing pads that cushion the bunion may help the pain. Other
treatments include physical therapy and wearing orthotic devices or shoe
inserts. A doctor can also prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs and cortisone
injections for pain. Sometimes surgery is needed to relieve the pressure and
repair the toe joint.
- Ingrown toenails occur when a piece of the nail breaks the skin -
which can happen if you don't cut your nails properly. Ingrown toenails are very
common in the large toes. A doctor can remove the part of the nail that is
cutting into the skin. This allows the area to heal. Ingrown toenails can often
be avoided by cutting the toenail straight across and level with the top of the
toe.
- Hammertoe is caused by a shortening of the tendons that control toe
movements. The toe knuckle is usually enlarged, drawing the toe back. Over time,
the joint enlarges and stiffens as it rubs against shoes. Your balance may be
affected. Wearing shoes and stockings with plenty of toe room is a treatment for
hammertoe. In very serious cases, surgery may be needed.
- Spurs are calcium growths that develop on bones of your feet. They are
caused by muscle strain in the feet. Standing for long periods of time, wearing
badly fitting shoes, or being overweight can make spurs worse. Sometimes spurs
are completely painless - at other times they can be very painful. Treatments
for spurs include using foot supports, heel pads, and heel cups. Sometimes
surgery is needed.
Some of the above information has been provided with the kind
permission of The National Institutes of Health (www. nih.gov). Last Editorial Review: 3/4/2003
|
