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Our feet walk an average 115,000km in a lifetime – nearly three times the circumference of the earth. So, if you’re going to be using them so much, it makes sense to take good care of them. Neglect them, on the other hand, and they may return the favour with fungus, smells, corns, ingrown toenails and chilblains.
Athlete’s foot
You don’t have to be an athlete to get athlete’s foot. This fungal infection loves to grow in warm, moist places especially the nooks between sweaty toes. Usually picked up from swimming pools and communal changing rooms the fungus makes the skin itchy, red and sore and, if not treated, the skin soon becomes soggy and starts to crack and peel.
It’s best treated using an anti-fungal spray if the area affected is moist, or an anti-fungal cream, if the area is dry. To prevent it returning make sure you dry between the toes after bathing.
Corns
Thick and hard areas of skin (calluses) can appear anywhere on the feet where persistent rubbing or uneven pressure occurs. Flat feet, bunions or ill-fitting shoes may be responsible. As time goes by calluses may become cracked and painful or develop into corns.
Medicated corn plasters contain salicylic acid to soften and break down the hard skin. However, this acid can sometimes damage the skin surrounding the corn.
Non-medicated plasters tend to be more effective as they relieve pressure from the corn. If the problem persists visit a podiatrist. NB: Never use corn plasters if you’re a diabetic. They can damage your skin and cause wounds which could lead to serious complications.
Ingrown toenails
When you trim your toenails, do you taper the corners so that the nail curves with the shape of your toe? Beware, this may encourage the sides of the nail to curl down and dig into your skin.
Usually, removal of the offending nail spike by a podiatrist, gentle cleansing, and sometimes antibiotics are all that’s required to treat this. However, sometimes an operation to remove part of the toenail becomes necessary. You can lower your risk of developing an ingrown toenail by:
- Trimming your toenails straight across with no rounded corners.
- Don't pick at your toenails or tear them off
- Making sure your shoes aren’t too tight.
Chilblains
Chilblains are itchy and/or tender red or purple bumps that can occur on heels and toes as a reaction to the cold. Because chilblains respond poorly to treatment (usually steroids and antibiotics) it’s best to try and prevent chilblains occurring in the first place:
- Don’t smoke. It interferes with the circulation in the small blood vessels and increases the risk of getting chilblains
- Don’t allow your hands and feet to get too cold
- Exercise a bit to warm up before going outside into the cold
- Do not “toast” feet in front of the fire after skiing. Allow gradual warming when indoors.
Smelly feet
The soles of our feet contain more sweat glands and sensitive nerve-endings per square centimetre than any other part of the body. In one day, each foot can produce more than a pint of sweat.
And because this sweat cannot escape easily like the sweat on the rest of our body, it collects on our skin and in our socks and is a feeding ground for bacteria. When we take off our shoes, the smell that hits us is the bacteria excretion. To combat foot odour:
- Wash feet with strong anti-bacterial soap
- Wear clean socks, preferably cotton
- Change socks during the day
- Don’t wear the same shoes everyday. Give a pair of shoes 24 hours or more to air out before wearing them again
- Apply an antiperspirant to your feet.
Footnotes:
Twenty-five per cent of the bones in the body are in our feet
Standing in one spot is far more tiring than walking. This is because demands are being made on the same few muscles for an extended length of time.
Women have about four times as many foot problems as men. High heels are partly to blame.
Walking is the best exercise for your feet. It also contributes to your general health by improving circulation, contributing to weight control, and promoting all-around well being.
Your feet mirror your general health. Conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, nerve and circulatory disorders can show their initial symptoms in the feet. So foot ailments can be your first sign of more serious medical problems.
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