Foot Pain and Pregnancy: Causes and Solutions

When pregnant, a woman’s body goes through a myriad of changes, some more uncomfortable than others. One of the most overlooked ailments that women endure during pregnancy is foot pain.

Causes of Foot Pain During Pregnancy

Two of the most common causes of foot pain during pregnancy are edema and over-pronation. Edema is defined as swelling or enlargement of the tissues in the feet as a result of fluids pooling in the lower extremities. As the baby grows, added pressure is put upon the blood vessels in the pelvic area as well as the legs. This, in turn, slows down circulation, causing fluids to pool in the lower legs and feet, and often producing a purplish discoloration in the ankles and feet as well.

Over-pronation is a result of the altered center of gravity that women experience during pregnancy. The additional baby weight that the legs and feet have to bear can cause the feet to tilt inward (over-pronate) and the arches of the feet to flatten out when walking. This can cause excessive strain on the tissues of the feet, often producing a ripple effect of leg and lower back pain as well.

Solutions for Pregnancy-Related Foot Pain

Over-pronation is commonly treated with remedial orthotics (shoe inserts) that help to support the arches and heels. Properly-fitted footwear is very important as well; be sure to choose shoes that provide firm support and adequate shock absorption. To help alleviate edema, elevate your feet as much as you possibly can, and wear shoes that do not constrict your circulation. In addition, try to maintain a low-sodium diet in order to help prevent fluid retention, which is essentially what edema is.

5 Reasons Seniors Should Visit a Podiatrist

Proper foot health is an often overlooked but extremely important issue for senior citizens. Without healthy feet, it will be difficult to maintain an active lifestyle. In order to ensure good foot health throughout their golden years, seniors should visit a podiatrist for proper assessment and (if necessary) treatment of any adverse foot or ankle conditions. Below are five reasons why seniors should visit a podiatrist:

1. Hygiene – Podiatrists can make a thorough assessment of the type of foot hygiene routine needed to promote adequate foot care among seniors. These assessments typically include key points such as proper washing techniques, how to prevent fungal infections, etc.
2. Inspections for Injuries – Many times seniors can sustain minor cuts, abrasions or sores on their feet that can grow into something worse if left unattended. A podiatrist will be able to perform a careful visual inspection of each foot to ensure that all injuries, whether large or small, are properly cared for.
3. Nail Care – Many seniors suffer from ingrown toenails due to improper trimming procedures. This often leads to various types of infections, which require the attention and care of a podiatrist to rectify. Podiatrists can instruct and inform seniors regarding proper toenail trimming techniques. In addition, podiatrists can trim the toenails of seniors who may be physically unable to do so themselves.
4. Specialized Care for Diabetics – Podiatrists can analyze and prescribe appropriate foot care measures for seniors who suffer from diabetes, as they are particularly susceptible to certain adverse foot conditions.
5.  Advice on Footwear – Proper footwear is an essential element of quality foot health. Podiatrists can offer seniors helpful and informative advice regarding what type of footwear will best support and protect their feet. In addition, podiatrists can help seniors determine whether or not orthopedic shoes will be necessary.

What Stretches Can Help Relieve Plantar Fasciitis?

There are various stretch exercises you can do in order to relieve the pain of plantar fasciitis. The best time to start with some of these exercises is early in the morning before you get out of bed, seeing as sleep tightens the planta fascia. However, it’s not necessary to do all the exercises at once. Try to do a couple of them about 2-3 times a day.

Foot Stretching
Start by flexing your foot about 10 times using upward and downward motions. This exercise is particularly effective before stepping out of bed.

Toe Stretching
Following foot stretching, sit on the bed and place your heel on the floor. Now reach down and pull your big toe up and back towards your ankle. Your ankle should to remain on the floor while the rest of your foot is elevated. The pulling of your toe should last about 15-30 seconds and it should be repeated about 2-4 times in a single session. It is recommended to do this exercise several times a day.

Towel Stretching
This exercise is very simple to do. It’s best to find a comfortable and flat surface where you can sit down with your legs straight. Now take a rolled towel and place it underneath the ball of your foot. While holding the two ends of the towel in your hands, gently start to pull. It’s important to keep your knee straight during the exercise. Similar to the toe stretching, keep the pulled position for 15-30 seconds and repeat 3-4 times.

Ball Stretching
Another easy exercise involves a tennis ball or rolling pin. It can be done while sitting or standing, although standing is the best position. Simply place the ball or rolling pin underneath the arch of your foot and start rolling in the arch. You can do this exercise for as long as it feels comfortable.

Using these stretch exercises in conjunction with other aids such as night splints and shoe inserts can dramatically relieve the pain of plantar fasciitis.

Heel Pain

Heel pain is likely the most common problem most podiatrist treat. Heel pain can happen for many reasons but the most common of these is a condition known as plantar fasciitis. This used to be called “heel spur” but we have long ago learned that this terminology is not accurate. Even the term plantar fasciitis isn’t always the most accurate diagnosis for pain in the bottom of the heel especially noticed when you first rise to stand from a seated or rested position. Plantar fasciitis is the acute inflammation of a structure on the bottom of the foot which connects the base of your toes to your heel bone. This structure is supposed to be stretchy, but in the case of acute inflammation, it becomes swollen and tight and less forgiving especially when you take your first few steps. But over time, when left untreated for too long, the recurrent inflammatory damage to the fascia starts to break down the fascia causing tiny microscopic tears within the structure..this degenerative process is known as plantar fasciosis.

Traditional treatments for plantar fasciitis include stretching, prolonged non-weight bearing, arch supports, orthotics, anti-inflammatory medication either by mouth or injected into the heel. But when those modalities fail to improve the symptoms, it’s time to consider either more advanced LASER technology to address the inflammation or consider the possibility of fasciosis. The proper diagnosis will lead to the proper treatment. Treatment could include Platelet Rich Plasma Tissue Transfer or Stem Cell technology to address the degenerative process occurring in the fascia. A timely diagnosis and well-executed treatment plan can get you back on your feet in comfort more quickly and get you back to doing those activities you thought you wouldn’t be able to do again.

Is Never Removing Nail Polish Unhealthy for Toenails?

There’s an ongoing dispute surrounding nail polish and the effects it could have when worn too long, especially on toenails. One of the most common beliefs is that toenails need to breathe in order to stay healthy. The fact of the matter is that different people will experience different results, but there are some basic guidelines that will help you know what’s best for your toes.

The Facts

• First and foremost, nails are technically dead, which means they don’t breathe. Rumor has it that nails turn yellow when wearing nail polish for too long because they can’t breathe. Even though the nails can be stained, it’s more from the polish, not due to “breathing” issues.
• Secondly, nail polish does not cause fungus. Toenail fungus is caused by heat and moisture being trapped against the feet for prolonged periods of time or direct contact with the fungus. However, wearing nail polish when you do have toenail fungus is not healthy.
• Thirdly, nail polish can damage toenails and make them brittle when it’s applied without a base coat. Some of the chemicals in nail polish tend to dry out nails, which shouldn’t be a problem if you use a high-quality base layer before applying polish.

Things to Consider

• Even though nails don’t breathe, they soak up moisture. Too much exposure to moisture and household chemicals can lead to stained and unhealthy nails, so always make sure they are dry before applying nail polish.
• A base layer is very important because, without it, nail polish can be soaked up into the nail. This is why nails turn yellow or blue in some cases. When a base layer is applied then nail polish won’t have this effect.

Ultimately there is no evidence to prove that permanent use of nail polish on toenails is unhealthy, but not everyone will have the same experience. For this reason, most experts agree that there should be periods when your nails should be without nail polish, even if only for a few days. If anything it will help you to keep tabs on the condition of your nails and better able to see if there is a problem forming from some other cause.

Why a Bunion Can Affect Your Shoe Fit and What You Can Do

Bunions are notoriously uncomfortable, and can interfere with normal physical activities such as walking or exercising. Although a bunion may appear to be a growth on the skin, it is actually a disorder caused from a misalignment of the bones of the feet. The most common type of bunion affects the joint connecting your big toe to your foot (called the metatarsophalangeal joint, or MTP joint), causing the joint to protrude or jut out from the foot at an angle. Bunions can also develop on the opposite side of your foot (near your little toe), in which case they are called “bunionettes” or “tailor’s bunions.”

Bunions typically develop as a result of repetitive pressure and stress on the bones of the feet due to wearing shoes that do not provide enough room for the toes (i.e., high heels, pointed-toe shoes, etc.). This could partially explain why women suffer from bunions nearly 10 times more than men. Bunions often irritate the skin and can cause redness and swelling at the MTP joint. Your big toe can also begin to point towards your other toes, and it may become increasingly difficult to find shoes that fit well without rubbing against the bunion. As a result, you may notice that the shoes that you used to wear are now too restrictive, and may be causing you discomfort.

So what can be done to remedy the situation? One practical step you can take is to start wearing shoes that offer plenty of room for your toes. In addition, shoes that lace up or buckle tend to provide more support than slip-on shoes. It is also recommended that you avoid wearing high heels or other narrow-toed shoes as much as possible. There are several pads available that are designed to cover your bunion and keep it from rubbing against your shoes. In addition, you can buy insoles that will help keep pressure off your bunion when you walk.

If your bunion is more severe, surgery may be required, because it may get worse over time if it goes untreated. Since there are several different types of bunion surgery options available, it is best to consult with a qualified podiatrist before coming to any final decisions.

Caring for Toenail Trauma

If you’ve had a toenail injury, you know that this type of trauma can be very painful, but it can also have serious consequences. Therefore, it’s important to properly care for the injured toenail in order to prevent complications such as nail thickening (which is commonly caused by severe trauma to the growth center of the nail, also known as the nail matrix), dystrophy or even permanent nail loss. Here are four easy-to-follow tips on caring for toenail trauma:

1. Stop the Bleeding
   If there’s an open wound, the first thing you need to do is to stop the bleeding by applying direct pressure to the wound using a clean cloth. Sometimes, the bleeding occurs under the nail, and if that’s the case, then it will slowly start to subside.
2. Keep the Wound Clean
   Open wounds run a risk for infection, it’s vital to carefully clean and disinfect the wound. This is particularly important if the nail is torn. Clean the wound and the surrounding area with lukewarm water and preferably antibacterial soap, then apply a layer of antibiotic ointment before applying a sterilized bandage.
3. Minimize the Swelling
   Now that you’ve stopped the bleeding and reduced the risk for infection, try to minimize the swelling and the pain by taking over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen and/or by applying ice packs to the affected area every couple of hours. Depending on how severe the toenail trauma is, it may take several days to a week for the swelling to completely subside.
4. Keep an Eye on the Injury and Look for Signs of Infection
   Follow-up is very important when managing severe toenail trauma, so make sure to change the bandages, re-apply the antibiotic ointment whenever needed and to keep applying ice packs until the swelling is gone. The nail may slowly separate from the nail bed and start to fall off, so it’s extremely important to monitor for signs of infection. If you do see puss or redness or feel intense heat around the wound, then seek medical treatment from your doctor. Depending on the cause of the injury, you may also need to get a tetanus shot.

How to Tell If You Have a Stress Fracture

Stress fractures are very small cracks that develop in a bone. A stress fracture is somewhat of a subtle injury, because it does not come from one particular event, but from repetitive stress over a period of time. Many basketball players, distance runners, and other athletes who are involved in high-impact sports experience stress fractures. When muscles become fatigued through overuse, they will eventually be unable to absorb any more shock from repetitive impact. Once this happens, they begin to transfer that shock to your bones, eventually causing stress fractures. Since the lower leg and feet are some of the main weight-bearing bones in our bodies, they are the ones that most commonly become subject to stress fractures; in fact, studies show that over 50% of all adolescent and adult stress fractures take place in the lower leg.

So what are the signs of a stress fracture, and how can you tell if you have one? One of the most immediate ways to tell is if you begin to notice an increase of pain in your lower legs or feet, especially if you have just recently changed or increased your physical activity. Sometimes starting a new workout routine or increasing the intensity of your regular physical exercise can lead to stress fractures, especially if you attempt to do too much too soon. With stress fractures, the pain typically intensifies when you begin any high-impact activity and subsides when you’re at rest. In addition, the pain is often dull and persistent versus sharp and throbbing, and may be accompanied by swelling. The fracture may be getting worse if it takes less and less time for the pain to “kick in” after you begin an activity. Stress fractures can definitely be painful, but they will normally heal themselves with nothing more than a few weeks or months of rest.

The best way to diagnose a stress fracture is to visit a doctor and undergo a physical examination. Keep in mind that due to their small size, stress fractures can often go undetected by X-ray machines, so an MRI or other medical imaging techniques may be required. The best treatment for a stress fracture is to just simply rest while the bone naturally mends itself, which can typically take between 6 to 8 weeks or sometimes longer depending upon the severity of the injury. Be careful not to return to physical activity too soon, as this may exacerbate the injury and cause greater damage over time.

What Causes Heel Pain?

Felt most intensely when you place weight on the affected heel, heel pain can start as mild and build up over time. There is a large number of factors that can contribute to heel pain, so seeking the help of podiatrist to determine the cause and recommend a treatment plan is a good idea before the pain becomes too much to bear. Two main causes of heel pain are:

1. Plantar Fasciitis. The plantar fascia is the bowstring-like tissue band which runs under the sole of the foot, connecting the heel bone to the tip of the toes, and acts as a shock absorber to the foot. When this band becomes inflamed, it causes pain centered under the heel. The pain can be mild at first, and will often be sharpest first thing in the morning when you take your first steps or when you’re placing weight on the affected foot. Unfortunately, the pain is persistent and can affect your everyday life in a big way. But fortunately plantar fasciitis is fairly easy to treat.
2. Heel Spurs. A heel spur is a calcium deposit which forms under the heel bone. The deposit, or growth, rarely causes pain on its own, but over time, the body will create tissue formations around the heel spur to protect and cushion over the area. The extra tissue is what causes the pain when it causes stress on the surrounding ligaments, muscle and nerves. Basically, the body is trying to protect the heel but the extra tissue takes too much stress and causes painful pressure. The pain can be intermittent to chronic and can be especially severe when walking or running. Heel spurs are often associated with plantar fasciitis. Heel spurs are diagnosed using x-rays.

Heel pain can be troublesome because it is so persistent and has a great impact on your daily life. However, there are some things you can do to prevent heel pain:

• Maintain a healthy weight – being overweight causes stress on the foot and particularly on the heels.
• If you are a runner, do not increase your mileage too rapidly.
• Wear good-quality shoes.

Can Over-the-Counter Orthotics Help With Flat Feet?

Flat feet can cause a great deal of discomfort, and while there is no instant cure for this bothersome condition, there are several non-prescription devices available that can help provide support and relief for persons suffering from flat feet. These devices are known as over-the-counter orthotics (a.k.a. shoe inserts), and they come in a wide variety of forms including insoles, arch supports, foot cushions, heel liners, and so forth. The main purpose of over-the-counter orthotics is to enhance support for the foot–whether it’s in the arch, the heel, or some other area–in order to help prevent common injuries associated with flat feet such as ankle, knee or back pain.
Some common over-the-counter orthotics are as follows:

• Insoles – Insoles can be slipped into your shoe, and they are typically constructed of a gel, plastic or foam material. Insoles provide extra support and cushioning for your feet.
• Arch Supports – When it comes to the arches of the feet, there really is no one-size-fits-all shoe insert; some people have high arches, while other people have very low or fallen arches (a.k.a. flat feet). Arch supports are designed with a raised appearance in order to support the natural arch of the foot.
• Heel Liners – Also called heel cups or heel pads, heel liners provide cushion and support for the heel area. Aging persons in particular will often use heel liners due to the gradual thinning of the natural fat pads on the bottom of the heel.
• Shoe Cushions – These cushions provide relief for people whose shoes rub against their feet in certain areas. Shoe cushions help to protect your feet by providing a layer of material that reduces motion-related friction.

Over-the-counter orthotics are different from custom orthotics, which are available only by prescription. Custom orthotics ultimately provide better support for flat feet because they are specifically designed by a podiatrist to match the shape and contours of your feet, versus an over-the-counter orthotic device that will be somewhat generic. Although custom orthotics are typically more expensive, they are often covered by insurance. The main advantage of custom orthotics is that they are created only after your feet, ankles and legs have been thoroughly evaluated by a podiatrist in order to ensure an accurate fit. So while over-the-counter orthotics can provide an acceptable level of relief for flat feet, custom orthotics will be much more effective in accommodating your particular foot structure and condition.

Soothing Dry, Cracked Feet in Winter

The cold winter air can be very rough on your skin – especially the skin on your feet! Some of the best ways to soothe your dry, cracked feet this winter include:

• Brushing Your Feet. That’s right – brush them! Use a dry, natural bristled brush to gently brush your feet in a circular motion. This exfoliates the skin, as well as stimulates blood flow and skin cell regeneration.
• Smooth Skin with a Pumice Stone. A pumice stone is basically a hard volcanic rock that smoothes any hard or rough areas of the feet when wetted and rubbed against them. A great time to do this is at the end of a shower or bath. If your feet are severely cracked, you may find it painful to smooth them with the pumice stone. At this point, you should consult a podiatrist who can consult with you on how to safely treat your feet.
• Moisturize! In addition to the above methods, don’t forget to moisturize. Look for lotions and creams that include natural ingredients like coconut oil or shea butter that won’t irritate your dry skin. Apply every evening before bed and you’ll notice a difference in no time!

Is “Barefoot” Running Safe?

You may have heard about or even seen people running barefoot outside, on sidewalks, the road or even on trails. They may have had completely bare feet, or strange looking shoes that fit glove-like around each individual toe. This phenomenon of “barefoot” running is looked on by many as a return to the way our bodies were meant to run, therefore suffering fewer injuries and performing better and longer in races.

But, is barefoot running safe? While there are some benefits to it, like strengthening muscles and using less energy, there are some significant risks.

• Increased risk of puncture. While running barefoot there are high chances that you will puncture your foot with a sharp object lying in your path. Even a small puncture in your foot could lead to a larger health problem like tetanus or other infections.
• Blisters. Beginner barefoot runners are also at a high risk of developing blisters on the bottoms of their feet that were once protected by wearing shoes. Eventually callouses will form, but at first the blisters will be painful and also prone to infection should they burst.
• Ligament injury, stress fractures, burns and numbness. Running barefoot puts you at a greater risk for ligament injury, stress fractures, and burns from hot pavement or numbness from cold. Numbness can lead to developing serious puncture wounds which aren’t felt until after numbness has ceased.

If you are planning on becoming a barefoot runner, it’s important to know what to look out for, and extremely important to train properly – running in shoes gives you a heel strike, and running barefoot requires a midfoot strike. This change can be difficult to master right away. Practice on a treadmill first, wear “barefoot” shoes and check your feet after each run to ensure nothing has punctured the skin.

Something Between Your 4-5 Toes? How to Tell If It’s Athlete’s Foot or a Soft Corn

Are you irritated by something you can feel and see on the skin between your fourth and fifth toes? If so, you may believe you have athlete’s foot. While that’s quite often the case, there’s also another possibility: you may have developed a soft corn.

What is athlete’s foot?

This is an infection which is caused by a fungus. It appears when the bacteria that usually live harmlessly on your feet grow out of control and infect your skin. This can cause cracked skin, which can be quite painful. Always check with your podiatrist if you’re unsure.

• The area between your toes will usually feel itchy, and you may also see redness in this area.
• The skin around the infection will be dry and scaly, which is not the case with a soft corn.
• Severe cases, where there is badly cracked skin, increase your risk of suffering other foot infections.

What is a soft corn?

This is a type of corn which is more common between your smallest toes than anywhere else on your foot. It’s caused when a bone spur is irritated by your shoes rubbing against it. This can be very painful, and so soft corns sometimes need to be removed surgically.

• Soft corns result in mushy, white skin forming over them. This is because your foot’s moisture prevents hard calluses forming.
• They are quite prone to infection. This means that they require special care; general corn treatments won’t work.
• The pain can often be reduced by using a foam pad between your fourth and fifth toes. Soft cotton can also be used.

Most cases of athlete’s foot are not very serious, and can be well treated with over-the-counter medication. This is not always the case with soft corns, which don’t usually go away on their own. A podiatrist will be able to tell you for sure which condition you have and how it can be treated.

3 Things Your Pedicurist Should Never Do

Getting a pedicure can be a fun and relaxing experience, and taking care of your feet is never a bad idea, but there are some things that a pedicurist can do that are counterproductive to proper foot health. Pay attention next time you go to the salon to make sure your pedicurist never does the following things.

1. Soaking your feet in a dirty tub
If you sit in the chair right after someone leaves and your pedicurist doesn’t take the time to properly clean it, speak up! Bacteria and fungus can grow in in the tub and in the jets that shoot out the bubbles. It’s not uncommon for warts or even athlete’s foot to come from something as innocent as a foot bath if the tub is used without being thoroughly cleaned in between every client.

2. Not using sterilized tools
Never let your pedicurist use metal tools that haven’t been sterilized beforehand. One way to check if the salon takes this seriously is by looking for a bowl filled with blue liquid. The metal tools that have been used should be soaking in that blue liquid (a disinfectant) to effectively kill any microbial life, or at least most of it. Some salons use other forms of disinfecting tools so keep an eye out that the tools haven’t been used on the people before you and that your pedicurist is retrieving them from a disinfected area.

3. Using razors and graters
A pedicurist should never use a razor or grater to get rid of the dead or hard skin on the bottoms of your feet. Apart from increasing the chance of infection, it could lead to a small injury, and that’s all that’s needed for bacteria and fungi to create problems. There are less severe ways to remove dead skin, such as a combination of hot water, a foot scrub and a scrubbing tool. If you have serious callouses, see a podiatrist for removal.

How Long Will it Take to Heal an Achilles Tendon?

The Achilles tendon is the thickest tendon in the human body. It connects the bones of the calf and heel. Because it’s such a frequently and heavily used part of the body, it’s vulnerable to a number of problems including rupture, inflammation and degeneration (tendinosis).

A problematic Achilles tendon can be quite painful and can curtail normal activity involving walking or running. As long as the injury is not very severe, an Achilles tendon can heal on its own, but it can take some time. Although the pain and the swelling may drastically reduce after around 3-6 weeks, complete healing can take several months. This is because the muscles need time to restore and rebuild their strength.

Even if you aren’t experiencing a lot of pain, you may still experience some soreness and slight leg weakness for months. During this time it’s highly discouraged to engage in any aggressive activities that put undue stress on your weakened Achilles tendon.

If the injury is more severe, you may be in a cast for up to eight weeks. Following that, you’ll still have plenty of rehabbing to do before you’re ready to resume former activities.

How to speed up healing:

• Give your leg as much rest as possible during the weeks immediately after the injury. Use crutches if you have to.
• Ice the leg for half an hour every day until the pain and swelling have gone down.
• You can also wrap your leg with a bandage to fight swelling.
• When you are sitting or lying down, place your leg in an elevated position.
• After the first few weeks, start doing gentle stretches and strength exercises.
• If you’re not sure if you’re healing properly, visit your doctor for treatment recommendations.

What to Expect When Getting Fitted for Orthotics

Orthotics can be very helpful in treating problems in specific muscles or joints. Different types of orthotics can be used to restrict movement, reduce the weight bearing on a certain joint, help in movement, restore proper function and prevent injury of a part of the musculoskeletal system such as the neck or knee. The most common types of orthotics are those fitted on the feet to help in running and walking, reduce pain and treat conditions such as flat feet and poorly formed arches.

Here’s what to expect when getting fitted for orthotics so you can be better prepared for your appointment:

• A detailed analysis of your medical and lifestyle history. A review of your medical history will reveal any diseases you may have had affecting your musculoskeletal system (muscles, joints, cartilage and ligaments) as well as any past injuries. An analysis of your lifestyle helps establish what activities you do most which in turn helps design the best orthotics for you.
• A biomechanical examination. This is a detailed exam of your of your feet and ankles and how they relate to the rest of the body. The doctor may observe how you walk and stand.
• Impressions. To create the perfect orthotic for your foot, an impression of your feet is taken.
• Ensuring a shoe fit. After the fitting, orthotics take just a few weeks to be designed. Your doctor may recommend that you bring two or three pairs of your usual shoes for testing. If any problems arise, modifications are made and monitored over the course of the next several weeks.

Treating Ingrown Toenails – DIY or Go to a Professional?

Should you treat your ingrown toenails yourself? There are situations when you may be able to handle the problem on your own, but there are also signs that you should skip treatment at home altogether and see a doctor.

When to Treat at Home and How

If the ingrown toenail is mildly irritated and red, then you don’t necessarily have to see a professional. The following treatment should help:

• Soaking your foot in lukewarm water three times a day for 15 minutes.
• Massaging the skin around the area where the nail has grown with the purpose to push the skin away from the nail.
• After drying the foot thoroughly, applying antibiotic cream or ointment to prevent infection.

If after a few days the soaking doesn’t work and the irritation gets worse, then it’s best to visit the doctor.

When to Seek Professional Help

Whether the ingrown toenail happened naturally or through an injury, it can be very painful. If the pain doesn’t subside, the toe feels numb and there are signs of an infection then go directly to a professional before attempting to treat the problem yourself. If you have diabetes or poor blood circulation, you should also seek immediate help.

Needless to say, it’s better to prevent ingrown toenails from becoming a problem. Clipping your nails on a regular basis according to the natural curve of your toe and not rounding off the corners should help a great deal. Also, don’t cut them too short and wear shoes that give your toes enough room to move around.

How Diabetes Can Affect Your Foot Health

It’s important to know how diabetes can affect your foot health, because your lower extremities run a higher risk of developing complications. That’s why when you have diabetes, taking care of your feet has to become a priority.

Both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes can cause problems. Two of the most common are:

Peripheral Neuropathy: Diabetes causes direct damage to nerves and blood vessels – specifically peripheral nerves. In addition to making your muscles less efficient, pain and a tingling or burning sensation in your feet can be expected. You may also have an overall loss of feeling in your feet, which means injuries are less likely to be noticed.

Peripheral Artery Disease: This is the indirect way diabetes can create complications. Basically, you experience a hardening of the arteries which either decreases the amount of oxygen that reaches the legs and feet, or it completely stops the oxygen flow. With less oxygen reaching the area, you’ll feel more pain. You can develop ulcers and, in the worst cases, the tissue in your legs and feet can start to die.

Diabetes is often treatable, but it’s imperative that no matter how serious your condition, you keep a close eye on your lower extremities so that when complications do arise, you’ll be able to get the treatment you need before too much damage is done.

How Can Neuropathy Affect the Feet?

Neuropathy is a disorder that affects the network of nerves (called the “peripheral nerves”) that connect the spinal cord to the organs, muscles and skin. The job of the peripheral nervous system is to relay signals or information from the central nervous system (i.e., your brain and spinal cord) to the rest of your body, and vice versa. Neuropathy develops when some type of damage has been done to the peripheral nerves, which will eventually affect your ability to perceive certain touch-related information such as warmth, pressure, etc. People who suffer from peripheral neuropathy will sometimes feel numbness or tingling in their extremities such as their arms, legs, hands, and feet.

How Neuropathy Affects the Feet

Since neuropathy affects the nerves of the feet, there can be times when your nerves will send signals of pain when there is no source of pain present. This can take the form of sharp shooting pain in your feet, or even a dull ache or throbbing sensation. Other times, you may experience a loss of feeling when something actually is harming you. Other symptoms include burning or stabbing sensations in the toes. This type of condition can be caused by a number of factors, including illness, injury, infection, or even hereditary disorders. Neuropathy can also be a sign of a more serious underlying condition, such as diabetes.

Neuropathy: Caring for Your Feet

If you suffer from peripheral neuropathy, it is highly recommended that you inspect your feet on a regular basis. Since neuropathy can cause a gradual decrease in physical sensation, it can be easy to accidentally overlook an infection or injury. For example, you could step on a piece of glass or a tack and not even feel it. Carefully inspect your feet on a consistent basis, and seek medical attention if necessary. In addition, it is a good idea to avoid walking barefoot, and be sure to wear adequately protective footwear.

Tips for Teens Dealing with Athlete’s Foot

Athlete’s foot (Tinea pedis) is caused by a fungal infection on the feet. Common symptoms of athlete’s foot include itchy rashes, dryness or cracking of the skin on the bottom of the feet and/or between the toes. Despite the name, you don’t have to be an athlete to get athlete’s foot; this condition can affect anyone, but it is most commonly found among teenage males and young men. If you are a teenager dealing with athlete’s foot (or the parent of one), below are some helpful tips you can use to help treat and/or prevent this bothersome condition.

• Fungus thrives in damp places, so be sure to dry your feet completely (including between your toes) when you get out of the shower. If you are physically active and sweat a lot, you may need to bring an extra pair of socks to change into after you exercise so that the sweat doesn’t settle in on your feet and create a moist environment. You can also apply some antifungal powder to your feet before putting on your socks to help keep them dry.
• There are several over-the-counter antifungal creams, such as miconazole and clotrimazole, that do a good job of killing the fungus associated with athlete’s foot. It typically takes between 1 to 4 weeks of applying the cream to the soles of your feet and between the toes to fully eliminate the fungus.
• Avoid walking barefoot, especially in public locker rooms, gyms and showers. These places are breeding grounds for all kinds of “fungus triggers”. Wear flip-flops or shower shoes instead.
• Wear socks instead of cotton or synthetic fabrics such as polyester or nylon. Wool absorbs moisture much better than its synthetic counterparts or cotton.

The above tips are typically very effective in treating and preventing athlete’s foot, but if the fungus still stubbornly hangs around, consult with a podiatrist in order to knock it out for good.

What Should You Do if a Toenail is About to Come Off?

Torn or separated toenails are not uncommon injuries; they can happen by way of something as simple as stubbing your toe around the house or hurting your foot while playing sports. A loose toenail can also be the result of a fungal infection. Whatever the cause, common symptoms of a loose toenail include swelling, discoloration, pus or blood collecting under the nail, and pain (of course). If your toenail is about to come off, you need to take a good assessment of its condition so that you’ll know how to respond. Below are some practical steps you can take to treat a torn or separated toenail.

1. Treat the bleeding first. This can usually be done by applying light pressure around the toe (not directly on the toenail) with a cloth. Try to keep your foot elevated during the process as well. It may take anywhere between 10 minutes to half an hour for the bleeding to stop completely, so don’t be worried if you have to wait a little while.
2. Clean the wound as best as possible. Use a warm washcloth to gently wipe away the blood around the toenail. You will also need to disinfect the wound, but it’s better to use something like Betadine instead of hydrogen peroxide or isopropyl alcohol to do it. Not only will it be far less painful, but you will run less risk of possibly burning or damaging the underlying tissue. Once you have disinfected the wound, dab it dry and apply an antibiotic ointment (e.g., Neosporin) to the area.
3. Don’t yank it off if it’s not ready. If the nail is “dangling by a thread”, so to speak, it’s fairly safe to go ahead and gently remove it with toenail clippers, but if you have any doubts, it’s better to err on the side of caution and leave it on. Many times the nail will fall off all on its own to prepare for the healing process. The nail will grow back naturally in about 3 to 6 months. In the meantime, keep the affected area as clean as possible, regularly apply your ointment, and wrap it with gauze and medical tape.
4. Monitor the wound for signs of infection. Check on it regularly for any discolored pus or abnormal swelling (a small amount of swelling is normal). If you suspect that it might be infected, get it checked out at a clinic or hospital just to be on the safe side.

What are Plantar Warts and How Do You Treat Them?

Plantar Warts (verruca plantaris), also known as myrmecia, are small, hard, noncancerous skin growths that affect the foot, but typically appear on the heels or balls (plantar side) of the foot. They commonly occur in children, adolescents and the elderly. Plantar warts are caused by a strain of viral infection in the superficial layer of the skin known as human papillomavirus (HPV) – the most common viral infection of the skin. Though HPV can be found anywhere in the plantar surface or sole of the foot, they tend to produce symptoms in areas of most pressure and friction.

What do plantar warts look like?

The most noticeable symptom is a thickened callus-like growth that tends to become quite tender, especially if it occurs around areas of continuous pressure. Because of this pressure, plantar warts appear flat or grow inwards. They can occur solo or in a cluster (mosaic warts). They may also have black spots (caused by dilated blood vessels) on their surfaces.

How do you get plantar warts?

HPV thrives in warm, moist environments and you may contract it by walking barefooted around locker rooms or swimming pools.
HPV gains entry into the skin of the foot through:

• Cuts or scrapes
• Cracks in dry skin
• Moist, softened, fragile skin that has been in the water a long time

How do you treat plantar warts?

Treatment of plantar warts is recommended to lessen symptoms (including pain), decrease duration and reduce transmission. Plantar warts may eventually clear up on their own after a certain period of time. However, since they are frequently painful, especially when standing, walking, running or when squeezed, you may want to have them treated immediately and completely by a podiatrist.