Simple Solutions for Common Foot Problems
Are aching feet taking the spring out of your workout? Get back on your feet with these tips.
Chronic foot problems can hamper your springtime activities. Here are some common causes of foot pain and remedies for keeping your feet happy and healthy this season and all year round.
- Plantar Fasciitis: If you run or walk on hard surfaces, you can irritate the tissue connecting the heel of your foot with the base of your toes. The best treatment is rest, medication to reduce swelling and putting a heel pad in your shoe. Your physician can also recommend exercises to alleviate symptoms.
- Corns and Calluses: These hard, rough patches of skin form on toes or the soles of your feet when you wear shoes that are too tight or too loose. To reduce corns and calluses, soak your feet in a warm Epsom salt bath and use a pumice stone to gently rub the area. Never pull or cut the skin and avoid using harsh chemicals since that can cause a serious infection.
- Bunions: More than 1/3 of American women develop bunions from wearing high heels that are too tight. Large, swollen and often sore, these bumps form at the base and side of your big toe. Symptoms resulting from bunions often improve by switching to shoes that fit well with heels no higher than 2 ¼ inches, but if your bunion causes lots of pain or makes it hard to walk, you may need surgery.
- Ingrown Toenails: This painful condition happens when the corner of your toenail grows into the skin of your toe. To prevent ingrown toenails, cut toenails straight across (no rounded corners). To alleviate pain, soak your foot in warm, sudsy water several times a day and gently nudge the toenail out. If you develop an infection, contact your physician.
- Athlete's Foot: If you notice peeling, cracking and scaly skin between your toes, chances are you have athlete's foot. Caused by fungi that thrive in heat and moisture, athlete's foot is best treated with over-the-counter anti-fungal powders or creams, good hygiene and keeping your feet dry.
Speak with a Foot and Ankle Specialist
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Date Last Reviewed: March 15, 2017
Editorial Review: Andrea Cohen, Editorial Director, Baldwin Publishing, Inc. Contact Editor
Medical Review: Perry Pitkow, MD
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