Why do feet get so dry?
For the part of the body that bears the burden of our weight the
whole day, the feet are the most neglected. Here are a few useful
points of basic foot care.
While the feet have large active sweat glands, they have
relatively few oil glands. The soles of our feet do not have any
oil glands. That is why our feet tend to be so dry.
What are the common foot problems?
The common foot problems are:
* Fungal infection or athletes foot.
* Corns or calluses.
* Sweaty, smelly feet.
* Chipped nails.
* Cracked heels.
Fungal infection
This is a common problem during the monsoon season in people who
need to wear shoes and socks all day. This is due to heat and
humidity and commonly occurs between the toes.
Symptoms:
* May appear as a whitish boggy area in the webs between the toes
with or without itching.
* At times there is flaking and scaling of soles.
* There may be thickening and heaping of crumbly material under
the toenails.
Treatment:
* The feet must be kept dry and good foot hygiene must be
maintained.
* Socks must preferably be made of cotton and be changed daily.
* Shoes should be alternated.
* Using an anti-fungal powder every morning and an anti-fungal
cream at night is helpful.
* A dermatologist (skin specialist) must be consulted if the
problems persist.
Corns and calluses
These occur due to persistent friction, rubbing and or pressure.
People with arthritis, with improperly positioned toes or bony
spurs are more prone as there are abnormal pressure points that
act on the foot causing corns.
Symptoms: Corn is a cone shaped thickening of the outer horny
layer of the skin that becomes very hard and painful. Calluses are
similar to corns but do not have the regular round shape and are
generally not painful.
Treatment: It is important to eliminate the cause of increased
friction or pressure. The shoes must be well fitting. Use of
insoles and lubrication of the skin helps. Soaking the feet in
warm water and then rubbing them gently with pumice stone helps
minimizing the discomfort. If the problem persists, consult the
dermatologist.
Smelly feet
This is due to excessive sweating and wearing shoes for prolonged
periods. This can be prevented by washing the feet well and drying
them before wearing shoes. The socks must be washed and changed
daily. The same pair of shoes must not be worn daily. Using
anti-fungal powders helps.
Clipped nails
Sometimes the nails become brittle and start to clip. This can be
prevented by massaging the fingers and feet with warm olive oil
every week. Each night the nails may be rubbed with moisturizing
creams to prevent them from becoming brittle.
Cracked heels
These can be prevented by wearing comfortable footwear and
avoiding standing for prolonged periods. The feet must be soaked
in warm water and gently scrubbed at least once a week. It helps
to apply a moisturizing cream to the soles every night.
How should footwear be selected?
Before buying any footwear walk around with the footwear to detect
any point of unusual pressure or tightness. The sides of the feet
must not rub against the shoe wall. There should be enough space
within so as not to cramp the toes.
Treatment for footcare
Foot Care Treatment
Diabetic Educators: On
the Front Lines of Foot Care
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