Best foot forward

I waded into the water and got a bit scared of the big waves.

I waded into the water and got a bit scared of the big waves.

Published Nov 25, 2013

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Durban - As the temperature rises, the outdoors beckons. It’s time to be at the seaside, brunch with friends at your favourite pavement cafe or picnic in the park.

Even if you’re not in the sun, chances are your summer wardrobe calls for peep-toes, sandals and flip flops. So while most of the emphasis is on that beach body, don’t forget that your toes will tell their tale and its worth ensuring that they are in top form.

Local experts suggest what to look out for and how to deal with it:

 

Athlete’s Foot:

Athlete’s foot is a fungal infection of the skin on the foot. It is characterised by itchy feet, especially between the toes.

There are many types of fungal infections. Some show up as dry, cracked skin, while others infect damp skin. Fungal infections love the damp conditions found in shoes as well as in cracks of the skin.

Wash your feet daily, making sure to dry well between the toes and avoid wearing the same pair of shoes for consecutive days.

It may help to wipe out the insides of shoes with 20 percent bleach in water once a week to prevent re-infection. Air your shoes in sunshine for four hours.

If you have sweaty feet, change your socks often. Use five grains of permanganate of potash in 1 litre of warm water as an inexpensive foot wash to cut down on sweating. Should your feet tend to be dry and cracked, use heel balm daily.

 

Fungal infections of the toenails:

This is an infection caused by spores under the nail plate and is most often the result of ingrown toenails.

Ingrown toenails are caused by cutting nails too short, dampness around the feet and tight or incorrectly shaped shoes. These make the nails flexible and allow them to dig into surrounding flesh.

 

Treatment includes paint-on products, oral medication and laser light therapy.

 

Calluses and corns:

Pressure and friction from tight shoes that do not match the shape of your foot can cause corns and hard skin. Opt for flats or low heels for everyday wear.

Thin soled shoes without inner sole cushioning transfer impact into bones, and can cause calluses. Replace worn-out soles and heels that affect ankle balance.

Keep skin supple by daily abrasion, followed by a heel balm containing urea.

 

Cracked heels:

Cracked heels may be the result of dehydration, excessive sweating, metabolic illness, fungal infections, or ill-fitting shoes.

Look for footwear with a good fit at the heel. Use anti-fungal foot creams. Remove fungus from shoe inners with a solution of 1:5 bleach in water. Apply and dry in sunlight for at least four hours.

Leather and breathable shoe materials are best.

 

Smelly feet:

Feet can smell because of overactive sweat glands, accidents to nerves, nervous conditions, tight shoes and shoe materials that do not “breathe”.

Use foot talc in socks and closed shoes. Wash feet daily with five grains of permanganate of potash in 1 litre of water.

 

Pain under ball of the foot:

Shoes that are too narrow will force the metatarsal bones (at the front of the foot) closer together, pinching nerves and blood vessels.

It can cause a shift in the position of the joints across the metatarsal arch. This can result in more load on one or more lesser metatarsals in the middle instead of the load being spread across all five metatarsals.

Shoes that are too wide may cause calluses as the foot slides in the shoe. Working long hours in thin-soled shoes and high heels can stimulate the formation of calluses.

A thick callus becomes hard, causing a burning sensation as it pulls at soft skin layers underneath.

 

Pain under the heel:

Heel and arch pain can result from inflammation of the plantar fascia, a fibrous band under the foot.

Common causes include standing for long hours, pregnancy, or imbalance of the foot or ankle. Signs include heel pain the moment you stand up in the morning. It’s worse during and after exercise.

Avoid thin-soled shoes for everyday use. Replace worn out heels as these can tilt the foot and ankle out of balance.

Ice-packs, rest and taping help decrease the pain.

 

Burning or pins and needles pain in the feet:

Apart from nerve pain brought about by wearing incorrectly shaped shoes, burning pain, “pins and needles” or sharp pains in the feet may be signs of nerve damage.

This damage is called peripheral neuropathy and is most commonly linked to nerve damage in people suffering from diabetes.

It can also be linked to damage caused by alcoholism, exposure to toxins or trauma to the lower spine.

Consult your podiatrist for a full neural examination of the feet. - The Mercury

 

*l Information provided by Durban podiatrists Anette Thompson, Yvonne Masemola and Sophia Mazzotti.

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