By Dr Pranjal Shamsher
Foot catches the attention first. Feet are the most active part of our body, even more than our hands. Attention to foot education and care is especially important as people age. The foot is a complex area consisting of twenty-six bones, thirty-three joints, and several ligaments, muscles, veins, arteries, and nerves.
As a primary weight-bearing structure the foot is subject to more deforming forces than any other part of the body. It is estimated that the average person takes eight thousand to ten thousand steps a day and covers about 115,000 miles in an average lifetime. The aging process affects all areas of the foot. In fact, most of the time they are definitely overworked which leads to many ailments and sometimes infection.
A little pampering on regular basis and proper medication in the conditions like fungal infection, cracked heels, corns certainly does wonder to one’s feet.
Causes
Bacteria or Fungi on the foot, caused due to the wrong choice of footwear or a foot care product.
Sweaty feet (hyperhydrosis)/ foot odour (bromohydrosis). Excessive smelling or sweating can be caused by wearing shoes that have synthetic materials, which most shoes have, especially tennis shoes, and synthetic thread socks.
Athlete’s foot (tinea) fungal infection is a very common problem and usually develops in warm, damp conditions. It can be extremely irritating, uncomfortable and distressing. Usually in this condition, fungi can occur under nails. Athlete’s Foot leaves sufferers with symptoms of burning, itching, inflammation, blisters, cracking and scaling.
Although certain diseases and infections of the foot have to be medically treated and may require certain internal and external therapies together, proper foot care plays a very important role in preventing foot diseases.
Prevention better than cure
Use care when trimming your nails. Do not cut your cuticles, open blisters, and try to free ingrown toenails, or break the skin on your feet.
Wash your feet daily - use lukewarm water and mild soap to clean your feet. Gently pat your feet dry and apply a moisturizing cream or lotion.
Check your feet daily. Check the entire surface of both feet for skin breaks, blisters, swelling, or redness.
Don’t forget to look between and underneath your toes where damage can be hidden. Use a mirror if it is difficult to see all parts of your feet or ask a caregiver to help you.
Choose your socks and shoes carefully - select cotton socks that fit loosely, and change your socks everyday. Select shoes that are snug but not tight, and break new shoes in slowly to prevent any blisters.
Make good foot care a habit. Do not regard good foot care as optional.
Footbaths, foot massages or foot treatment with aromatherapy essential oils is also very helpful in treating fungal infections. They help soothe cracked, bleeding, and painful feet. They also repair the tissue and skin healing.
Foot catches the attention first. Feet are the most active part of our body, even more than our hands. Attention to foot education and care is especially important as people age. The foot is a complex area consisting of twenty-six bones, thirty-three joints, and several ligaments, muscles, veins, arteries, and nerves.
As a primary weight-bearing structure the foot is subject to more deforming forces than any other part of the body. It is estimated that the average person takes eight thousand to ten thousand steps a day and covers about 115,000 miles in an average lifetime. The aging process affects all areas of the foot. In fact, most of the time they are definitely overworked which leads to many ailments and sometimes infection.
A little pampering on regular basis and proper medication in the conditions like fungal infection, cracked heels, corns certainly does wonder to one’s feet.
Causes
Bacteria or Fungi on the foot, caused due to the wrong choice of footwear or a foot care product.
Sweaty feet (hyperhydrosis)/ foot odour (bromohydrosis). Excessive smelling or sweating can be caused by wearing shoes that have synthetic materials, which most shoes have, especially tennis shoes, and synthetic thread socks.
Athlete’s foot (tinea) fungal infection is a very common problem and usually develops in warm, damp conditions. It can be extremely irritating, uncomfortable and distressing. Usually in this condition, fungi can occur under nails. Athlete’s Foot leaves sufferers with symptoms of burning, itching, inflammation, blisters, cracking and scaling.
Although certain diseases and infections of the foot have to be medically treated and may require certain internal and external therapies together, proper foot care plays a very important role in preventing foot diseases.
Prevention better than cure
Use care when trimming your nails. Do not cut your cuticles, open blisters, and try to free ingrown toenails, or break the skin on your feet.
Wash your feet daily - use lukewarm water and mild soap to clean your feet. Gently pat your feet dry and apply a moisturizing cream or lotion.
Check your feet daily. Check the entire surface of both feet for skin breaks, blisters, swelling, or redness.
Don’t forget to look between and underneath your toes where damage can be hidden. Use a mirror if it is difficult to see all parts of your feet or ask a caregiver to help you.
Choose your socks and shoes carefully - select cotton socks that fit loosely, and change your socks everyday. Select shoes that are snug but not tight, and break new shoes in slowly to prevent any blisters.
Make good foot care a habit. Do not regard good foot care as optional.
Footbaths, foot massages or foot treatment with aromatherapy essential oils is also very helpful in treating fungal infections. They help soothe cracked, bleeding, and painful feet. They also repair the tissue and skin healing.
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