Podiatry: Foot care to help keep you moving

Tinea pedis, commonly known as athlete’s foot, is a very common condition caused by fungus growing between the toes or on the feet. It can cause discomfort but is usually easy to treat.

• Common symptoms: Itching, burning, peeling skin between toes
• Treatment: Antifungal creams or sprays, keeping feet dry, avoiding being barefoot in public areas

These are different types of bumps, swellings or hardening of the skin of the feet or toes that can cause pain or discomfort while walking.

Bunions

• Common symptoms: A bony bump at the base of the big toe, often accompanied by pain or swelling
• Treatment: Proper footwear, pads, orthotics, surgery in severe cases

Calluses and corns

• Common symptoms: Thick, hardened skin on the toes or soles that can be painful
• Treatment: Padding, proper footwear, debridement by a podiatrist

Diabetes can have a serious impact on foot health, often leading to complications that may result in ulcers, infections or even amputation if left untreated.  

Diabetes affects the feet due to:

• Foot ulcers
• Nerve damage (diabetic neuropathy)
• Poor circulation (peripheral arterial disease)
• Skin and nail changes
• Structural changes

Here are some tips to help keep your feet healthy:

• Check your feet daily for cuts, blisters, swelling or color changes.
• Control blood sugar levels to prevent or slow nerve and vessel damage.
• Never go barefoot, even indoors.
• See a podiatrist regularly, especially if you’ve had foot issues before.
  
• Trim toenails carefully or have a podiatrist do it.
• Wash and moisturize your feet daily (but not between the toes).
• Wear properly fitted shoes and consider diabetic footwear

Diabetic neuropathy is a term meaning nerve damage caused by diabetes. It can affect many parts of the body, including the feet, ankles and legs.

• Common symptoms: Numbness, tingling, pain, ulcers, slow healing
• Treatment: Blood sugar control, regular foot exams, wound care, protective footwear

To reduce swelling, podiatrists recommend a combination of home remedies, lifestyle changes and medical care depending on the cause and severity. 

Here are some recommendations:

• Apply cold therapy.
• Cut back on salt in your diet.
• Do regular gentle exercise.
• Eat a magnesium-rich diet.
  
• Elevate your feet.
• Get regular foot massages.
• Stay hydrated.
• Wear compression socks. 

A foot ulcer is an open sore that develops on the bottom of the foot or toes. It’s especially common in people with diabetes due to complications like neuropathy (nerve damage) and poor circulation, which slow down healing and reduce the ability to feel injuries.

How long it takes for foot ulcers to heal depends on severity, infection and treatment:

• Mild ulcers: 2-4 weeks with proper care
• Moderate to severe ulcers: Several months
• Chronic or infected ulcers: A year or more to heal, or may require surgery

Heel spurs and plantar fasciitis are two common causes of foot pain. While the symptoms can be similar, they are two separate conditions and require the correct diagnosis and treatment.  

Heel spurs

• Common symptoms: Heel pain, especially with walking or standing
• Treatment: Rest, ice, orthotics, corticosteroid injections, surgery if needed

Plantar fasciitis

• Common symptoms: Sharp heel pain, especially in the morning or after rest
• Treatment: Stretching, orthotics, night splints, NSAIDs, physical therapy

The right footwear is important, especially for those with:

• Bunions
• Flat feet
• Neuropathy
• Plantar fasciitis

Check with your podiatrist to see what kind of footwear is right for you. Look for brands that have arch support, cushioning and foot alignment.