| Foot Problems: Causes and Treatments
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Foot Problems: Causes and Treatments
Most of the foot problems occur because we do not pay that much attention to them as we do to other parts of the body. In our beauty care regimen we often tend to neglect foot care. Have you realized that foot carry around 5 times our body weight? There are about 26 bones with a network of muscles and tendons. Skin of foot is soft and delicate but gets ugly by constant stress and strain. To keep your feet healthy, beautiful and to avoid foot problems, daily foot care is necessary.
Reasons For Getting Foot Problems
Neglecting foot is the greatest cause of foot problems. Though problems in foot harass every body in some form but older people, diabetics, overweight people, dancers and athletes face more serious foot problems. As these people use their legs more vigorously than normal people. With age also, capacity of bones and muscles reduces and hence more problems occur in foot. There may be some problem due to wrong body posture or lack of exercise too. If you wear shoes, which are not of your size or of right shape according to your foot, they will create lot of discomfort and other serious problems too. Other problems such as fungal infections or corns occur due to not taking proper hygiene.
- Improper selection of shoes, not according to shape of your foot
- Wearing high heels most of the time, which affects the posture of body. Hence it disturbs the balance of feet.
- Not taking care while walking
- Poor blood circulation in foot
- Strenuous exercises like vigorous jogging or vigorous aerobics
- Some diseases like diabetics, high blood pressure
- There may be pain in feet due some inherited abnormalities in back or legs
- Not cleaning the feet properly and keeping wet either by sweat or water creates fungal infections
- Poor diet
Some common foot problems and their treatment
Bacterial and fungal infections: It is a common foot problem where people keep feet closed in shoes for more time. That is the dark, warm and humid place. This gives right conditions for fungal growth. Symptoms of this type of problem are dry skin, blisters, redness, itching and peeling. To avoid these this problem, keep your feet dry and clean. Change socks and put foot powder regularly.
Dry skin of foot: Skin of the foot can be dry and can cause burning and itching foot. To prevent this condition, use mild soaps every day and moisturize them with oil, cream or lotion.
Corns and calluses: Friction caused by rubbing of bony part of feet against shoes causes these problems. You can treat this problem with better-fit shoes and use of special pads. But more often it needs medication by a doctor, especially if you have diabetes.
Warts: This is a viral infection. It may need surgery or medication by a doctor, which burn or freeze these warts.
Bunion: This condition develops when joints in big toe do not fit together. They become tender and swollen. This problem can be treated by wearing pads for cushioning the bunions. Foot tapping and wearing cut wide shoes are some other aids.
Ingrown toenails: This condition spurs when you do not cut you nails properly and they break the skin. You can avoid this problem, if cut toenail straight across and at toe level.
Hammertoe: When tendons get reduced, this problem occurs. Tendons control toe movements. Toe is drawn back by enlargement of toe knuckle. When enlarged joint gets stiff and rubs against shoes, balance of foot gets disturbed. You can avoid this by wearing shoes and socks with space for toe to move.
General Care for Foot Problems:
- Cut you toenails straight across. They should be cut at toe level. Do not cut at corners.
- You should wash your foot regularly and keep them dry.
- Avoid walking barefoot at any place where you can get any injury or infection. Put sun block cream while going out.
- Massage with cream regularly.
- Go for regular pedicures to keep skin of your feet clean, smooth and healthy.
- Regularly inspect your foot for any change in color or any abnormal growth on foot.
- Wear proper shoes according to your size and shape of your feet as many problems can be treated by wearing right kind of shoes.
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