Foot Care Tips
sandal season is fast approaching. If your feet need a little extra special care as they slip out of hibernation, several area podiatrists shared the following five steps you can take for healthier feet.
Fight dry skin
Moisturizing your feet can be a healthy start.
“Using a cream or lotion containing lactic acid or urea can assist with softening and sloughing thick dry skin,” said Dr. Jennifer Spector, a podiatrist at Accurate Foot and Diabetic Care in West Chester. “Using corn or callous remover pads are not generally recommended, since if they are not placed correctly, they can harm the healthy skin. A pumice stone can also be helpful to assist in exfoliating thick areas.
“We generally advise staying away from metal filing instruments or callus-removing razors, as they are difficult to control and can cause cuts, infections or bleeding.”
If you believe you need something a little stronger, “Prescription medications are available for people who need to remove dry skin, said Dr. Vincent Pongia, chief of podiatry at the Brandywine Hospital in Caln.
It’s important to identify the cause of your dry skin.
“If it’s caused due to excessive sweating ... it gets wet and it dries. As it dries, it cracks. It could be a fungus,” said Dr. Alan Meshon, a podiatrist and chief of podiatry at the Chester County Hospital in West Chester. “Athlete’s foot presents itself as a dry foot.” When you apply cream, youcan also determine its effectiveness.
“There are good over-the-counter moisturizing creams that should be used twice a day,” said Dr. Richard Conti, a podiatrist with Foot and Ankle Associates with an office in Kennett Square who is affiliated with Jennersville Regional Hospital. “You should start before the winter months.”
Dry those toes
Just as adding moisture is important, wiping it away can protect foot health.
“Most people actually forget to dry and/or clean in between their toes,” said Dr. Randi Garber, a podiatrist at Paoli Hospital. “It is very important to keep them dry to prevent infection. Those crevices are perfect environments for infections to start.”
Pongia, who strongly advocated people inspect their feet daily, explained that bacterial and fungal infections between toes can occur if they are not dried properly.
Garber recommended that people who have difficulty inspecting their feet should place a mirror on the floor for a better perspective.
Choose function over style
Wearing the right shoes can protect your feet for the long run.
“Too many people are into style rather than what is functionally good for them,” said Meshon. “If you wear high heels, your calf muscle is going to tighten over the years. When your calf muscle tightens, you are going to put more pressure on the balls of your foot, which is going to induce calluses and ulcers.”
Instead, wear a low heel, he said, no more than about an inch-and-a-half high.
“I think a tie shoe is better than a slip-on. If you wear a slip-on shoe, the shoe has to be tight, which causes pressure,” said Meshon. “If you wear flip-flops, the shoe is going to repetitively smack against your heel, which is going to cause dry skin and cracks. It’s like somebody taking your heel and smacking your heel all day long.”
During the summer months, Conti said he sees many injuries sparked by people wearing flip-flops on long walks or hikes.
“Flip-flops are a major cause of foot strains,” he said. “Flip-flops are fine if you are sitting around the backyard barbecue or poolside.”
Excessively warm shoe wear can cause yeast-like syndromes, said Conti, and older footwear lacks adequate support. Both athletic shoes and work shoes should be changed annually.
“Proper footgear for sports helps prevent injuries,” said Garber. “The biggest mistake people make is they wear shoes that are too old and as a result end up injuring themselves.”
With people returning to outdoor exercise routines as the weather allows, wear exercise shoes with natural materials, canvas or an upper with a light woven mesh that allows air to circulate, said Conti.
It’s not only important to wear the right shoe for your activity, said Spector, but it’s also important to wear the correct shoe for your foot.
“Each foot type is different, and needs different types of support. Size, material, insole, shape and shock absorption are only a few characteristics that should be considered,” she said. “Not using the right kind of shoe for the foot or activity can result in increased risk of injury, overuse syndromes, blisters or other problems.”
When hiking, said Pongia, wear a hiking boot that will lace up above your ankle.
“That will prevent you from spraining your ankle on uneven terrain,” he said.
Practice better nail care
“The big thing with toenail care is that it should be on a regular basis, it should be consistent,” said Pongia. “Don’t assume discoloration of a toenail will go away.”
Good trimming techniques can vary.
“Follow the curve of the digit,” said Meshon, “but you don’t cut into the sides.”
Garber said usually recommends his patients use an emery board instead of cutting nails. He and Spector, who recommended trimming nails straight across, advocate seeking professional advice for nail care if you have medical concerns such as neuropathy, diabetes, poor circulation or are immunocompromised.
“If something is pinching, or you feel the nail is growing in, it’s best to consult with your doctor. This avoids any chance of injury or retained pieces of nail,” said Spector.
It’s important to know when to seek help regarding toenail care.
“If you can’t reach your toes well, don’t do your nails,” said Meshon. “We get people cutting skin off the edge of their toes.”
Removing polish after its time has passed is important.
“Coming into the spring and summer months, a lot of women get pedicures and leave the nail polish on for the duration of the spring and summer that promotes fungus,” said Pongia. “They should get their own instrumentation at the pedicure shop. Long-term use of nail polish promotes fungus infection in toenails.”
Don’t wait for a problem
Don’t postpone treating a foot problem you can’t explain.
Heredity can affect foot health. For example, bunions, which are large bumps located in the joint behind a big toe, “are caused because of abnormal mechanical problems that you are born with,” explained Meshon.
Caring for feet when they are healthy protects them from problems.
“Often times, our patients tell us that people don’t think much about their feet until there is a problem,” said Spector. “Your feet support you through all of life’s activities, and when they hurt, it truly can impact things across the board.”
Finally, if you encounter any foot problems, said Meshon, consult a podiatrist for treatment.
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