It’s that time of year again, with the summer holidays just around the corner.
And whether you’re planning a staycation or venturing further afield, hot weather warnings for sunburn, heat strokeskin rashes and dehydration may occur.
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But your feet can also pose a major concern.
Problems with our feet can become more obvious when we wear sandals or go barefoot.
But ill-fitting shoes, dirty socks and going to the pool can also pose problems.
Podiatrist Heather Smart, co-creator of foot care brand ZeroSole, tells Vanessa Chalmers about how to prevent foot problems and how to treat them when they develop. . .
VERRUCAS
YOU can get warts from contaminated surfaces such as swimming pools and changing rooms.
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Heather says: “This moist, warm environment causes the skin to become more fragile – making it more susceptible to contracting the wart virus, especially if you already have an area under your foot that is damaged or broken.”
Characterized by a black dot on the surface of the skin, warts are caused by the human papillomavirus – which Heather says “is particularly common in children when their immune system is still developing”.
But she adds: “It can also happen in adults, especially those with compromised immune systems.”
The skin that develops over the wart is often what makes it so uncomfortable.
TO REPAIR: When it comes to warts, the immune system tends to do the heavy lifting.
But Heather says: “In some people, when the wart doesn’t resolve and spreads across the foot, this can be a concern, especially if the person has diabetes or reduced vascular supply to the foot.
“If it’s not resolving and is causing pain or discomfort, you can apply over-the-counter treatments to break down the tissue.
“If things still don’t improve, see a podiatrist.”
CORN AND CALS
ONCE people put on sandals, they may become more aware of areas of hardened skin, called corns and calluses, that have developed due to friction or pressure on the skin.
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Heather says: “Caluses are a type of keratin thickening [skin protein].
“Over time, it forms an inverted cone that grows inwards towards the deeper layers of the skin, when they become painful.
“Caluses are different, they are plates of hardened skin spread across the sole of the foot or perhaps on the side.
“The accumulation of keratin is the body’s way of trying to protect the foot from friction.
“But sometimes too much of a good thing is a problem.”
Living in flip-flops or sandals that provide little support is often the culprit, says Heather, as your feet move around too much.
But she adds: “If you stand a lot in a demanding occupation, you are likely to feel more pressure on your feet over time.”
TO REPAIR: Heather says: “Filing with a foot file or pumice stone and moisturizing the skin will help – as will reducing pressure on the feet, for example with ZeroSole [footcare products].
“If you are unable to do this at home, see a podiatrist or family doctor and they can safely shave off a corn or corn for you.”
If you have diabetes, heart disease or circulation problems, you should consult a family doctor first.
CRACKED HEELS
LOOK around a busy public place in the summer and you’re bound to spot some cracked heels.
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Heather says: “I see this problem all the time because people feel so embarrassed about it. It’s more common in the summer because sandals don’t hold the heel well.
“The heel then moves from side to side, back and forth, which creates what we call pulling force. It is this pulling force that causes cracks to form on the back of the heels.
“If this is left on for long periods of time, these small cracks can become much deeper – and penetrate into the deep layers of the skin, which is where they can be particularly painful.
“They may even bleed, in some cases, which means you are at greater risk of infection.”
TO REPAIR: Wear closed-toe shoes – even if that means ditching backless flip-flops.
Heather says: “Many patients follow this advice everywhere except at home – but that’s when they realize their condition isn’t improving enough.
“You’ll be surprised how much time you spend on your feet walking around the house.”
So what is a support shoe?
Heather says: “I would typically recommend something that emulates a running shoe, with a thick, curved sole and an edge towards the toes.”
ATHLETE’S FOOT
MORE than half of us have had athlete’s foot at some point, according to the latest research from antifungal cream brand Nystaform.
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This causes intense itching and peeling of the skin between the toes.
But Heather says, “Many people don’t realize that athlete’s foot can appear on the bottom of the feet and can be excessively dry and scaly.”
The fungal infection thrives in moist and warm environments.
Heather adds: “We see a lot of athlete’s foot with the combination of hot weather and rain during the summer.
“If you tend to have sweaty feet and wear damp socks, you are at risk of developing a fungal infection.”
Athlete’s foot is capable of spreading to other parts of the body, including the scalp, hands and even the groin – so it’s best to nip it in the bud quickly.
TO REPAIR: Take off damp socks and avoid wearing the same sweaty shoes every day.
Heather says: “Wash your feet and dry them well, especially between the toes.”
Athlete’s foot is unlikely to move on its own, so consult a pharmacist for treatments such as creams, sprays or powders.
Heather adds: “If it doesn’t improve, always see a GP. It could also be something like dermatitis or psoriasis, which could be similar.”
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
