Why It Is Necessary To Take Good Care Of Your Feet

Foot care is not just about keeping them clean and dry it is about closely watching the health of your toenails as well. The reason is when we neglect our toes, the nails tend to begin to misbehave in a sense. Things like getting ingrown, (this can be very painful), growing thicker and changing colour to a yellowish hue.

All three of these situations are indicators that something is wrong and may lead to serious infections that will create even more issues. Even if a person were to get a pedicure on a regular basis here in Ottawa, there could be some fungal issues that will rear their ugly heads. When is comes to hang nails the sure fire way to avoid this is to trim your toenails regularly. The best time is to trim your toe nails after a bath or a shower when the nail is malleable enough to cut easily.

There are such things as medical pedicures here in Ottawa. Getting one is as easy as asking your family doctor to examine your feet. Thickening and discolouration can sometimes be an effect of a poor diet, but not always.

This why it is important to eat healthy and exercise regularly and checking your feet for issues. Remember aside for toe nail issues athlete’s foot can be another resource for nail trouble. The general cause of athlete’s foot is a fungal infection and it can cause your toe nails manifest changes in their appearance if not taken care of.

Athlete’s foot is caused by not drying your feet before you put socks on and walking in areas in Ottawa, barefoot, where others, doing the same, have this condition. If you are experiencing dry, itchy skin between and under your toes, you should seek medical attention to alleviate the problem, as this is an indication that you have athlete’s foot. Remember this your feet are like your hands they should be kept clean and dry in order to keep your toe nail and your feet healthy.

Consult with  local Ottawa Foot Doctor and Podiatrist Ottawa Foot Pratice for the good care of your feet.

Common Foot Problems

Feet are the base of your body, and as such, they take a lot of wear and tear. Being stuck inside of shoes all day can be hard on them as well, especially if you are not wearing the proper type of shoes. From fungi to growths to injuries, there are all kinds of things that can go wrong with your feet. Luckily, there are ways to prevent issues, and some fairly simple treatment options for most of the conditions that may arise.

Corns and calluses

Your feet have to endure friction inside your shoes. Generally, the better your shoes fit, the less friction you will experience, and there are special pads that can help keep your feet from getting rubbed the wrong way. A visit to the doctor may be needed if you have corns and calluses, as over-the-counter medicated treatments often destroy healthy tissue, without getting rid of the actual problem. In patients with diabetes or poor circulation, self-treatment can be particularly harmful. In extreme cases, removal surgery may be necessary.

Bunions

When the joints in the big toe swell and become tender, and no longer fit together as they naturally would, then you have a bunion. If it is not too advanced, changing footwear to something that is wider in the instep and toe areas can help. There are also pads that can help cushion and relieve pain around the bunion. Physical therapy and shoe inserts may be needed in worse cases, and for some bunions, you may need anti-inflammatory medications, cortisone injections and even surgery to restore the joint to its proper position.

Ingrown toenails

When a part of your nail breaks through the skin, you have an ingrown toenail. They can be caused by not cutting your toenail properly, and tight shoes can also be a contributor. Ingrown toenails are most common on the big toe. Cutting the nail straight across and level with the top of your toe will help avoid ingrown toenails. If your ingrown toenail is bad enough, you may need to visit a doctor to have part of the nail removed.

Fungal and bacterial infections

Athlete’s foot is the most common foot fungus, but there are others that can occur. The feet are often in dark, humid, warm shoes, which is the perfect breeding ground for such things. Signs and symptoms include red and dry skin, blisters, peeling, itching and even pain. They should be treated right away, before the condition has time to worsen. Keep your feet clean and dry, change socks frequently and use foot powder. If your issues do not subside within a couple of weeks, consult a physician.

Warts

If you have unsightly or possibly painful skin growths on your feet, they may be warts. They can spread if you do not treat them right away, and over-the-counter medications will typically not get rid of the issue. Sometimes they will help temporarily, but the only way to ensure that the wart is gone for good is to have it treated by a physician. Doctors can freeze or surgically remove a wart, to ensure they get the whole thing, down to the roots.

Hammertoes

When you wear improperly fitting shoes, it can result in enlargement of the toe knuckle. This will cause the toe to draw back and the tendons that control the toe to shorten. Hammertoe can be painful, and it can affect your balance. Try wearing shoes with plenty of toe room, but if the condition worsens or stays the same, you may need surgery.

Spurs

Calcium deposits can form on the foot bones, resulting in spurs. Muscle strain from standing for long periods, wearing ill-fitting shoes and/or being overweight can all contribute to this problem. They may be painless or extremely painful. Wearing arch supports, foot pads and other orthotics may help, but sometimes, surgical removal is necessary.

Are you experiencing any of these foot problems? Try local Ottawa foot specialists Ottawa Foot Pratice: