Podiatrist Ann Extonโs Hot Hints and Tips:
Fungal Infections | Blisters | Dry & Cracked Skin
With long, hot days just around the corner, most of us will be digging out our summer footwear that has been hidden away since the cold weather took hold. The Back and Body Clinicโs expert Chiropodist/Podiatrist Ann Exton, talks you through her hot hints and tips to help you feel happy about your feet this summer.
During the winter, we have a tendency to neglect our feet as they are hidden under layers of socks and shoes. Consequently, we can develop problems that we donโt tend to think about until we begin to think about our summer flip-flops. The problems are then revealed in their true glory and we wish that we had addressed them earlier!!
Heel Fissures
Over the winter, our skin can dry out as a result of turning up the central heating and neglecting to moisturise our skin regularly.
The skin can become dry, cracked and stressed and this can lead to deep fissures forming around the edges of the heels that can, if neglected, become infected.
Hot Tip for Heel Fissures
Fungal infections: (Athletes Foot and nail infections)
Fungal infections can be present in the skin or the nails. Fungal spores thrive in warm, moist, dark areas, therefore closed in footwear provides an ideal environment for them to spread. These infections can be more prevalent in the summer months due to the warmer weather and increased moisture in the shoes
Obviously, we donโt really get toadstools growing between the toes as the above picture shows!! However, in the skin, the fungi can cause symptoms of red, itchy and peeling skin, which can be between and around the toes and around the arch area most commonly.
In the nail, the infection is first noticed usually at the tip of the nail as a small discoloured patch which, if left untreated can gradually spread through the whole nail, making it thick, discoloured and unsightly.
Treatment of fungal skin infections is generally straightforward by application of an anti-fungal cream available from your local Pharmacist.
Treatment of nail infection can be more difficult, therefore see your chiropodist/podiatrist as soon as you notice the first signs of fungal nail infection for advice regarding treatment.
Hot tip for prevention of fungal infection:
Blistering
Blisters occur due to areas of friction on the feet. Fluid builds up between the layers of the skin which acts as a buffer in order to prevent further damage; this is the bodyโs amazing way of dealing with irritation and helps protect the affected area to prevent damage to the deeper, more sensitive skin layers.
To prevent blisters, be sure that footwear fits properly. If a shoe is either too loose, allowing for excess motion of the foot, or too tight, creating pressure points, blisters and discomfort will occur sooner or later.
Keep feet dry at all times. If socks become wet from excessive perspiration, change them.
Hot tip for blister prevention:
Carry some blister plasters with you (available from most pharmacies) if you are wearing new shoes-just in case!
