We bet you’ve been overlooking your feet for the longest time now. It’s time for that period of your life to come to an end. Feet deserve as much attention as our other body parts get. After all, they’re the ones we use the most.
You don’t want your feet to just give out because they suddenly got some pesky skin condition. That’s why you should deal with prevention rather than looking for a cure. Foot care is way easier than you might think. All you need is some extra time, and you’ll be good to go.
The Usual Problems Your Feet May Encounter
Our feet are probably the most overused parts of our bodies. That comes as no surprise since we walk all the time. Whatever we do, we do it on our feet. Okay, except maybe sleeping, but you get what we mean.
Knowing that we use our feet a lot, one would think that people take great care of them. Unfortunately, that’s not the case at all, and that does come as a surprise. People usually don’t care about their feet, as if they’re disposable. The only time they have our attention is when something is wrong.
Many problems can occur when you forget to take care of your feet. First of all, there’s the fundamental problem of foot pain caused by a variety of factors. Corns and calluses, too, are something we all experience in our lives, and they can be a real pain if you don’t deal with them.
Injuring your soles can result in nerve damage and you not being able to walk properly. Plus, what about all of the fungal infections and ingrown nails? Foot care should be an essential part of everyone’s routine, simply to prevent some of those things from happening. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
Skin Conditions Affecting the Soles and Feet
There are numerous skin conditions affecting the feet and soles. You can’t always stay entirely away from them. So, it’s always good to know a bit about how they manifest themselves. That way, you’ll be able to recognize them and do something about the whole problem. We’ll focus on several basic skin conditions that everyone has at least once in their lifetime.
Let’s start with the athlete’s foot. This skin condition is caused by a fungal infection on the surface of your sole. It’s usually found between the toes, but it can spread if it goes untreated. Athlete’s foot is highly contagious, and if you like keeping your feet in damp environments, you’re at risk of getting it.
Another common skin condition is calluses. They are nothing more than thickened skin in areas where your feet receive more pressure or weight. That means if you put more pressure on your foot’s outer edge while walking, that’s where your calluses are most likely to form.
Corns are a condition similar to calluses. However, they can become quite painful if not treated. They can be caused by ill-fitting shoes, hammer toes, or bunions.
Fungal nail infections aren’t unheard of either. This skin condition can be quite stubborn and require a long time to treat. It’s caused by fungi finding a new home in your nails because it’s the perfect environment for them to grow and thrive.
If you have any of these conditions, fret not. The treatments are quite simple.
How to Get Them Treated
The treatment of feet and sole conditions doesn’t always require much. It often means you need to apply an antifungal cream or wear different shoes. Whatever the case may be, these are only the suggestions. If you believe you have any of the conditions we mentioned, it’s always best to consult your doctor, just to be safe.
When it comes to athlete’s foot and nail fungal infections, you’ll often be able to just go to the drugstore and pick up some antifungal cream that will get rid of your issues. The pharmacist can suggest which one is best for your condition, so there’s usually no need to visit the doctor. For athlete’s foot, make sure to keep your feet clean and dry too. Most importantly, don’t share your towels or shoes since this condition is contagious.
Corns and calluses are just as simple to treat. A doctor can prescribe topical medication to remove the thickened skin of the callus. When it comes to corns, you’ll need to wear a plaster that will protect this area of your foot and let the corn heal. If the situation is bad, your doctor might suggest removing it surgically.
Still, there are things you can do to prevent something like this from happening.
Prevention Is Always Better
For all of these conditions, prevention is simple. We’re sure we can all agree that prevention is better than having to look for a cure. So, take a bit of time out of your day to pay attention to your feet.
Keeping your feet dry will help prevent any fungal infections. Germs that cause them thrive in damp surroundings, so ensure you avoid them.
Preventing thickened skin might be a little more complicated. It’s bound to happen, but you don’t need to let things go out of hand. Make sure you wear shoes that fit you well. If you can, ensure you don’t put a lot of pressure on your feet, either.
Find foot masks and creams that suit you and give your feet some extra love.
Conclusion
Taking care of your feet is something you definitely shouldn’t miss out on. Not paying enough attention to your feet can result in conditions that can be quite a pain.
Just washing your feet daily won’t always be enough. You need to invest some extra time and care to ensure that they serve you well. If you enjoy high heels, maybe this is a good time to take a break from them. Your feet will definitely thank you.
Also, foot spas are a real thing, and we definitely recommend them. Who doesn’t like a foot spa?