Athlete’s Foot
What it is: Flaky, dry, cracked, itchy skin. Smelly feet sometimes appear red, moist or with blisters.
What causes it? Shoes can create a warm, dark and humid environment that encourages fungal growth. It can also be contracted in dressing rooms, locker room showers, hotel rooms and swimming pool locker rooms.
How to prevent it:
• Inspect the skin on feet everyday and be
aware of changes or unusual growths.
• Keep shoes and socks dry as a preventative measure.
• Practice good foot hygiene such as daily washing of
the feet with soap and water, drying feet carefully especially
between the toes.
• Change shoes regularly.
• Wear wicking acrylic socks.
• Moisturize skin with over-the-counter topical medications, like Lotrimin
AF, but avoid between the toes.
• Wear flip-flops in public showers.
• Read the label on over-the-counter products carefully to avoid serious
complications.
• Rinse feet and change socks or panty hose midday. Be sure to dry between toes.
Blister’s
What it is: Painful, fluid filled lesions
What causes it? Ill-fitting shoes, stiff shoes, wrinkled socks against the skin,
excessive moisture and foot deformities
How to prevent it:
• Keep feet dry.
• Always wear socks as a cushion between your feet and shoes.
• Wear properly fitting shoes.
• Do not pop a blister. Carefully open a corner of the blister closest to the bottom
of the foot with a sterilized utensil like a sewing needle, drain, apply antibiotic
cream and cover with a bandage immediately.
• Treat a mild blister with soap and water; cover it with an antiseptic ointment and
protective dressing.
• Check blister regularly to ensure it doesn’t get infected. Remove the blister
surface if needed.
• Use padding such as moleskin to reduce friction.
Calluses or Corns
What it is: Painful thickening and build up of skin that forms at points of pressure,
over bony prominences, or on the bottom of foot.
What causes it? Repeated friction and pressure from skin rubbing against bony
areas or against an irregularity in a shoe, it can be heredity, tight stockings
and tendon imbalance
How to prevent it:
•Wear supportive shoes with a wide toe box and a low heel.
• Use over-the-counter creams, but avoid medicated callus/corn remover pads.
• Read the label on any over-the counter products thoroughly to avoid serious
complications.
•If you do not have diabetes, soak feet in warm water and use a pumice stone or
file to treat.
• Ask a podiatrist for products such as Pedinol’s Ureacin–20 Cream and AmLactin
Moisturizing Lotion.
• Avoid tight-fitting shoes, socks and hosiery.
• Wear supportive shoes with a roomy toe box.
• Do not use heating devices on feet; instead soak in cool water and ice.
Source: apma.org