What To Look For |
What It Could Be |
Possible Causes |
What You Can Do |
What A Podiatrist Will Do |
Redness, Pain, Swelling around the nail
|
Ingrown toenails Infected toenails Injury to the toenails |
- Shoe Pressure
- Poor foot structure
- Heredity
- Improper Nail Trimming
- Trauma |
- Inspect nails daily and trim toenails straight across as a preventative measure on a regular basis
- Do not trim nail corners too short
- Keep nails clean and dry and remove nail polish once a week
- Try not to wear tight-fitting socks or shoes
- See a podiatrist at the first sign of a problem
- If you have diabetes or circulation problems, do not cut your own nails |
- Perform a physical examination and an x-ray evaluation when necessary
- Remove the ingrown portion of the nail
- Culture the nail
- Prescribe appropriate medications, such as antibiotics
- Perform surgical correction of the nail when needed |
Thickened, Discolored, Loose, or Deformed Toenail |
Fungal Nail
Indication of other medical conditions |
- Result of trauma to toenail
- Could be an indication of other medical conditions such as: diabetes, arthritis, cancer, and psoriasis
- Often, the infection starts in the skin as athlete's foot, which may spread to the nails
- Shoes and socks create a warm, dark, and humid environment which encourages fungal growth
- Heredity |
- Keep shoes and socks dry as a preventative measure
- Practice good foot hygiene, including daylily washing of the feet with soap and water; drying feet carefully, especially between the toes
- Change shoes regularly
- Wear wicking acrylic or cotton socks
- Inspect toenails and trim them straight across on a regular basis
- Do not use nail polish |
- Perform a physical examination Culture the infected nail
- Prescribe appropriate medications, such as an oral anti-fungal medicine
- Perform debridement or removal of the nail as indicated |
Red, flaky, dry, cracked, itchy skin, smelly feet |
Athlete's Foot |
- The feet are vulnerable because shoes commonly create a warm, dark and humid environment that encourages fungal growth
- Athlete's foot can be contracted in dressing rooms, locker room showers and swimming pool locker rooms |
- 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, including daily washing of the feet with soap and water; drying feet carefully, especially between the toes
- Change shoes regularly
- Wear wicking acrylic or cotton socks
- Moisturize skin, but avoid between the toes
- Wear flip-flops in public showers
- Read the label on over-the-counter products carefully to avoid serious complications |
- Prescribe topical medications
- Prescribe oral anti-fungal medications |
Painful thickening of the skin The development of a hard and flat, elevated surface most often on the sole of the foot |
Warts |
- A virus causes warts, which typically invades the skin through small cuts and abrasions |
- Avoid walking barefoot
- Change shoes daily
- Keep feet clean and dry
- Avoid home treatments
- Do not dig out warts - see a podiatrist for treatment |
- Perform a physical examination and evaluation
- Initiate treatment, including possible surgical removal
- Prescribe medication
- If left untreated, warts can grow to an inch or more in circumference and can spread into clusters of several warts; these are often called mosaic warts |
A painful, fluid-filled lesion |
Blisters |
- Ill fitting shoes
- Stiff shoes
- Wrinkled socks against the skin
- Excessive moisture
- Foot deformities |
- Keep feet dry
- Always wear socks as a cushion between your feet and shoes
- Wear properly fitting shoes
- Do not open or pop a blister, carefully open a corner of the blister with a sterilized utensil like a sewing needle, drain, apply antibiotic cream and cover with a bandage immediately
- Treat a mild blister with mild soap and water; cover it with an antiseptic ointment and protective soft gel dressing
- Check blister regularly to ensure it doesn't get infected |
- Remove the blister surface if needed
- Prescribe appropriate medications, topical or oral
- Recommend padding, dressings and friction reducing measures |
Painful thickening and build up of skin that forms at points of pressure or over bony prominence or on the bottom side of foot |
Calluses/Corns |
- Repeated friction and pressure from skin rubbing against bony areas or against an irregularity in a shoe
- Heredity |
- Wear supportive shoes with a wide toe box and a low heel
- Use over-the-counter creams, avoiding medicated callus/corn remover pads
- Read the label on any over-the-counter products thoroughly to avoid serious complications
- After soaking feet in warm water, use a pumice stone or file to treat - only if you're not a diabetic |
- Perform a foot examination
- Conduct an x-ray evaluation, if needed
- Perform trimming or padding of the lesions
- Perform surgery as indicated |
Enlargement (bump) or deformity at the base of the big toe It may be swollen, tender and painful with the wearing of footgear |
Bunions |
- Misalignment of the joint
- Heredity
- Trauma
- Biomedical abnormalities
- Neuromedical disorders
- Inflammatory joint disease
- Congenital deformities |
- Have feet measure every time shoes are purchased
- Avoid shoes with stitching or seams that rub over bony areas
- Do not wear pointy shoes - wear supportive shoes with a wide toe box and good support
- Apply cold compresses
- Soak the foot in lukewarm water to relieve pain
- Use over-the-counter footpads
- Use over-the-counter anti-inflammatory
- If unsure if shoes are proper fitting, see a podiatrist |
- Perform a physical examination
- Perform x-ray evaluation
- Recommended padding or taping
- Prescribe orthotics as needed
- Perform surgery as indicated |
Ankle, knee or low back pain; difficulty walking |
Flat foot |
- A structural deformity resulting in the lowering of the arch of the foot that is sometimes referred to as "fallen arches"
- Heredity
- Arthritis
- Trauma
- Musculoskeletal disorders |
- Wear supportive shoes |
- Perform a physical examination and gait analysis, x-rays and surgery as needed
- Prescribe custom orthotics |
Sweaty, smelly feet that do not itch or appear to have a rash |
Bromhidrosis (a.k.a. Foot Odor) |
- Increase of perspiration from the more than 250,000 sweat glands in the foot as a result of increased body temperature
- Closed shoes aggravate sweaty feet and set up the perfect environment for bacteria to grow, leading to more odor and more sweat |
- Rub cornstarch or spray antiperspirant directly on the soles of the feet and spray Lysol into shoes.
- Keep shoes and socks dry as a preventative measure
- Practice good foot hygiene, including daily washing of the feet with soap and water; drying feet carefully, especially between the toes
- Change shoes regularly
- Wear wicking acrylic or cotton socks |
- Perform a physical examination
- Recommend medicated powders |
Bony prominence on the toes |
Hammertoes |
- Heredity
- Ill-fitting shoes
- Muscle imbalance
- Arthritis |
- Wear a supportive shoe with a deep toe box
- Apply cold compresses
- Soak the foot in lukewarm water to relieve pain
- Massage and stretch toes to help maintain flexibility
- Always wear work and activity appropriate shoes |
- Perform a physical examination, x-ray evaluation
- Perform trimming and padding, and potentially surgery, if needed |
Pain, burning, tingling numbness between the toes or in the ball of the foot |
Neuroma |
- Benign growth of nerve tissue frequently found between the third and fourth toes
- Improper or ill-fitting shoes
- High heeled shoes
- Smoking impairs circulation and excessive alcohol consumption may lead to nerve damage
- Trauma
- Heredity |
- Change to shoes with lower heels
- 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 |
- Perform a physical evaluation, x-ray, and surgery if needed
- Recommend padding and taping
- Prescribe custom orthotics and anti-inflammatory medication
- Administer cortisone injections |
Bottom of the heel and arch are painful |
Plantar Fasciitis/Heel Spur Syndrome |
- Stretching and inflammation of the long band of connective tissue that running from the heel to the ball of the foot
- Bony overgrowth of the heel bone
- Muscle imbalance
- Bone deformity
- Obesity
- Trauma
- Tightness of the muscles on the back of the leg |
- Warm up and stretch properly before exercise
- Exercise and stretch daily, however reduce activity and see a podiatrist for treatment options
- Do not go barefoot
- Wear shoes that have a strong, supportive arch and heel
- Wear lower heels, or at the very least vary heel heights to maintain flexibility |
- Perform a physical evaluation, x-ray, and surgery, if needed
- Recommend padding and taping
- Prescribe orthotic devices and appropriate medications
- Administer injections |
Pain, redness and swelling |
Stress Fracture |
- Overuse or strain of foot can create an incomplete crack in the bone
- Medical conditions such as osteoporosis
- Medications such as steroids
- Sudden increased activity level
- Feet that are not structurally sound, however even a normal foot can develop a stress fracture from repetitive use |
- Use cold compresses or ice
- Get complete rest
- Elevate the feet
- Stay off the feet |
- Perform a physical evaluation and x-ray
- Immobilize or cast the foot/leg
- Prescribe custom medications or orthotics |
Swelling or recurring pain and tenderness in any joint, redness or heat in a joint, limitation in motion of a joint, early morning stiffness and skin changes including rashes and growths |
Arthritis |
- Since the foot contains 33 joints and bears a tremendous amount of weight and pressure, feet may be more susceptible to arthritis than other parts of the body
- Heredity
- Age
- Viral and bacterial infections
- Excessive weight
- Prescription and illegal drug
- Ill-fitting shoes
- Trauma |
- Wear supportive shoes on a daily basis
- Begin a program of physical therapy, exercise or massage
- Use ice packs or hot packs
- Soak feet in lukewarm water
- Wear shock-retarding insoles |
- Prescribe appropriate anti-inflammatory medications
- Perform appropriate x-rays and joint evaluation
- Recommend custom orthotics
- If the problem persists, surgery may be necessary |
A breakdown of the skin on an area of the foot that may be difficult to heal |
Diabetic Ulcers |
- Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus
- Vascular insufficiency
- Lack of sensation
- Ill-fitting shoes
- Trauma
- Heredity |
- Consult a podiatric physician immediately
- Alert the doctor's office that you are a diabetic with a foot sore
- Self-treatment is not recommended for this serious condition |
- Perform a physical examination
- Perform x-ray evaluation
- Perform debridement and wound care
- Conduct laboratory tests
- Initiate total medical team approach, which may include a family practice doctor, endocrinologist, internist, vascular surgeon and an infectious disease specialist |
