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In many ways, the feet are the unsung heroes of the body. They bear the brunt of the day-to-day, but most people neglect to realize that they need care just like everything else.
It’s easy to take no notice until a problem arises, and when one does, it can seriously hamper your mobility. In this article, you’ll learn about five common foot conditions and how to solve them.
- Bunions
One of the most painful foot conditions a person can experience is a bunion. This is essentially a hard, bony protrusion that develops at the base or to the side of the big toe.
They have a few different causes, from genetic differences to wearing shoes that don’t fit properly, and the latter cause is more common. Most arise from tight, restrictive footwear, so be sure to get yourself measured for a proper fit.
Ice therapy and time are considered the best treatments for bunions.
- Thick Toenails
Getting rid of thick toenails can be a real pain. Depending on the cause, they’re one of the most stubborn issues to treat.
This is particularly the case if they’re caused by a fungal nail infection, which is usually the result of consistent exposure to damp, moist environments. This type of infection causes thickened, yellowed, flaky nails, and it doesn’t typically respond well to topical treatments. For the most severe cases, a medication called terbinafine is taken orally for a period of several months. Other causes of thickened nails include aging and a poor diet.
- Athlete’s Foot
Another foot condition caused by damp environments is athlete’s foot. This is a fungal infection that’s typically caused by too much time spent in hot, sweaty shoes. It results in itchy and painful skin between the toes.
Athlete’s foot is relatively simple to treat, and usually resolves within a few weeks of using a topical cream.
- Ingrown Toenails
Ingrown toenails happen when the nail starts to grow into the skin around the toe, causing pain, bleeding, and sometimes swelling and infection.
It’s mostly a problem of improper foot care, as if the nails are properly trimmed, they never have the chance to embed themselves into the skin. This condition is usually best treated by a podiatrist, who has the appropriate tools and knowledge to get the nail to grow normally again.
- Plantar Fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis occurs in the heel and around the foot’s natural arch. It happens when the connective tissue becomes inflamed, usually due to overuse or ill-fitting shoes.
The best course of treatment in the early stages is rest, but thinking more long-term, there are special insoles that can be added to your shoes to help support the foot as you walk.
Ice therapy can also help, and some people even find they need custom-made shoes or insoles to solve the problem for good.
Wrapping Up
Hopefully, you now feel more clued up on the most common conditions associated with the foot. There are others, of course, but you should now have the basic knowledge you need to both prevent and treat the issues you’re most likely to encounter.
