eternal souls

13

Caused by a fungus that likes warm, dark, moist environments, athlete’s foot (also called tinea pedis) commonly affects the areas between the toes and the bottoms of the feet. It can inflame the skin and cause a flaky or scaly rash that can be red, purple, gray, or white, depending on your skin color. Other symptoms of athlete’s foot include itching, burning, peeling, and sometimes a slight odor, says Tulpule.

You can ease symptoms of athlete’s foot and lower your risk of recurrence by keeping your feet and toes clean and dry, changing your shoes and socks regularly, and never walking barefoot in public locker rooms and showers (both to prevent picking up further infection and not transmit your infection to others). Tulpule also recommends opting for socks made from synthetic materials, which are better for wicking moisture away from the skin. “Try to avoid cotton socks as much as possible,” she advises.

Over-the-counter antifungal creams, powders, or sprays can be used to treat athlete’s foot, according to Penn Medicine. And, adds Tulpule, there are over-the-counter germ-killing sprays you can use on shoes as well.

If these remedies do not work after about three to four weeks, you may need to see a doctor and ask about prescription-strength topical or oral medication, says Tulpule.

2

Blisters

Common-Foot-Problems-03-blisters-1440x810

M. Hjerpe/iStock

“Most blisters are caused by friction between the skin on the foot and the inside of your shoes,” says Allan M. Boike, the dean of the College of Podiatric Medicine at Kent State University in Ohio.

You can prevent blisters — soft pockets of raised skin filled with clear fluid — on your feet by wearing comfortable, appropriate-size shoes and socks. If blisters do develop, it’s best to let them break naturally rather than burst them on your own, even when they are painful and make walking difficult, Boike says.

“If you develop a blister, simply cover it with a bandage and allow it to burst naturally,” he advises. “If it bursts, you can apply an over-the-counter antibiotic ointment with a bandage to help it heal and prevent infection, but you should keep the area covered to reduce friction and keep it from reforming.”

Most foot blisters don’t require medical attention. But if you have diabetes or another health condition that makes you prone to infections, you should consult a physician before treating any blisters yourself, says Boike.

Building your dream home can be one of the most exciting and rewarding projects you can undertake. Getting the opportunity to plan out each step of the process and make the decisions about your building project is a big responsibility, and can be overwhelming for even the most experienced do-it-yourselfers. Taking the scope of the project into account before you get started can help make the process go a lot more smoothly. Learn the proper ways to find the right location, design your home, acquire the correct permits, and breaking ground. See Step 1 to learn how to get started building your own house.A bunion is a bony bump at the base of the big-toe joint. The changes within the foot that cause the bump also cause the big toe to turn inward, toward the smaller toes, according to Mayo Clinic.

Bunions can result from congenital deformities, arthritis, trauma, heredity, or habitually wearing shoes that are too narrow in the toe. Regardless of what caused them in the first place, bunions can be made worse by high heels and constrictive shoes, says Tulpule.

Treatment for bunions typically involves ice, rest, and over-the-counter pain relievers, says Tulpule. Doctors may also recommend range-of-motion exercises, wider shoes, and padded shoe inserts. If those methods fail to relieve pain and allow for normal walking, she notes, surgery may be recommended to return the big toe to its normal position.

4

Corns and Calluses

Common-Foot-Problems-05-corns-and-calluses-1440x810

Shutterstock

Corns and calluses form after repeated rubbing against a bony area of the foot, usually by shoes that don’t fit well, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

Corns can appear on the tops and sides of your toes as well as between your toes, while calluses tend to form on the bottoms of the feet, especially under the heels or balls of the feet, and on the sides of the toes. These compressed patches of dead skin cells can be hard and painful to walk on.

With many corns or calluses, you can treat them yourself by removing the buildup of skin. The Cleveland Clinic recommends soaking the affected area in warm water until the skin softens and using a wet pumice stone or emery board to remove the dead skin. Be gentle, though: Removing too much skin can cause bleeding and infection. You can also apply a moisturizing cream or lotion to the corn or callus and surrounding dead skin to soften the skin over time.

If this doesn’t work, you may need to consult a podiatrist, who may recommend placing moleskin or other protective padding around corns and calluses to relieve pain.

5

Plantar Fasciitis