Athletes Foot

Signs & Symptoms

Athlete's Foot is a fungus infection of the skin, mainly occurring in between toes but can appear anywhere on the foot. If left untreated, it can spread to other parts body.

 The infected skin may be red, swollen and  present with itchy lesions.

 Patients often report a burning or stinging sensation. A common associated condition with Athlete’s Foot is a fungal nail infection.

 If Athlete’s Foot is left untreated  it can become infected and extremely painful.

Causes

Athlete's Foot is caused by a fungal infection. We all have bacteria and fungi on our skin, most of which are harmless. In some conditions, these organisms can multiply causeing your skin to become infected. Athlete's Foot is caused by a group of fungi known as dermatophytes. These fungi are parasitic, meaning they feed off other organisms to stay alive.

Your feet give a warm, dark and humid environment, which are the ideal conditions for dermatophytes to grow.

 Athlete's Foot is  contagious, although there are steps that you can take to help prevent the spread of infection. It can spread through direct and indirect contact. Direct contact involves skin to skin contact. For example, someone may develop the infection if they were to directly touch your affected skin, and not wash their hands afterwards. The infection can also spread through indirect contact. For example, the fungi can be passed on through contaminated towels, bed sheets and clothing.

Showers, swimming pools  and changing rooms are common places where the infection can be passed on. Much like your feet, these areas are usually warm and humid, encouraging bacteria and fungi to multiply.

Treatment

Anti-fungal treatments available from your Pharmacist or Podiatrist are very effective in their topical applications. Although It cannot be stressed enough that success is much higher when combined with a regime of laundering  all footwear, bedding and the disinfecting of bathing areas.

Bunions

Signs & Symptoms

 Bunions present with the growth of a bony bump on the side of the big toe. This can lead to a change in alignment, causing the big toe joint to not function as well, resulting in pain around the joint and may lead to corns or callus developing under the foot. The main factors which predispose someone to the development of bunions are heredity, footwear, gender and excessive pronation of the foot.

Treatment

Protective padding/ Toe separators

Orthotics to control excessive pronation and improve foot function (See a Podiatrist)

Advanced bunions may need a referral to orthopaedic surgeon for surgical correction.

Chilblains

Signs & Symptoms

Chilblains are small, itchy swellings on the skin that occur in reaction to cold temperatures.

Affecting the extremities such as the toes, fingers, heels, ears and nose.

Chilblains are uncomfortable, but can be prevented.

Chilblains do get better without treatment after a few weeks. And will usually completely disappear during summer but they may return during cold seasons.

Causes

Chilblains occur when there is a sudden change in foot temperature from cold to hot. This can be caused by living conditions, working conditions, lifestyle, inappropriate footwear being worn in cold conditions and poor vascular circulation.

Treatment
Insulating hosiery, footwear, topical ointments and a vascular/ circulation check.

Flat Feet

Signs & Symptoms

A flat foot is where the foot doesn't have a normal arch (in-step) and the foot can appear flat and rolling in. It can affect one or both feet. 

Symptoms vary depending on the severity of the condition and can range from corns, callous, foot / heel / lower leg pain and back pain 

Causes

There are numerous causes of flat feet can be of a genetic, biomechanical or medical origin.

Treatment

Insoles, stretches, footwear and  for more complex conditions a full biomechanical assessment will be needed.    

Ingrowing Toenails

Signs & Symptoms

An ingrown toenail happens when the edge of your toenail grows down and cuts into the surrounding skin. Big toes are most likely to be affected. Ingrown toenails can occur on just one, or both, sides of your toe.

They are very common, particularly in teenagers and young adults. Causing a lot of pain and discomfort and left untreated can lead to infection.

Causes

Numerous things can cause, or contribute to, an ingrown toenail:

•     Ill-fitting shoes. If your shoes are too tight they can force the skin surrounding your toenail against the nail.

•    Incorrectly cutting your toenails. Cutting your nails too short can make them more likely to in grow.

•   Injury to your toenail. An injury can leave your toenail deformed, making it more likely to ingrow

•    Fungal nail infections can thicken and distort your toenails. This can make them more likely to become ingrown.

•    If you're very sporty or active, you're more likely to get an ingrown toenail. This is because your feet will sweat more, making your skin softer and easier for your nails to grow into.

•    Ingrown Toenails can often be hereditary.

Treatment

Your podiatrist can treat an Ingrown toenail by cutting away the ingrown section. If your Ingrown Toenail is severe you may need a small surgical procedure to remove part of, or the whole of the toenail. Nail Surgery can be carried out by Zoe Davison Podiatry in the comfort of your own home. Should nail surgery be needed a pre-operative assessment will need to be completed.

Whilst waiting for treatment from your Podiatrist, you can relieve the pain and discomfort in the meantime by bathing your foot in warm, salty water ( 2 table spoons per Litre of water)  . This will help to reduce the inflammation and prevent your nail from becoming infected