Common Foot Ailments (page 1)
Corns
A corn (or clavus, plural clavi) is a specially-shaped callus of dead skin that usually occurs on thin skin surfaces, especially on the dorsa of toes or fingers. They can sometimes occur on skin surfaces. Corns form when the pressure point against the skin traces an elliptical or semi-elliptical path, the center of which is at the point of pressure, gradually widening. If there is constant stimulation of the tissues producing the corns, even after the corn is removed or the pressure surgically removed, the skin may continue to grow as a corn. The name corn comes from its appearance under the microscope. The hard part at the center of the corn resembles a barley hare, that is, a funnel with a broad raised top and a pointed bottom. Corn used to be a generic term for grain, and the name stuck.
Calusses
Calluses are the thickening of the skin due to pressure (called hyperkeratosis). They can occur over bony prominence, on the ball of the foot or on the heel, often because of prolonged standing and may result in chronic pain. A callous appears as yellow or dark brown discoloured skin. It usually feels painful when you put pressure on it.
Ingrowing Toe Nails
Ingrowing toe nails are one of the most common foot complaints treated by a chiropodist. This condition can be very painful and patients may often be very reluctant to have the condition treated. This condition will not resolve itself and requires specialist care. An In growing toe nail is caused by a splinter of nail or the whole nail causing pressure into the skin. Some In growing toe nails are acute which means that they have occurred due to a injury to the toe. Others are chronic, which means the patient has had the problem for a long period of time. The large toe is usually affected, however, it can also affect the lesser toes.
Ask my husband Nick about them.....and how much better he feels after they’ve been treated!
Athletes Foot
Athlete's foot causes a flaky, sometimes itchy, and sometimes red rash between the toes and over the rest of the nearby foot. In most people it is confined to the spaces between the toes, but it spreads and affects more of the foot occasionally. In some people the skin becomes very sore and even bleeds a little.
Several fungus varieties cause athlete's foot, and sometimes more than one is present at the same time. The condition may be complicated by a secondary infection with bacteria which take advantage of the damaged skin.
It is said that you should dry well between your toes after baths or showers. The feet are certainly more prone to athlete's foot when they are warm and moist, so it seems to occur more frequently in people that wear artificial soles and especially trainers and sports shoes. It helps to spend time with bare feet when you can.