A closer look at your feet by Dr Martin Schiele
We tend to ignore our feet and take them for granted - until they smell, itch, hurt, get fungal infections or the skin hardens and cracks.
During an average lifetime, you will walk approx. 70,000 miles. Feet contain 26 bones, 56 ligaments and 38 muscles all surrounded by your skin, so there is plenty that can go wrong with our humble, often neglected feet.
Athlete's Foot.
Is medically known as tinea pedis, and is a superficial fungal infection. The fungi (any of several species) can infect not only the feet but also other parts of the body in the form of tinea corporis commonly called ringworm. And when the fungus gets to the groin, its called tinea cruris, or jock itch.
The fungi that causes it are composed of tiny, plant - like cells found on the skin of all humans. They can sometimes multiply out of control. However, persistent Athlete's foot is almost always associated with an overgrowth of candia yeast in the gut. Athlete's foot fungus needs moisture and darkness to grow.
What Causes it:
The most common fungi causing Athlete's foot belong to the group Trichophyton. Though poorly ventilated shoes and sweaty socks provide breeding ground for this fungi. Between sweaty toes is an ideal breeding ground for the fungus, which can also be picked up from swimming pools, locker rooms and changing rooms. However, other conditions such as disturbances of the sweat mechanism, reaction to dyes or adhesives in shoes, eczema and psoriasis, also may mimic Athlete's foot.
Symptoms:
Scaling and peeling between the toes. In severe cases there may be cracks between the toes.
Soft and painful skin. Redness, itching, scaling and tiny blisters along the sides and soles of the feet.
Blisters often lead to cracking of the skin resulting in small raw areas of tissue, causing swelling and pain.
Prevention and Treatment.
Go barefoot when you can, or opt for sandals or other well-ventilated shoes that allow your feet to breathe. Keep your feet clean and dry,. Dry your feet with a hairdryer, set on low. If you use a towel, wash it after each use. Wear clean, dry socks. Air your shoes after each use and do not wear the same pair everyday. Cut your toenails straight across to help to prevent fungal infections.
For further free information on the prevention and treatment of athletes foot click here...
Fungal toenail infections.
Toenails are often regarded as a sign of beauty and it takes about 12 to 18 months for a toenail to grow the full length, at about 1cm in 6 months. Nails tend to grow faster in the summer than in the winter months. They can even provide clues about your overall health and any underlying disease. Food nutrition is the key to nail vitality.
However, damaged and infected toenails are common and can be very upsetting to say the least, and about 5% of the population suffer from infected toenails. The NHS alone has to spend more than £15 million a year on treatments for fungal nail infections.
Suffering from infected toenails can lead not only to embarrassment but also to loss of self-esteem, which then leads to loss of confidence, depression and as a consequence social isolation.
The nails are composed mainly of a fibrous protein called keratin. Nails are one of the bodies strongest tissues, but one of the most common problems is a fungal infection.
What causes it :
Fungal infection usually cause discolouration and deformity in affected nails. This problem is more likely to occur when your immune system is not functioning properly or you have a condition such as diabetes. Nutrition plays a key role in nail health, growth and appearance. An insufficient intake of the B vitamins, for example, can produce ridges in the nails, and a lack of calcium can cause dryness and brittleness. Too little vitamin C or folic acid maybe partly responsible for the development of hangnails. In addition, nails can change colour when the blood does not get enough oxygen as a consequence of an underlying illness (such as asthma) , and white flecks under the nails may be caused by a lack of zinc. In addition, exposure to chemicals (laquer, varnish, glue etc,,) can dry nails out and damage them which makes them weak and brittle. The fungus that causes Athlete's foot can infect weak toenails more easily and enters any tiny breaks in the nails but can also enter if the end of the nail has been damaged or it can start at the base of the nail. The commonest fungus infecting toenails is Trichophyton rubrum, the same fungus that causes Athlete's foot and thrives also in warm, moist, dark conditions.
Symptoms :
Infected toenails become thickened, discoloured or crumbly. Thick yellowed nails may be harbouring the fungus. Debris collecting under the nail may cause it to peel away from the nail bed below and in an advanced stage the nail may become destroyed.
Prevention and treatment :
Do pretty much the same as you would for Athlete's foot as far as prevention and general care is concerned. As regards successful treatment it is most important to be patient. Nails infected with a fungus, unfortunately, are harder to treat and you will have to use the treatment for at least 3 to 6 months or longer before you see some results. Do not trim cuticles, they protect nails from fungi and bacteria and keep nails short.
For further free information on the prevention and treatment of fungal toenail infections read more in the consultation room...