Medical App & Medical Advice with Hello Doctor

What to do about warts under your feet

Plantar warts are small growths that appear mainly on your heels or other weight-bearing areas of your feet. The pressure on these warts can cause them to grow inward, creating a clump of hard, thick skin (mosaic warts). Warts can also appear on the hands, and these are called palmer warts. Plantar warts are common, particularly in children.

Most people will have a wart at some point in their lifetime. Some corns and calluses are mistaken for plantar warts. In some warts, little black dots appear. These are called “seed” warts. The black dots are small blood vessels that have grown into warts.

Symptoms of warts:

  • Hard, thickened skin.
  • Small, fleshy grainy growths on the bottom of your foot.
  • Pain or tenderness when standing or walking.
  • Little black dots on growths.

What are the causes?

Plantar warts are skin growths caused by a viral infection in the top layer of skin. The virus that causes these skin-growths is called HPV. HPV enters your body through little cuts or weak spots at the bottom of your foot. Plantar warts spread from person to person. For example, if a child has a wart on his hand and touches a surface that is then touched by another child, that child is likely to get a wart.

Another example would be if someone with warts on their feet uses a shower without flip-flops and then whoever uses the shower after them will develop a wart. If your immune system is weak, your risk of getting a wart is increased as the virus has a better chance to enter your body.

What to do about them

Prevention is better than cure, so lowering your risk of getting plantar warts is your best bet.

  • Avoid touching warts, including your own warts.
  • Wash your hands carefully after touching a wart.
  • Keep your feet clean and dry. Change your shoes and socks daily.
  • Avoid walking barefoot around swimming pools and locker rooms, always wear flip flops
  • Don’t pick at warts.

Plantar warts shouldn’t raise serious alarm bells because they usually go away without treatment. Still, here are a few self-treatments you can try at home.

  • Stick a small piece of duct tape over your wart and leave it on for six days. Remove it and soak the wart in water and then gently remove it with a pumice stone. This could take a few months to work.
  • Ask your pharmacist for over-the-counter helpers like gels, ointments and lotions. Ask for ones with salicylic acid to help peel the wart. Freezing spray can kill the wart tissue. These remedies work about 50% of the time.
  • If home treatment doesn’t help, see your doctor. Medical treatment includes removing the wart with surgery and injecting medications to help clear up the wart.

See your doctor immediately if:

  • The discomfort caused by the wart prevents you from doing any activities.
  • Treatment isn’t working.
  • The growths are bleeding, painful, or changes in colour.
  • You have diabetes.
  • You aren’t sure if you have a wart or another kind of growth.
  • You have a weak immune system because of an immune disorder or immune-suppressing drugs.

References:

What is Morton’s neuroma?

Do you often feel pain in the ball of your foot? Does it feel like there’s a pebble stuck in your shoe that’s putting pressure on your foot? If so, Morton’s neuroma could be the culprit.

Morton’s neuroma is a painful condition that affects the ball of your foot, specifically the area between your third and fourth toes. It is caused by the thickening of the tissue that surrounds one of the nerves leading to your toes.

This results in a sharp, burning pain in the ball of your foot. Your toes may also be affected and may burn, feel numb or sting.

What are the causes?

The most common reason for Morton’s neuroma is wearing high-heeled shoes. These shoes can cause the nerves in your feet to become irritated or compressed. Over time, the nerves thicken and become more painful from the pressure of the shoe.

Other reasons include abnormalities in the way that you walk, or in the way your foot is structured which can place further strain on the nerves in your feet.

What are risk factors?

Factors that may contribute to Morton’s neuroma include:

  • Certain sports. High-impact sports like jogging or running can place constant pressure on your feet, especially if shoes are ill-fitting.
  • A bony bump that forms on the joint at the base of your big toe.
  • Hammer toes. A deformity that causes your toe to bend or curl downward instead of pointing forward.
  • A high arch or flat feet. This gives you a higher risk of developing Morton’s neuroma.

Treating Morton’s neuroma

Morton’s neuroma treatment depends on the severity of your symptoms. Home treatments are often used first while if your condition is more severe, more aggressive treatment will be necessary. Many people find quick relief by choosing to wear shoes with lower heels with wider toe boxes.

Home treatment options:

  • Arch support pads in your shoes to relieve pressure on your foot’s nerves. Check at your pharmacy for over-the-counter (OTC) ones.
  • OTC painkillers or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for pain and inflammation.
  • Stretching exercises to improve the flexibility in foot tendons and ligaments.
  • Massaging the ball of your foot.
  • Physical therapy.
  • Applying ice to the sore part of your foot.
  • Exercise to strengthen your ankles and toes.
  • Resting your sore foot.

Treatment for severe Morton’s neuroma:

  • Having steroids injected into the painful areas of your foot may help.
  • Nerve removal. The surgical removal of the irritated nerve could be an option if other treatments can’t provide pain relief. Surgery is usually successful, but there may be the risk of permanent numbness in your affected toes.
  • Decompression surgery. In some cases, the pressure on the nerve can be relieved if a surgeon cuts nearby structures. This may include ligaments that connect the bones in the front of your foot.

References:

Should I get insoles for my heel pain?

There’s nothing like strutting your stuff in your favourite pair of shoes… until ouch! They’re worn away to nothing, and your feet feel like they’ve lived through a war. The answer may be insoles.

Insoles are the inside part of a shoe that supports the bottom of your foot. You can thank ancient innkeepers for this handy little foot friend. They created the first insoles for tired travellers who complained of their tired, aching feet.

At first, they used animal hair as matted pads to cushion the feet, but later, professional shoemakers innovated on the idea and turned to thermoplastic to make comfortable and sturdy insoles which moulded to feet.

They are simply removed and can be easily placed in shoes, too. People often replace the original insoles in their shoes for more comfortable or orthopaedic ones for foot conditions. Today, they are usually made from cellulose paperboard or a synthetic insole board.

If in doubt, it’s best to visit a specialist, like a podiatrist, to help you choose the right kind of insole for your body’s mechanics. Choosing the wrong ones, can lead to lots of other problems, like ankle, knee and hip-pain.

Why are insoles important?

Insoles aren’t just used for comfort. They’re also used to minimise odour and moisture, and absorb shock. Speciality insoles like orthotic insoles offer support for health-related issues so that the foot can be positioned better to prevent discomfort.

Your feet carry the weight of your entire body and this places a strain on them. Any stress on your feet that isn’t properly absorbed can put stress on your ankles, knees and hips. Good-quality insoles help to absorb the strain, carry your weight and provide much-needed arch support.

They can help to:

  • Improve posture.
  • Prevent varicose veins.
  • Reduce back pain.
  • Provide joint relief.

Do you need insoles?

Here are a few signs to look out for:

  • If you constantly experience foot pain and discomfort.
  • Your shoes are terribly worn out.
  • Severe pain in your heels.
  • Callouses or bunions on your toes.

Choosing the right insoles

  • Consider the type of shoes you wear often. Choose thick insoles for shoes like boots and thin, flexible insoles for sneakers.
  • Check on the type of support an insole offers before choosing it. For example, if you have problems with your arches, choose an insole which will help support them.
  • We all need different types of cushioning for our feet, so you need to choose insoles which will provide the right cushioning for you. For example, choose a soft gel insole if you need help with shock absorption, but if you need help aligning your feet; choose a sturdy insole made of plastic plates.

Caring for your insoles

Insoles can last up to six months if you look after them properly.

  1. Although it may seem convenient, don’t leave your insoles in your shoes indefinitely. It’s important that you regularly air them out, particularly if they’ve become damp from rain, water or sweat. If insoles are left soggy and enclosed, they can lose their shape and become useless.
  2. Wash your insoles every week to keep them clean. This will protect your feet from infection that can come from dirt and sweat build-up.
  3. Check your insoles regularly to make sure they aren’t wearing out and for any changes in the fit.

References:

Why do you have swollen feet?

You’re trying to slip into your favourite shoes, but they don’t fit! Why? Have your feet grown overnight? Almost! Say hello to swollen feet.

Your feet have a massive job: they enable you to walk, stand, jump, run, dance and support your entire bodyweight. It’s no surprise, then, that everyone has swollen feet at some point of their lives, for various reasons.

The most common cause for swollen feet, is a build-up of fluid, usually around the ankles. Other causes include injuries, being on your feet too much, being inactive or anytime when your feet doesn’t move around a lot.

Treating them, usually depends on why your feet are swollen in the first place.

1. You weigh too much

When you’re overweight, the excess fat weighs your body down. The pressure of the fat reaches your feet too because your legs and feet carry your weight. This may cause your feet to swell.

How to fix it
If you suspect your weight is causing your feet to swell, talk to your doctor. Ask him about changes you can make to your diet and exercise habits to help shed the weight.

2. Your hormones are fluctuating

Most women experience bloating the week before their period. This is normal after hormone changes during ovulation. PMS (premenstrual syndrome) can also cause swollen feet if it happens during your period cycle. The swelling is noticeable in your legs and feet because of gravity.

How to fix it
Ease the bloat by drinking more water and cutting down on salt. Exercise will help with circulation which may decrease the swelling.

3. You eat too much salt

Salt adds flavour to your meals, but it also makes your body hang on to water. When your body has too much water, it may cause your body to swell, including your feet.

How to fix it
Stick to one teaspoon of salt per day and check food labels for the amount of salt. Season your food with spices and herbs instead.

4. You’re injured

A sprained ankle is the most common foot injury. It happens when the ligaments get damaged, and usually causes swelling and pain.

How to fix it
Reduce the swelling by resting your injured foot. Place an icepack wrapped in a towel on the sprain for 20 minutes at a time. Wrap your foot with a bandage and keep it elevated on a pillow or stool. Talk to your doctor if your foot doesn’t improve with home treatment.

5. You have an infection

If you have diabetes, arthritis or blood circulatory problems, you’re at a higher risk of getting an infection. An infection can get worse quickly, because it reduces blood flow, including to your feet. You can also get an infection if you have broken skin; as bacteria can enter through the wound. Ingrown toenails or shoes that are too small can cause an infection too.

How to fix it
Keep your feet clean and dry at all times. Wash and bandage minor scrapes or cuts immediately. Wipe down gym equipment, table tops and objects in your home with an antibacterial liquid before using them. Talk to your doctor if you have a scrape or cut that’s taking long to heal.

Foot care tips 

  • Clip your toenails properly. Cut the nail straight across and avoid snipping too close to the skin.
  • Dry your feet properly between each toe after washing.
  • Protect your feet in public areas. For example, wear shower shoes in the gym’s bathroom.
  • Avoid sharing shoes.
  • Check your feet after showering. Look out for discoloured toenails, sores or peeling skin.

References

Are flip-flops bad for your feet?

They’re cheap, easy to slip on, and certainly help keep your toes cool on scorching hot days. The bad news though, is that flip-flops aren’t the most sensible and safest choice of footwear. These shoes are flimsy and provide little to no protection for your feet, making you vulnerable to foot pain, muscle fatigue, blisters, hammer toes, and injury.

Because of their lack of support, flip-flops can even change your natural gait (the way you walk), which can cause problems for your knees, hips and back.

What’s more, they’re a breeding ground for bacteria. Researchers at the University of Miami found that over 18 000 bacteria live on the average pair of flip-flops! And, many play host to the potentially lethal bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus, which can lead to serious infections and even limb amputation or death. Not what you signed up for when you grabbed them off the shelf.

But don’t panic just yet! Despite these dangers, there’s no need to ditch your go-to slops come summertime. Finding the right pair and wearing them at the right time can protect your tootsies and health.

Flop safely

  1. Don’t wear the same pair year after year. If they show signs of severe wear and tear, get rid of them.
  2. Buy a pair made from soft, high-quality leather to prevent blisters and irritation. Look for one with thick soles, arch support and wide straps.
  3. Make sure you buy the right size. Try before you buy. A good fit is vital to healthy feet.
  4. Check that they’re not flimsy. Gently bend the flip-flop from end to end. If it folds in half, it won’t offer any support for your foot. If it bends at the ball of the foot, it will support your foot properly and move with your foot while you walk.
  5. Only wear flip-flops around the pool, at the beach, and in and around the house.
  6. Avoid driving in flip-flops. Wear closed shoes instead. According to the American Automobile Association, many car accidents are caused by flip-flops, which can easily slide off under the gas pedal or brake.
  7. Don’t ignore redness, irritation or blisters developing between your toes as this can lead to infection. Stop wearing the flip-flops. Rather wear sandals that don’t separate your toes.
  8. Don’t walk long distances in flip-flops. They don’t offer any shock absorption or cushioning, so walking long distances in them will put a lot of strain on your feet.
  9. Don’t play sports in flip-flops. This can lead to twisting of the foot or ankle, and sprains and breaks. Wear sneakers when doing any physical activity
  10. Don’t do yard work while wearing flip-flops. You may accidentally drop something on your foot, stub your toe, or get bitten by something you’re allergic to. Always wear shoes that fully protect your feet when doing outdoor activities.

Skip the slops if…

  • You have a foot injury. Wait for the injury to heal first.
  • You have diabetes. You may injure your foot without feeling it.
  • You’re overweight. Flip-flops won’t give your body the support it needs.

References:

Eight ways to walk away from athlete’s foot

Your feet have been itching fiercely for the past few days and it looks like you haven’t had a pedicure in this lifetime. If you’ve been careless about where you’ve been walking, you may have athlete’s foot.

Tinea pedis, commonly known as athlete’s foot, is a contagious fungal infection that affects the skin on your feet and can spread to your toenails and sometimes, your hands. This fungal infection is called athlete’s foot because it’s commonly diagnosed among athletes.

It’s not seen as a serious or incurable condition, but can sometimes be hard to treat. If it’s combined with lifestyle diseases like diabetes or a weak immune system, you should reach out to one of our doctors on Hello Doctor app.

Know the symptoms and causes so that you can treat this irritating issue as soon as possible.

Itching culprits

  • Walking barefoot in public places like changing rooms at the gym, public showers and swimming pools.
  • Sharing socks, shoes, or towels with an infected person.
  • Wearing tight fitting, closed-toe shoes.
  • Keeping your feet wet for a long period.
  • Sweaty feet.
  • Minor skin or nail injuries on your feet.

Symptoms

  • Itching, stinging or burning between your toes.
  • Blisters on your feet.
  • Cracking and peeling skin.
  • Dry skin on the soles or sides of your feet.
  • Raw skin on your feet.
  • Discoloured, thick and crumbly toenails.
  • Toenails that pull away from your nailbeds.

Put you best foot forward

  1. Keep your feet clean and dry.
  2. Dry between your toes after swimming or bathing.
  3. Wear shoes or sandals that allow your feet to breathe.
  4. When indoors, wear socks without shoes.
  5. Wear socks to absorb sweat and change them twice a day.
  6. Use talcum or antifungal powder on your feet.
  7. Allow your shoes to air for at least 24 hours before you wear them again.
  8. Wear shower sandals in public pools and showers.

Ditch the itch
Athlete’s foot is usually treated with antifungal over-the-counter medication. You can speak to your pharmacist about your options. If an OTC medication doesn’t treat your fungal infection successfully, talk to your doctor to prescribe something stronger to clear up your infection.

Homecare

  • Soak your feet in salt water or diluted vinegar to dry out blisters.
  • Keep your feet clean and dry.

Good to know

  • Use tea tree oil and olive oil to soothe itchy and sore feet.
  • Soaking your feet in warm salt water can heal your athlete’s foot in time if it is not severe.
  • Lavender has antifungal properties. Add a few drops to water and soak your feet for relief from itchiness

 

References

10 ways to alleviate your foot pain

Painful feet? Don’t worry. You’re not the only one. Foot pain is a very common problem, affecting as many as 75 percent of people at some point in their lives, according to the College of Podiatry in London.

The foot is a complex structure with 26 bones, 33 joints and over 100 ligaments! Your feet support your weight, act as shock absorbers, and help maintain balance. But as important as they are, it’s easy to take them for granted – until they cause you pain. Speak to one of our doctors if your foot pain is persistent and untreated.

What’s hurting your feet?

  • Unsuitable footwear. Shoes that are too tight or poorly fitted, like high heels, can be a pain in the feet. Too-tight shoelaces can also cause pain and bruising on the top of the foot. Exercising in the wrong shoes can also wreak havoc on your foot health and cause discomfort. In the short term, ill-fitting footwear can cause blisters, bruising, and athlete’s foot. Long-term effects include bunions, corns, calluses, nerve and joint damage, and misalignment of the toes.
  • Walking incorrectly. An abnormal walk or posture can hurt your feet. Add the wrong shoes, and you could get bunions, osteoarthritis, fallen arches, malformation of the toes, and permanent misalignment of the joints of the bones of the feet. Inflammation can also cause arthritis.
  • Medical conditions, e.g. arthritis and gout, which cause inflammation of the bones, ligaments, or tendons in the foot. Diabetes, obesity and neurological disorders like Parkinson’s disease may also cause pain or numbness in the feet.
  • High-impact exercises like running or jogging can injure your feet and other parts of your leg. Besides severe foot pain, it can also cause corns, blisters, and calluses, which can aggravate painful feet.

Stop the pain

  • Find the right fit. Your feet change shape as you age. Have yours measured the next time you buy shoes. Shop for shoes later in the day when your feet might be slightly swollen.
  • Slip on some socks. Wear thick socks to absorb pressure and allow your feet to breathe. Avoid socks that are too tight.
  • Wear the right shoe for specific activities. Whether you’re walking or running, athletic shoes should feel comfortable right away. Forget about “breaking your shoes in”. It’s also a good idea to get a new pair every six months. Running or walking in worn-out shoes may lead to injury.
  • Put your comfort first. Trade in your high heels for low-heeled shoes with stiff soles and soft padding inside.
  • Alternate shoes. Avoid wearing the same pair of shoes every day. This puts repeated pressure on the same areas of your foot.
  • Avoid walking barefoot as this can increase your risk for injury and infection.
  • Trim your toenails. Another major source of foot pain is ingrown toenails (when the edge of your nail grows into the skin around the toe). Prevent this by cutting your toenails straight across.
  • Stay flexible. Do heel and foot muscle stretches. Stretching your calves can also go a long way in preventing foot pain.  
  • Take a break. If you’re on your feet for most of the day, do your feet a favour and take a load off whenever you get the chance.
  • Maintain a healthy weight. Your feet bear the weight of your entire body. The more you weigh, the greater your foot stress. Prevent this by keeping your weight in check.

If the foot pain interferes with your daily living, see your doctor immediately. Don’t ignore foot pain, especially if the affected area is swollen, tender, changes colour, looks deformed, or causes you to move differently.

References:

Give your feet some love after a hard day’s work!

You’ve just got home and you can’t wait to take off your new pair of heels – they’re gorgeous, but your feet aren’t happy that you’ve spent the whole day “wearing them in.” So, give them some love after a hard day’s work – after all, they carry you every step of the way! Here are our quick fix tips for relieving tired and aching feet.

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High heels: Here’s why you should give your feet a break

There’s little more satisfying than putting on a killer pair of high heels to make a woman feel confident and ready for the day.

The thing is, high heels aren’t all they’re cracked up to be, and every season they seem to get higher, with narrower heels and less support. Over time this can (unfortunately) cause long-term problems. We take a look at the most common issues women face by ‘subjecting’ their feet to the stress of high heels on a regular basis.

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