Your own two feet

Press, 31 October 1981, Page 10

Your own two feet

In vogue

Paula Ryan

Our feet get a regular battering in the course of our lives, and yet we expect them not only to work effectively but also to look good. We squeeze our feet into ill-fitting shoes and complain when they hurt or grow corns. We totter about on high heels that wreck the shock-absorbing and balancing systems that nature has engineered and wonder why we are tired and headachy. This week I took my feet off to a qualified chiropodist and received the sort of foot treatment I probably should have had years ago. Gabriel Maghzal not only put the comfort back into my step by removing small corns, dry skin, and an ingrown toe-nail but gave me some good advice on preventive measures for foot problems for the future.

This week I thought I would share some of this information with you as I am sure many of you, like myself, are apt to neglect the feet from time to time.

Mr Maghzal informed me that generally women in New Zealand do not take enough care of their feet on a regular basis. Women tend to care for the look of the foot area ahead of the condition and for this reason many people do not engage a chiropodist until their feet are in a serious condition. Those that do care take their foot care quite seriously, going to a chiropodist once every four to six seeks. The first step to ensure good, healthy feet is the footwear you choose. Never accept shoes that you feel must be “broken in.” Choose shoes that are large enough. Low heels are advisable for comfortable walking, and give less strain on the back. Buy leather shoes if possible — they allow feet to breathe and also absorb perspiration. Maintain shoes in good repair. Change into dry shoes if they become damp or wet. Avoid wearing the same pair of shoes every day. Slippers are best worn for short intervals. Socks and stockings must be comfortably fitting and preferably of high wool content because tight hose can cramp toes and hinder circulation. Heat and cold Avoid hot baths. The water temperature must not exceed 43 degC or 110 degF. Avoid sitting too close to heaters or fires. Protect legs from direct heat strength. Nail cutting

When toenails need cutting do so after bathing. Cut the nail so that the corners are clear of the grooves of the toe and the end follows the shape of the end of the toe. Do not cut the nail too short. Never cut the corners of nails back into the nail grooves. Allow them to grow forward, free from the nail groove. Never use a sharp instrument to clean the free edge or the nail grooves. If toenails are painful or if you experience difficulty in cutting them it is wise to consult a chiropodist. Dry and normal skins

If your skin is dry, apply a little foot cream or bath oil and rub gently into the skin after bathing. Baby creams

or oils are ideal for this purpose. If the skin tends to be moist, wipe feet with surgical spirit and pay particular attention to between the toes. When the spirit, has dried, dust lightly with talcum powder or baby powder. Closely packed or overlapped toes may be separated with a wisp of lamb's wool or cotton wool.

Problems Most foot problems — corns, bunions, hammer toes, ingrowing toenails, fallen arches — can easily be prevented. The majority of foot ailments are caused by poorly fitted footwear and lack of proper foot care, which in most cases can be put down to “laziness.”

Ingrowing toenails. These occur when the sides of the toenail start to grow into the skin of the nail wall. This is extremely painful and often caused by shoes with a pointed toe and by badly cut toenails. Cut toenails across not into the the corners with a slanting action. Bunions are usually caused by wearing shoes that do not shape to the foot correctly causing the big toe to bend in. Many women who have worn high, narrow fashion shoes develop bunions after years of wearing these illfitting shoes. A bunion is the swelling and thickening of the main big toe in a bony outgrowth. Sometimes bunions become so severe that the whole foot looks deformed and a fluid-filled sac (bursa) may form on the joint. A bunion may be operated on, but the recovery process is

fairly painful and not always successful. It is better to discard any shoes which cramp your feet, however much you like them. Callouses and hard skin. Callouses can be uncomfortable and jf severe can throw the foot off balance. They form across the ball of the foot, or where shoes constantly rub or pinch. You can deal with minor callous formations yourself by rubbing with a pumice stone or special foot scraper after your bath. A corn is a type of callous caused by pressure from shoes, often on the little toe if it is squeezed by shoes which are too tight in that area. It is cone shaped, with the point often going deep into the foot and can with extra pressure be very painful. They are best removed by a chiropodist although temporary relief can be

iound in little felt rings which surround the corn preventing direct pressure. Onychomicosis. This is a fungal infection that attacks the nails, usually those of the feet and more often than not the big-toenails. Like many infectious fungi, it grows and spreads in warm; damp conditions and will flourish when feet are sweaty, shoes and socks tight, or nonporous in hot weather. Onychomicosis manifests itself in excessive thickening of the nail and discolouration, but pain is not necessarily a factor. To treat this effectively the fungus must be killed with applications of a fungicidal fluid. In doing this the thickened nail must be pared away to provide access to the source of the infection.

Verracus (planter warts). These are ingrowing warts

which may grow singly or in groups on the feet. The warts are flattened and pushed inwards with added pressure, causing pain. They are the result of a virus infection which is catching and can easily be picked up in swimming pools, school changing rooms, ’ and other areas where people go barefooted. The sooner the virus is detected the quicker it can be treated.

Athlete’s foot is a fungus similar to that which causes ring worm which grows between and under the toes. It thrives on warm, damp skin, and is contagious. It makes the skin between the toes look soggy and white and the skin itches, splits, and peels. Powders and creams can be purchased to cure the condition, but you can help prevent this by washing and carefully drying between your toes. This infection, however, can linger in socks and shoes so it is wise while you are curing it to avoid wearing shoes and socks if possible. We have covered just a few ailments relating to feet. You may have received the message, that most , are caused by the footwear we tend to buy. For this reason careful selection for comfort and fit is essential, for not only ourselves but our children’s feet — tomorrow’s pedestrians.

Also, don’t be afraid to have a thorough check by a chiropodist. It may well be a trip which could prevent many unnecessary hours of future discomfort.