Keeping Your Feet Healthy: A Guide for Men
Men, when was the last time you did your pedicure? Scrubbed your feet in the shower? Applied foot cream? Chances are that you never have and you are probably wondering, do guys really do this?! Well, some (too few) do, some won't admit they do (but why?), but most will flat out honestly tell you that they don't need to or don't care to. Take it from me, a foot know-it-all: you need to care. Here are my suggestions for clean and healthy-looking feet, for you, men (and women, too)!
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Men, it's important to take care of your feet. Feet are commonly the most neglected part of our bodies - yet we rely on them every day. It's not uncommon for men to disregard their foot health until they contract a foot ailment or they're experiencing severe pain. The issue with neglecting your feet is it could lead to more serious issues that could impact the rest of your body and some actions could even be harmful to other aspects of your body. For example, walking barefoot exposes you to contract bacterial infections, such as fungal infections that lead you to athlete's foot or viral infections that lead to Plantar's Warts. Wearing the wrong shoes is also an issue that leads to foot ailments. Walking in the wrong shoes could not only result in foot pain or Plantar Fasciitis, but it could impact your knees, back and posture. Spend money on the right shoe.
Most Common Foot Conditions Due To Improper Hygiene
Athlete's Foot: Athlete's Foot is a fungal infection of the foot that develops commonly on the soles of the feet and in between the toes. It usually produces itchy, dry, and scaling skin. In more severe cases, inflammation, cracks, and blisters may form. Athletes commonly suffer from sweaty feet and use facilities where the fungus is found (ie. gym locker rooms, showers) thus the term "Athlete's foot." Athlete's Foot can be easily prevented by changing your socks frequently to avoid creating a moist environment for your feet, spraying your shoes with Lysol every day to kill bacteria that is often found in warm, moist places, and wearing shoes in public facilities.
Plantar Fasciitis: Your foot contains a thick band of tissue called plantar fascia that stretches from your heel to your toes. That tissue's job is to support the muscles and arch of your foot. Too much tension on the tissue can cause it to stretch too far, resulting in tiny tears that cause pain and inflammation. I see this issue in a lot of athletes, especially if they don't wear proper fitting shoes to the gym. It's important to support your arch to avoid stretching your plantar fascia to the point of pain.
Nail Fungus: Nail fungus is a condition that occurs when a microscopic fungus enters one or more nails. This condition often begins as an infection in the skin, which is commonly referred to as Athlete's Foot. As the nail fungus penetrates deeper into the nail, it may cause the nail to discolor, thicken, and develop crumbling edges - an unsightly and potentially painful problem. Most people develop nail fungus as a result of walking barefoot in public places. This can be treated at home, but for extreme issues I suggest seeing a podiatrist who can likely solve this issue in a matter of weeks. Gotham Footcare now offers an effective and Over-the-counter ointments can often take months to eliminate the fungus.
How To Prevent Foot Health Issues
1) Make sure your shoe is fitted to your foot. Proper fitting shoes provide a platform for our feet to support our body. Our feet are the foundation to our bodies and caring for them means caring for the rest of our body too. Shoes that are too big mean you will be accommodating the improperly fitted size in a dysfunctional way which may lead to foot problems. I suggest getting your feet measured for length and width with a brannock device and buying the right fitting shoe. It is important to take into consideration that size of shoes varies from company to company. It's also very important to try on shoes in the store at the end of the day when your feet are the most swollen. This will ensure the shoe is a proper fit.
2) Examine the color of your toenails each week. There are several things that can negatively impact the color or texture of your nail. Fungus is a common issue that we see. Yellow or brown and thickened nails are signs of fungal nails that can be easily treated by a podiatrist. However, other colors could indicate larger health issues. For example, a black stripe on your nail could be a sign of skin cancer, HIV or Lupus.
3) Don't walk barefoot ever (especially at the gym)! Walking barefoot on hard surfaces allows our foot to collapse which can lead to a tremendous amount of stress not only to the foot but to the rest of the body. This has the same detriment as wearing flip flops. Walking barefoot also exposes our feet to bacterial and fungal organisms that can infect the skin and nails. These organisms can lead to infections that change the appearance, smell, and comfort of the foot, such as Athlete's Foot or fungal nails.
4) There are several benefits of regular foot soaking that may benefit not only the feet but also your overall health. Soaking your feet helps to relax muscles and reduce pain/strain because it helps promote circulation to the feet. Going to a (sanitary) foot spa may also help in detoxification of the feet by promoting the transfer of toxins to the lymphatic system and kidneys which helps improve the health of your feet but your body. The effects of soaking your feet include reducing headaches and stress, ultimately helping your disposition and overall health.
When Should Men See A Podiatrist?
Discolored and brittle nails: There are several things that can negatively impact the color or texture of your nail. Fungus is a common issue that we see. Yellow or brown and thickened nails are signs of fungal nails. This is caused by a microscopic fungus that infects one or more nails. The color of your nails can tell you a lot about your health. For example, if your nail has a black stripe on it, you should see a podiatrist immediately. There are numerous causes of black stripes on nails. Treatment of this condition depends on discovering the underlying cause and can be best evaluated by a medical professional. The most common reason for dark stripes down a person's nails is a condition which occurs in almost 50% of African Americans, known as Linear Melanonychia. This condition occurs when pigments in the nail known as melanocytes, make excess pigment causing the nail beds to darken. Less common reasons include the following: taking certain medications, such as chemotherapy drugs skin cancer, and immunodeficiency diseases, such as HIV, Lupus, and Scleroderma. Last but not least, another cause of black lines on the nails is a splinter hemorrhage which occurs when blood vessels under the fingernail are damaged, resulting from impact and injuries.
Pain and swelling around the big toe or discomfort while walking: This can be a symptom of a bunion which should be examined by a podiatrist immediately. A bunion is a deformity of the front of the foot and the great toe joint. It is often described as a bump on the side of the big toe. When the biomechanics of the foot are imbalanced it can worsen over time. They start when the big toe rotates sideways towards the second toe. The bones of the first metatarsal shifts in the opposite direction and gradually changes the angle of the bones. This produces the characteristic bump, which increases prominently over the years.
Ingrown toenails: An ingrown toenail is a common condition typically affecting the great toe, in which the corner or side of the nail becomes incurvated (turned inward) and grows into the skin and soft flesh of the toe. This results in irritation of the surrounding soft tissue, often causing pain, redness, swelling, warmth, and sometimes an infection. It's not uncommon for male patients to attempt "bathroom surgery" to dig out the ingrown on their own but this often causes more serious infection and rarely solves the underlying issue.
Should I Get A Salon Pedicure?
Pedicures are completely fine as long as the salon is practicing good hygiene protocols. I suggest ensuring that the pedicurist uses new utensils or bring your own tools with you to ensure you don't contract any fungus or bacteria that could lead to Athlete's Foot or Plantar's Warts. I also would not allow them to cut my cuticles or toenails to avoid potential infections or ingrown.
How About A DIY Pedicure?
Sure! Follow my previously mentioned tips about soaking and scrubbing your feet. Use the Straight Edge Toenail Clipper to maintain healthy nails and avoid painful ingrown toenails. A straight edge toenail clipper ensures the nails are cut straight across, decreasing the chance of ingrown toenails. This can be easily achieved at home, however if an ingrown toenail is present it is recommended to be treated at your podiatrist.
After cutting your toenails with a straight edge nail clipper, you should file your toenails down with an emery board to smooth out the edges. When filing, it's important to file your toenails using light pressure and long strokes in one direction to minimize the trauma to the surrounding nail bed.
If you have damaged toenail cuticles, you should start drinking more water to be properly hydrated. Maintain the proper moisture balance of your cuticles and feet by lubricating them with Eucerin cream and taking vitamins such as Biotin and hair, skin & nail vitamins.
So men, do yourself (and your partner) a favor, take care of your feet. Be good to them and they'll be good to you!
At Gotham Footcare in NYC, we strive at recognizing your individual needs and desired outcomes while formulating an effective and personalized treatment plan with the highest quality care available.
What sets Gotham Footcare apart from other podiatry offices is our dedication to providing you with the education you need to make well-informed decisions regarding your care. Regardless of what your foot and ankle trouble may be, at Gotham Footcare our team will work tirelessly to help you feel better. At Gotham Footcare, we help you put your best foot forward.
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