Not All Foot Problems Can Be Solved With a Pedicure

Although a pedicure can address many concerns women have about their feet, not all foot problems will be solved with one. Some foot conditions need medication and even specialists to treat, cure, and resolve the problem. Examine your feet to see if you have any of the following conditions, then instead of a pedicure look into another solution to your foot problems.

Ingrown Toenails
Ingrown toenails occur when your nail grows outside of the nail bed and often curls down into the skin of the toe. Not only are ingrown toenails unattractive, they can be quite painful and if not treated can cause serious infection. Rather than clipping and filing away at an ingrown toenail, you should visit a physician who can remove the offending nail properly. Grooming the nail and painting it isn't going to solve the ingrown toenail problem in any way.

Fungus
Feet can develop fungal infections both under the toenails and between the toes. Ahtlete's foot and nail fungus are the most common foot problems caused by fungus. These conditions are treated with over-the-counter medications and home remedies, and may at times need prescription medication to cure.

Bunions
A bunion is a bony knob that forms at the base of the big toe. As the bunion grows it can displace the bones of the foot, causing the toe to grow sideways and resulting in severe foot pain. A doctor can recommend the best treatment. Sometimes bunion pain is relieved with pads to protect the area from pressure, with roomy shoes, or with shoe inserts. However, there's nothing a pedicure can do to relieve bunions, and they may even need surgery.

Corns and Calluses
These foot problems are often more of an annoyance than a condition, but they can cause pain and discomfort when you wear shoes or stand for a long time. Each of these form to actually protect the skin on your feet, but the hardened cone or lump of skin is quite irritating. Many times alleviating the pressure that is causing the corn or callus will help, and a doctor can safely trim or shave the built-up skin without infection or pain. You should not attempt to shave this sort of hardened skin off of your foot at home.

Don't assume that a pedicure will solve any of these foot problems. Also, keep in mind that a salon technician isn't qualified to diagnose or treat any of these conditions. Instead, if you are concerned about a foot problem you might have, seek medical attention.

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How To Treat Common Foot Problems Corns, Bunions- Ingrown Toenails

Bunion, ingrown toenails and athlete’s foot are annoying and embarrassing. It’s hard to show off those pretty sandals when you are struggling with foot pain. Here are just some ways to get relief from common foot problems so that you can wear your shoes with confidence. Be pain free and show off those pretty feet.

A Bunion is a bony bump at the base of the big toe, a bunion causes that toe to deviate toward others. It throws the foot bones out of alignment and produces the characteristic bump at the joint’s base. Bunions can be very painful caused by the pressure of arthritis, and may lead to corns.

How to deal with them
Treat the pain with pain relievers, use pads to cover the bunions, buy shoe inserts, or surgery may be an effective option for you.

Avoid wearing high heels and wear roomy shoes for comfort.
Corn and calluses are dead thickened skin that is caused by friction. The thick skin forms to protect the sensitive skin on the foot. These will go away when you reduce the friction of the irritated area. Moleskin pads can eliminate corns and calluses can be trimmed or surgically removed.

Gout is a form of arthritis, gout is characterized by sudden pain, redness, swelling and stiffness. These symptoms usually occur in the large joint of the big toe. Gout can form in the foot, ankle, or knees. It is caused by too much uric acid (UA) in the body, which can form hard crystals in joints. These attacks may last days or weeks.

How to treat Gout
You can treat gout with anti-inflammatory or UA-lowering medication.
A change in your diet may help give you relief too, talk to your doctor.

Plantar warts are tough, horny growths that develop on the soles of the feet. They are contagious, they are caused by a virus entering through broken skin, and often spread via public pools and showers. These warts are harmless and can be left untreated, but in many cases the pain is unbearable. Plantar wart can be treated with topical salicylic acid. In addition, burning, freezing, laser therapy and surgical removal are more aggressive options for more serious cases.

Athlete’s foot is a fungal infection that causes itching, burning, blisters, peeling skin and sores. It is mildly contagious and can be passed on by walking on bare floors in locker rooms or pools. The fungi grows in shoes, especially tight one’s when there is no air circulation. This condition can be treated with anti-fungal creams or oral medications for more severe cases.

Fungal nail infection happens when microscopic fungi enters a broken nail and causes them to be brittle, discolored and thick. It will not go away without treatment. This infection can be hard to treat, it can be passed on. It survives in warm and wet places. Topical creams can be used to relieve the fungi and for more serious infections antifungal pill may be prescribe by your doctor.

Hammertoe is when the bone of the toe becomes unbalanced. Some may be prone to hammertoe, wearing tight shoes can put you at risk. When the bone is off balance it makes the joint of the toe bend downward, with toes appearing raised near the foot. Well fitted shoes with enough toe room, shoe supports, and surgery may offer relief.

Ingrown toenail is when the nail has grown in the skin causing pain, swelling, redness and infection. Cutting the nails too short or not straight across, injury to the toenail, and wearing tight shoes are culprits. If your case is mild, soak foot in warm water, keep it clean, and wedge a small piece of cotton under the corner of the ingrown nail and lift off the skin. Minor surgery remove all or part of the nail.

Flatfoot is characterized by the sole of the foot coming into complete or near-complete contact with ground. It can be inherited, cause by injury or by rheumatoid arthritis. Flatfoot signs are rare, though weight gain, ill-fitting shoes, or excessive standing may cause pain. You can treat it with foot-strengthening exercises, and shoes with good arch support or orthotics.



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