6 Most Common Foot Issues Everyone Should Know

However, the stress of carrying your weight around puts your feet at an increased risk of injury, higher than any other body part.

Lots of foot issues, including hammertoes, blisters, bunions, corns and calluses, claw and mallet toes, ingrown toenails, toenail fungus, and athlete’s foot, can occur due to neglect, ill-fitting shoes, and just wear and tear.

Foot pain might even be a signal of a more serious issue. So, how to recognize and control common foot problems?

1. Plantar fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis is a painful condition in which the ligament called fascia gets inflamed or even torn. Plantar fasciitis doesn’t have any visual signs or symptoms, it’s characterized only by pain and stiffness in the foot.

Scientists assume that the condition is extremely common among runners and other athletes of all levels, however, it’s considered an overuse injury for which nearly everyone is at risk.

To treat plantar fasciitis you might need to work with a physical therapist who will teach you some stretching exercises to decrease the tightness in the medial band of the foot.

2. Gout

Gout is a type of arthritis that originates from a buildup of uric acid in joint tissues and joint fluid, which occurs when the body can’t regulate the levels of uric acids. Although gout isn’t a foot condition, one of the first places this buildup occurs is usually in the big toe joint. That’s due to the fact that the toes are the body’s coolest parts, and uric acid crystallizes with temperature changes.

You’ll recognize a gout attack when it happens. The joint where the big toe connects to the foot will get hot, red, and swollen and will be painful even to the slightest touch.

You can help decrease your risk of gout attacks by making changes to your diet to avoid foods that can trigger an increase in uric acid levels, such as red meat, seafood, and alcohol, particularly beer. Maintaining a healthy weight also has a big effect on preventing gout attacks.

3. Bunions

A bunion is a bony bump that occurs at the base of the big-toe joint. The changes that are happening within the foot can result in a bump and cause the big toe to turn inward, toward the smaller toes.

Bunions can stem from congenital deformities, arthritis, trauma, heredity, or habitually wearing shoes that are too narrow in the toe. Regardless of what provoked bunions in the first place, they can worsen by wearing high heels and constrictive shoes.

To treat your bunions, your doctor may recommend wearing wider shoes, padded shoe inserts, and taking over-the-counter pain relievers. If those options don’t improve your pain and allow for normal walking, your doctor may suggest surgery to return the big toe to its normal position.

4. Toenail fungus

Toenail fungus affects both nails and the skin of the feet. Toenail fungus often occurs after damage to the nail that causes the nail-skin junction, where the nail meets the skin of the toe, to be disrupted. This can happen after a pedicure, because of ill-fitting shoes, or after repetitive trauma from running or hiking that causes the nail to lift or get pressed on.

Treating toenail fungus could be hard, since in many people, the problem often comes back even after successful treatment. You should talk to your healthcare provider about taking a prescription antifungal medication, since over-the-counter treatments likely won’t work.

5. Ingrown toenails

The right toenail clipping is the most important thing in preventing ingrown toenails. If you don’t cut them straight, the corners or sides of the nail can dig into the skin, leading to pain and sometimes an infection.

Other reasons for ingrown toenails include shoes that press your toes together and unusually curved toenails. If you have an ingrown toenail, you can try soaking the toe in warm water for 15 or 20 minutes several times a day and tucking a small piece of cotton or dental floss under the ingrown edge of the nail to promote it to grow up and away from the skin. If home remedies don’t seem to help, visit a doctor, who might lift or remove the affected nail.

6. Hammertoes

If any of your toes are crossed, bent in the middle of the toe joint, or just pointing at a strange angle, you might have a hammertoe. Ill-fitting shoes contribute to the formation of hammertoes.

If your toe is still flexible, your healthcare provider might recommend that you to wear roomier, more comfortable footwear. Plus, wearing inserts or foot pads can help reposition your toe.

However if your toe gets fixed in the bent position and you experience pain, this could mean you might need a surgical intervention.