Author: Feet Street

Plantar fasciitis: Symptoms, diagnosis and treatment What is plantar fasciitis? Plantar fasciitis is thickening of the plantar fascia, a band of tissue running underneath the sole of the foot. The thickening can be due to recent damage or injury, or can be because of an accumulation of smaller injuries over the years. Plantar fasciitis can be painful. What causes plantar fasciitis? A number of factors can contribute to plantar fasciitis. While men can get plantar fasciitis, it is more common in women. You're also more likely to have this condition as you age. Common causes of plantar fasciitis include: Being overweight Taking up a new form of exercise or suddenly increasing the intensity of your exercise Standing on your feet for several hours each day Medical conditions such as rheumatoid…

Take these simple steps to make sure you get the best out of your feet. There are several simple steps that everybody can take to ensure they have good feet: Check your feet regularly for any lumps, bumps, blemishes, grazes, cuts, etc. that are not normally present and take appropriate action. Wash your feet very day. Pay particular attention to the area between your toes and make sure you dry your feet thoroughly. If possible, change your footwear on a daily basis. Every day our feet sweat, and this moisture is absorbed within the socks and shoes. It usually takes longer than overnight for the shoe to dry out thoroughly, so if you wear the same shoes on consecutive days you are effectively putting on a damp shoes. Wear Coolmax…

Who's secretly happy to hide their feet again now boot-season is upon us? You're not alone. Just because feet inevitably go into hiding in Autumn and Winter though, doesn't mean you should let 'em go. Far from it in fact, the temperature drops this time of year can cause havoc with your feet, all the more reason to maintain your foot care. Our Podiatrist  explains that your feet have a blood supply that is affected by climate. "As the temperature fluctuates the skin is left hot or cold. When your feet feel cold, it means the skins blood supply to the top layers of the skin have been reduced to preserve heat." No wonder they get as dry our chapped lips – even without being exposed to the elements. Tight-tights…

What is it? / What causes the problem? When we walk or stand, our body weight is carried first on the heel and then on the ball of the foot, where the skin is thicker to withstand the pressure. When this pressure becomes excessive, some areas of skin thicken in the form of corns and callus, as a protective response to the body’s reaction to the friction of skin rubbing against a bone, shoe or the ground. Callus (or callosity) is an extended area of thickened, hard skin on the soles of the feet. It is usually symptomatic of an underlying problem such as a bony deformity, a particular style of walking or inappropriate footwear. Some people have a natural tendency to form callus because of their skin type. Elderly…

If you are worried about your verrucae and/or self-treatment is not working and/or the verrucae appears to be getting larger or more painful, you should seek the help of a HCPC registered podiatrist. What is it?Verrucae are plantar warts that commonly occur on the soles of the feet or around the toe area. They are caused by the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) which is highly contagious through direct person to person contact. There are various forms of HPV which all relate to various parts of the human body. What causes the problem?The virus is thought to thrive in moist, damp environments such as swimming pools, changing room floors and communal shower areas. It is possible to contract verrucae simply by walking across the same floor area as someone with a…

Smelly feet - the medical name is bromodosis - can affect anyone. It can be embarrassing and uncomfortable. The main cause is sweaty feet and there are simple steps you can take to help prevent this. What causes sweaty and smelly feet? The function of sweat glands is to keep the skin moist and therefore supple, and to regulate temperature when the weather is hot or while you are exercising. There are more sweat glands in our feet than anywhere else in the body. However, unlike sweat glands elsewhere in the body, the sweat glands in the feet secrete all the time, not just in response to heat or exercise. Feet smell when bacteria on the skin break down sweat as it comes from the pores. A cheesy smell is…

Athlete’s foot is a skin fungal infection. It can lead to intense itching, cracked, blistered or peeling areas of skin, redness and scaling. It can occur on moist, waterlogged skin usually between the fourth and fifth toes initially, or on dry, flaky skin around the heels or elsewhere on the foot. Large painful fissures can also develop and the condition can also spread along all five toes and sometimes to the soles of the feet if left untreated. What causes the problem? It’s caused by a number of fungal species which you can pick up from someone else shedding affected skin (typically in communal areas such as pools, showers and changing rooms) or where you may walk around barefoot. Athlete’s foot can also be passed on directly from person to…