Foot skin problems can be solved by a pedicurist or a qualified podiatrist. The skin is the largest and most vulnerable organ. Covers are constantly in contact with an aggressive environment and are exposed to mechanical and chemical influences. The body takes this into account and skin regeneration is one of the fastest processes.
We must help our body with proper care, nutrition, and hydration. Unfortunately, not everyone thinks about the importance of regular and competent care. The result is skin problems. Let's look at what problems there are and how to fix them.
Every day, feet are exposed to constant high loads. This is aggravated by the use of low-quality, incorrect and restrictive shoes and socks made of synthetic fabrics. As a result, foot skin pathologies occur in the majority of the population. An indifferent attitude towards cracked heels, dry and wet calluses, and regular peeling of the skin can lead to serious chronic diseases.
Many foot skin problems can be eliminated by a podiatrist. He will provide proper care, treatment of the skin, its hydration and nutrition, and give recommendations for prevention at home. If you do not use the services of a podiatrist in a timely manner, then in the future you will need the help of a surgeon - do not complicate the situation, take preventive measures in a timely manner.
Main skin problems on the feet
A podiatrist is regularly contacted with the following foot skin pathologies:
- calluses;
- cracks of different depths;
- dry skin;
- hyperhidrosis;
- corns;
- hyperkeratosis.
The specialist’s task is not only to identify the presence of pathology and select a method for eliminating it, but also to determine the causes of its occurrence - this will help carry out prevention and prevent the occurrence of pathologies in the future.
Appearance mechanism
Swollen little toe due to a callus
Often the reason for the occurrence of neoplasms on the foot lies in the fact that the vast majority of shoes produced are standardized. It differs only in size, color and appearance, but is otherwise designed to fit a “standard” average human leg. But each person’s foot is unique due to congenital or acquired characteristics.
Flat feet, hygroma of the foot, mechanical damage, excess weight, genetic characteristics that influence the formation of arch height - all of the above have something in common. These are all reasons why the leg shape will not be completely “standard”. As a result, in some areas the foot is in close contact with the shoe, while in others a gap forms between them. During movement, the skin in these places begins to rub and a callus forms.
A callus always appears on the foot for the same reason - due to prolonged mechanical impact on its individual area. The epidermis in this area begins to change and signal its damage with pain of varying degrees of intensity. Every person faces this problem.
What are foot cracks?
Cracks in the epidermal layer appear on the outer skin and can extend deep into the dermis. Heels are a typical localization area.
Main causes of cracks
- leg injuries and mechanical damage;
- improperly performed pedicure;
- lack of regular skin care;
- dry skin;
- diseases of the digestive system;
- past fungal diseases;
- diabetes;
- taking antibiotics;
- psoriasis;
- dehydration of the body;
- strict diet without supervision by specialists;
- thyroid disease;
- hormonal changes, taking hormonal medications.
The appearance of cracks in the legs can be seasonal or chronic.
A pedicurist will be able to cope with cracks, but an integrated approach requires the help of an endocrinologist, dermatologist, gastoenterologist or immunologist. The master recommends specialists from whom you can get advice.
According to statistics, 70% of cracks are infected with fungi. It is recommended to visit a dermatologist, do tests and identify the type of fungus. This will help you choose a course of treatment for quick and safe skin recovery.
The specificity of fungal cracks is a green or brown tint. A pedicurist immediately sends a client with such a pathology to dermatologists. It is not possible to cure the infection yourself without determining the type of fungus at home. The help of a cosmetologist will not help either - removing the area without an integrated approach can lead to the spread of the disease.
Treatment of inflammation
If the redness and swelling are slight and the body temperature is normal, then you can cope with the treatment yourself using medication.
If, due to inflammation of callus, the leg becomes very swollen and the temperature of the whole body rises , then it is necessary to urgently contact a medical institution .
Medicinal treatments
The main goal of drug treatment for an inflamed callus is to prevent the formation of an abscess. At the stage while it is being formed, this is quite possible. But if the accumulation of pus in the tissues has already occurred, then surgical treatment cannot be avoided .
If the callus is inflamed and the leg is swollen, but there are no signs of abscess formation, in particular, body temperature and general health are normal, then doctors prescribe the following treatment:
- Treatment of the wound with a 3% solution of hydrogen peroxide . As a disinfection option, you can also use potassium permanganate baths. If the wound has festered, it is recommended to use a salt bath (1 tablespoon of salt per 1 liter of water).
- Applying a bandage with Levomekol ointment , which relieves inflammation, destroys microbes and promotes tissue regeneration.
- Taking antibiotics to stop the spread of infection throughout the body. Most often, Amoxiclav is prescribed, which is active against many types of bacteria.
- You can also apply compresses with dimexide , which has an antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effect (1 tbsp per 3 tbsp of water).
Important! If self-treatment does not lead to a rapid disappearance of the symptoms of callus inflammation (within 2-3 days), then you need to consult a doctor!
Treatment with folk remedies
It often happens that inflammation of the callus occurs in places where it is difficult to obtain timely, comprehensive medical care - for example, at the dacha or on a camping trip in the absence of the necessary medications in the first aid kit . In these situations, the use of folk remedies can alleviate the condition. But you should not rely completely on these funds. At the first opportunity, you should switch to treatment recommended by official medicine.
Compresses made from decoctions of medicinal herbs relieve inflammation well. You can use one of the following recipes:
- Make a decoction of St. John's wort (2 tablespoons of raw material per glass of boiling water). Infuse the resulting decoction, moisten the bandage with it and apply it warm to the wound, covering the application site with plastic wrap and securing it with a bandage.
- Make a concentrated decoction of oregano so that it turns out dark brown. Use as in the previous recipe.
- The leaves of white cabbage are good for relieving swelling . They need to be applied to the swollen areas, after scratching the surface so that the cabbage juice is released, and changed as they dry.
Photo 2. If a blister on a wet callus bursts, it must be sealed with a band-aid with disinfecting ointment. Source: Flickr (Lisa Stephens)
Treatment of cracks during pedicure
Hardware dry and combined pedicures work well with cracks. To eliminate pathologies, it is not recommended to carry out intensive softening by wetting. With deep tears, it is difficult to work with skin that has collected water.
Deep cracks are removed in 3-7 sessions. The procedure necessarily ends with treatment with nutritional compositions and healing agents. The client is given recommendations for care and, if necessary, demonstrated care procedures.
Main stages
treatment of cracks during combined pedicure:
- Treatment with antiseptic compounds.
- Treatment with keratolics, which contain enzymes and urea.
- The treated area is covered with a napkin for 5-10 minutes.
- Hardware processing with cutters of different hardness. Recommended tips are 100, 150 and 280 grit.
- Processing with a diamond cutter - the master forms a truncated cone in the direction of the crack. This helps open the crack and remove dry edges.
- Removing dust from feet using antiseptic compounds.
- Application of urea or wax based compounds that promote rapid healing.
During a pedicure, the area of skin affected by hyperkeratosis is usually removed.
At home, to increase the rate of acceleration, cracks are treated overnight with wax-based products. During the day, feet are regularly moisturized with nourishing creams. If wax-based products are not available, you can use Vaseline. To improve effectiveness, after treatment overnight, the cracks are covered with polyethylene and a cotton sock is put on.
Calluses: causes and methods of removal
A callus is formed by compaction of dead skin cells. They are distinguished by strictly defined and clearly visible boundaries, and can be dry or wet.
The main reasons for the formation of calluses:
- wearing uncomfortable and tight shoes;
- hard backs of shoes;
- wearing shoes without socks;
- irregular foot skin care;
- foot deformity;
- lack of care procedures.
Most calluses cause pain, discomfort, and are a source of infection.
Core calluses cannot be eliminated at home; a visit to a podiatrist is necessary. The pathology forms in the area of the fingers or foot and has a deep, pinpoint root canal. These calluses are often affected by fungus.
Effective elimination is only possible with an understanding of the cause of the formation. Dry calluses are removed by a pedicurist, who pre-soaks the skin and removes the growth with a nail file. Wet calluses require an exclusively individual approach.
3. Symptoms and diagnosis
There are several types of calluses, which differ significantly both etiologically and clinically. For example, a core callus is usually formed in response to the introduction of a small foreign body (a splinter, a chip that has gotten under the skin, a piece of stone, etc.) and is a compaction that goes deep, visible from the outside as a cap with a central crater. Corns are also a type of callus - keratinized areas on the soles of the feet, sometimes of a fairly large area, without a clear boundary with the skin of normal elasticity and moisture.
The most obvious and significant difference is between the two main categories of calluses: soft and dry.
Soft (water) calluses at the stage of formation are a locally irritated, reddened, weeping, painful area of skin, which quickly transforms into a blister or sac filled with serous fluid (“dropsy”); if the exposure does not stop at this stage, the soft callus inevitably breaks through to form an open wound. The penetration of pathogenic microorganisms triggers an infectious-inflammatory process, the classic signs of which are swelling, hyperemia, clearly localized pain, and local fever. The most serious of the complications mentioned above include purulent abscesses, cellulitis, and osteomyelitis.
The callus is dry (hard), looks like a local rounded keratinization, usually yellow-gray, with a radius of several millimeters to several centimeters, clearly demarcated from the surrounding skin and rising (sometimes significantly) above its level. Any pain or discomfort occurs, as a rule, only when such a callus is pressed or laterally displaced.
The most common areas for the formation of calluses are the distal, terminal sections of the hands and feet (phalangeal folds, fingertips, interdigital spaces, skin of the palms and soles), as well as elbows and knees. More specific calluses can also occur in other areas: for example, in professional violinists, constant contact with the hard varnished wood of the soundboard causes the skin on the lower jaw bone on the left to become rough.
As a rule, there is no need for additional diagnostics: a dermatologist or surgeon at first glance distinguishes a callus from an inflammatory cyst or abscess, scleroderma skin changes, warts, swelling due to joint inflammation, etc. However, in some cases, a differential diagnostic study (for example, histological or ultrasound) may be necessary.
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Corns: features and treatment
Corns resemble calluses, but are irregular in shape, large in size, have jagged edges, and are highly dense. The main means of combating corns is a combined pedicure. Cosmetologists use keratolic agents, which have a softening effect, and devices with attachments of varying degrees of abrasiveness.
The main causes of corns:
- low-quality, uncomfortable shoes;
- foot deformity;
- improper regeneration of the skin of the foot;
- dehydration and strict diets.
The regular appearance of corns, regardless of the shoes used, is a reason to visit an orthopedist.
The main stages of eliminating corns:
- visiting a pedicurist who will file the damaged area. The procedure is performed in several stages;
- daily home care;
- wearing shoes with orthopedic insoles;
- scheduled visit to a podiatrist.
With the help of a hardware pedicure, you can remove a small corn in one session. Large and dense ones are removed gradually, since if a significant area is removed in one procedure, the regeneration process is activated and the corns increase in size.
Therapeutic measures
For the treatment of calluses on the skin of the feet, the use of medications or traditional medicine is most often prescribed. Sometimes surgery is required.
Before telling you what to do if your foot is swollen from a callus, the specialist will conduct a diagnosis to identify the cause of this phenomenon. It is not a fact that it arose because the shoes rubbed the skin of the limb, and pathogenic microorganisms penetrated into the neoplasm. The problem may be something completely different.
Medicines
To treat calluses, ointments for topical use or tablets for internal use are prescribed, which are designed to eliminate pain and relieve inflammation and swelling of the legs. Ketanol, Nurofen, Diclofenac and other similar drugs are often used as such medications.
If an inflammatory process has developed in the affected area and the leg swells, antibiotics are prescribed. The doctor should select the medication after a thorough examination of the callus. When visiting a doctor, the patient will have the sore area drained and treated with special antimicrobial agents.
You should not use medications on your own. Before use, you should definitely consult your doctor to avoid adverse effects. Without a doctor's prescription, the patient can take an analgesic if it hurts to walk. But it is impossible to cure a callus with it.
What is hyperhidrosis
Hyperhidrosis is increased sweating, which leads to the formation of skin pathologies. An area with constant high humidity and a temperature comfortable for the growth of bacteria is created in the foot area. This causes an unpleasant odor and peeling of the skin in large areas.
The main reasons for the development of hyperhidrosis:
- disorders of the thyroid gland;
- wearing uncomfortable shoes with poor ventilation;
- the use of low-quality creams based on synthetic bases that form an airtight film on the surface of the skin.
The main problem with hyperhidrosis is thick and swollen skin. It is difficult to process using hardware methods. To relieve the main symptoms, it is recommended to sprinkle the damaged areas with baby powder or talcum powder.
To treat hyperhidrosis, alcohol-based antiseptic formulations are used. The treatment can be done in a beauty salon. After hygienic treatment, the feet are wiped and treated with talcum powder. Prepared feet are processed using hardware methods using cutters with a hardness of 100-280 grit. After completing the procedure, the master will definitely give recommendations.
General recommendations:
- use a deodorant recommended by a specialist;
- wear shoes and clothes made from natural materials;
- take good care of your shoes;
- Perform regular foot hygiene procedures at least twice a day.
- Pay special attention to the condition of the insoles.
Prevention
To prevent the development of calluses and accompanying swelling on the leg, you should adhere to the following recommendations:
- Wear comfortable shoes that fit properly, made of high-quality materials that allow air to pass through well.
- Use orthopedic insoles made from silicone.
- Use special products to suppress excessive sweating of the skin of the feet.
- Prevent the development of flat feet.
Callus is a skin reaction to mechanical stress. By itself it does not pose a danger. But if infection penetrates, negative consequences are possible. Therefore, it is important to take measures to prevent the development of tumors.
Hyperkeratosis, dryness and flaking
Hyperkeratosis is a thickening of the stratum corneum. A layer of 1 to 10 mm is formed on the feet. The thickening is aggravated by the appearance of cracks, chronic formation of calluses and corns.
Excess weight, poor hygiene and the use of shoes made of synthetic materials are the main triggers of hyperkeratosis, among other reasons:
- genetic factor;
- age-related changes in the body;
- fungal infection;
- improper care of the skin of the feet;
- disturbances in the functioning of the endocrine system.
You can remove the effects of hyperkeratosis in a beauty salon. The pedicurist uses a combined technique, which includes the use of softeners and hardware treatment.
The maximum effect when removing rough skin is achieved when using cutters with an abrasiveness of 100-280 grit. The master gradually reduces the abrasiveness using different attachments.
Recommendations:
- using comfortable shoes;
- regular foot care with moisturizing creams;
- use of socks and shoes made from natural materials;
- regular visits to the podiatrist.
To combat dryness and flaking of the skin, urea-based products are used. The beauty parlors offer a procedure called cold paraffin therapy. A good effect is achieved by using wax applications and nourishing masks.
It is important not only to eliminate a cosmetic defect, but also to identify the causes of its occurrence and ensure proper prevention. If necessary, the podiatrist will give recommendations and refer you for consultations to specialized specialists to identify the cause of the defect.
Signs of callus inflammation
If the callus is inflamed and the leg is swollen, urgent measures must be taken to help the body fight the infection and prevent the formation of an abscess. Therefore, it is important not to miss the first signs of inflammation of the callus:
- Redness of the skin around the wound.
- The appearance of edema .
- Increased temperature at the site of inflammation.
- Pain.
- Difficulty walking.
Each of these symptoms tends to increase. Redness and swelling spread, covering more and more areas, the temperature of the whole body rises, pain intensifies, walking becomes impossible. Weakness , dizziness , and swollen lymph nodes may appear .
Avoid serious problems
A wide range of dermatoses develops in patients with diabetes mellitus. A number of pathologies are harbingers of this disease, others are a consequence. In total, up to 30 types of dermatoses with different clinical pictures are registered in diabetes mellitus.
All of the above diseases require professional and long-term treatment. It is recommended not to let your feet get into a condition that would require going to a hospital or clinic. It is necessary to regularly engage in the prevention of foot skin diseases. To do this you need:
- take care of your feet using products recommended by a cosmetologist;
- keep feet clean and dry;
- wipe the skin between the toes well after hygiene procedures;
- change socks twice a day, do not use synthetic shoes;
- wear only personal items.
People with chronic diseases are recommended to visit a podiatrist once every six months to receive professional care procedures.