Take Care Of Your Feet To Protect Your Health

By Jan Howard

Too small or too tight shoes, improper care or neglect, and circulatory problems can cause foot problems, according to a local podiatrist.

Dr Richard Maldin discussed “How to Care for Your Feet’’ at Ashlar of Newtown’s Lunch and Learn program on Tuesday, April 25, at Lockwood Lodge. Dr Maldin has practiced podiatry for 30 years and has offices at 11 Church Hill Road in Newtown and in Fairfield.

“We get two feet, and they have to last a lifetime,” Dr Maldin said. “We need to keep them as healthy as possible.

“We expect our feet to carry our weight and survive in a moist area, in often too tight, too small shoes,” he said.

Some common problems are fungus toenail, corns, calluses, bunions, infected ingrown toenails, warts, hammer toes, ulcers, callused heels, and heel spurs.  

“A neglected, infected fungus toenail has lost its ability to fight the fungus,” he said. “It can be quite a nuisance.”

New medicines that can be taken orally have potential side effects, he noted. “They can interact with other medications, and they are very expensive.”

A topical medication can work in the early stages of the fungus, Dr Maldin noted, depending on the individual and how often the medication is applied. Curing the problem can take up to nine to 12 months. To treat the fungus, a doctor needs to see the individual three or four times a year to file down the nail to decrease pressure on it. Proper cutting and filing is crucial, he said.

Medications for corns or calluses contain acid and have the potential to eat a hole in the foot if they are used too often, he said. Individuals with diabetes, circulatory ailments, or a reduction in feeling pain might not notice they have developed a severe infection. Corns can be scraped off and a dressing then applied.

“Corns and calluses are formed in response to pressure,” Dr Maldin said. “The pressure is more than the skin could tolerate, so the body lays down callus in protection of the skin. It hurts because that part of the body is getting too much pressure.”

Corns that form between toes are caused by the compression of one bone against another, he said. Once the corn is healed, a cotton ball or other non-adhesive substance can be used to keep the bones from hitting.

Bunions, if surgically removed, can come back, Dr Maldin said. “Women think they can wear shoes they want to wear after bunions are removed, but other bones are splaying out so they often can’t wear the shoes.”

Infected ingrown toenails often develop an overgrowth of unhealthy tissue, he said, as a result of individuals trying to take care of the problem themselves.

A virus causes warts, he said. People who develop them lack the ability to fight off the virus.  Dr Maldin said foot warts could be cut out but only as a last resort if they are unable to be treated in other ways.

Some conditions, such as hammertoe, are caused by health conditions, such as arthritis, or heredity. In the case of arthritis, treatment is often difficult, he said. A patient could develop further problems after an operation. In addition, hammertoes can come back.

 “You can advise them to buy shoes to accommodate the deformed foot because there are shoes designed for it, but they are ugly,” he said.

“Ulcerations on the bottom or the top of the foot are due to pressure or over use of home remedies,” Dr Maldin said. These problems are more common in people with poor circulation. To treat ulcers, try to keep pressure off them, do soaks, and give the area time to heal, he advised.

Ulcers between the toes are caused by pressure from shoes which are too tight. Ulcerations open up the body to the hostile environment outside where it is subject to infection, he noted.

Wearing open back shoes often causes callused heels. “If the cracks split open, there is not a quick cure,” he said. The best treatment is prevention. He suggested using a pumice stone or sandpaper to smooth out a callus, followed by use of a cream for dry skin.

Heel spurs are caused by abnormal pressure on the bottom of the foot. The application of ice and use of special shoes with a heel cup or arch support can help, as well as cortisone injections.

When problems develop, many people try to handle things themselves, he said. The use of home remedies can make the problem worse.

Injuries to toenails can lead to problems for years, Dr Maldin said.

“Your feet deserve protection,” he said. He suggested wearing shoes that have a spongy texture that would act as a cushion. Sneakers are a good choice, especially if they have arch support. Sneakers and shoes should have one-half inch beyond the longest toe to allow the foot to move forward comfortably without pressure.

Never go barefoot, Dr Maldin advised, noting people should wear supportive shoes from the time they get up in the morning. “Open-back slippers or shoes are the worst thing to wear,” he said. “Shoes should stay on the feet passively. The reason the shoes slap on your heels is because you are clinching on the front of them. They are fatiguing your feet. They’re not good, period.”

This program was part of a series of free seminars for mature adults about living and aging well.

To learn more about future programs, contact Hilda DeLucia at 364-3127.