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“НАШЕ ЖИТТЯ”, ЛИПЕНЬ - СЕРПЕНЬ 201 2 WWW. UNWLA.ORG 33 THE NEGLECTED BODY PART by Ihor Magun, MD, FACP The summer months are a time when we kick off our shoes , literally, and take it easy. It is also a time when we begin to take not ice of a ne g- lected body part — our feet. Fifty - two bones make up each pair of h u- man feet. With such a great amount of bones and the com plex maneuvers our feet perform daily, many things can go wrong; in turn, any disco m- fort in the feet can affect other body parts — knees, back, gait , and posture. Addressing foot issues in a timely manner will help pr event more serious future problems . The first issue to ad dress is the selection of proper foo twear size. It is important to get measured for both size and width, as wea r- ing narrow shoes can le ad to bunion formation. O ur foot size and width can also change with time, so getting re - measured is not a bad idea. Except for special events, heels should not b e more than two inches high, especially if worn all day. Shoes must also have proper support and not easily bend in the center. Blisters occur when skin has rubbed against a shoe. These can bec ome infected when they pop open, but most will resolve with local care (covering the area with a bandage or surgical tape). If a blister does not pop open on its own, there is no harm in popping it y ourself with a st e- rile tool. If pain or redness persists, antibiotic s may be necessary. Calluses are patches of thickened skin as a defense against friction and press ure. Once again , improper footwear (size, width, heel size) are the culprits. By contrast , corns are localized a reas of dead skin that are conical or cir cular in shape. They can also have a dry, waxy, transl u- cent appearance. Corns usually are found in the ball of the foot, on the outside of the pinky in the foot and in - between the fo u rth and the fifth toe. Th e th ickening of the skin (ca lluses and corns) is referred to as skin hyperkeratosis. The treatment is to pare down the dead skin. Using a pumice stone on a wet foot can help and applying over - the - counter products that contain salicylic acid can speed up the removal process. Salicylic acid is kerato lytic and dissolves the keratin (pr o- tein) of the dead skin. It is quite gentle and safe to use . Painted toenails can absorb the pigment in nail polish , which results in a yellow appea r- ance. Give your toenails a regular vacation from nail polish to minimiz e the damaging effect . R e- member to use acetone - free nail polish remover. For sweat and odor issues , keep feet as dry as possible. Although this is not always easy to do , bring a chan ge of socks or stockings and even another pair of shoes. Use foot powd er s that a b- sorb sweat and odor. Purchase odor - absorbing insoles tha t can slip right into the shoe. Consider getting a prescription product called ‘ Drysol ’ when other treatments f ail. Botox injections have become popular as a treatment option, and they are c overed by most insurance companies when used for this problem . Examine your feet well at least once a week. Apply moisturizing products made specif i- cally for feet and target dry and cracked skin areas. Peppermint - based products are helpful. Special products for heel care are r eadily avail a- ble and work very well. Athlete’ s foot presents as itchy, red , and peeling skin at the bottom of your feet and b e- tween your toes. Keeping feet dry is important. After washing, dry with a regular towel and follow up w ith a paper towel, especially in - between the toes. This added step prevents the development of moisture, which provides an environment co n- ducive to fungal growth. Over - the - counter pro d- ucts are helpful, but creams or ointments are pr e- ferred to powders because they allow for better absorption of medication. Powders tend to be less effective. Toenail fungus requires a completely different treatment. Topical agents are not hel p- ful since the infection is below the nail. The only effective treatment is a three - month course of an oral antifun g al agent that is available by prescri p- t ion only. The results of this treatment will only be n oticed in nine to twelve months — the time it takes the nail to completely grow out. Treat yourself to a paraffin wax treat ment. The paraffin wax ma kes feet feel incredibly soft. It contains paraffin oil which melts at a lower temperature so that when your feet are su b- merged in it, there is no burning. The feet are then covered with plastic for about half an hour. Paraffin wax is also available over the c ounter at various stores and on line. I hope this information will inspire you pay more attention to this neglected body part so that when you do kick off your shoes this summer, you will be able to show off your healthy, pa m- pered feet.
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