Foot Care Archive

Toenail fungus is difficult to cure without resorting to oral treatments that can affect liver function. Topical treatment can improve nails' appearance.

Many conditions affect the feet and can cause pain. Five common problems are bunions, fallen arches, hammertoes, ingrown toenails, and plantar fasciitis. Fortunately, there's a wide range of treatments for relief. New approaches include stretching the calf muscles to improve the way feet fit into orthotic insoles; shock-wave treatment for plantar fasciitis; and minimally invasive surgeries for bunions and hammertoes that involve small instruments and incisions. Tried-and-true therapies include soaking feet when an ingrown toenail causes pain, or wearing a splint at night for plantar fascitis.

Common causes of cold feet include clogged arteries in the legs (peripheral artery disease), low body fat, Raynaud's syndrome, and nerve damage.

Platelet-rich plasma injections are used to reduce pain and speed healing for a number of common problems that affect the tendons, muscles, and joints, ranging from arthritis to shoulder pain. But a growing body of research shows that they may not be effective for some conditions, including knee osteoarthritis, ankle osteoarthritis, and Achilles tendinitis. There is some evidence that it may be effective for lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow). People should consider whether there is a better option before undergoing PRP injections.

Many factors can impair balance and lead to falls, such as vision, hearing, or joint problems; medication side effects; and environmental hazards. To improve balance and reduce the risk for falls, one can remove fall hazards from the home, treat underlying conditions that increase fall risk, consider adjusting medications that affect balance, get physical therapy, use an assistive walking device, wear supportive shoes that hold the feet in place, and frequently challenge balance with balance exercises.

Thick, dead skin patches (calluses) on the heels sometimes become cracked. The condition, known as cracked heels, makes it hard to walk and increases the risk for infection, since cracks open the door for bacteria to enter the body. If infected, cracked heels can turn into foot wounds that become hard to heal, especially in people with diabetes or peripheral artery disease who have poor circulation in their legs and feet.