Foot odor or smelly feet can be an embarrassing problem and lead to some socially awkward situations. People with this problem just do not want to remove their shoes when other people are around and if they do it certainly makes them and the people around them uncomfortable. The actual odor comes from the action of bacteria on the fatty acids in sweat, so this is going to be a more common problem in those who sweat a lot more than normal. this means that the best way to deal with the problem is to address the issue of the excessive sweating. Going barefoot to allow the sweat to evaporate can help a lot. If not, then wearing moisture absorbing sock and moisture absorbing insoles can help. Socks should be changed frequently so they do not become water logged. Astringents can also be used to cool the foot and further dry it out. Additionally the use of powder in the socks and shoes to absorb the moisture can help. If these strategies do not help with the foot odor, then the next option is to use a making agent, specifically a deodorant designed for use with the foot. Stay away from the so called magical cures for foot odor, as a lot of them do not work in most people – they will work in some people. There are some products that can help.
Warts or verrucae are a commonly occurring skin problem. They most commonly occur on the hands and on the feet and can be painful on the feet as you walk on them. There are many different treatments for them, with various success rates for them. The problem with research on warts is that they tend to get better eventually on their own, so it can not be very clear if the treatment worked or was the treatment applied just as the wart was about to get better. This also mean that there are many myths of treatments. One of these is the use of duct tape to treat warts. The evidence is clear that it does not work, yet many use it and advocate it.
Diabetes is becoming a significant burden on society in terms of the health care costs and given the obesity epidemic it is only going to get worse. Diabetes had many manifestations that contribute to this burden ranging from increased risk for strokes and heart disease, kidney problems, eye problems and of course, problems with the feet. The problems with the feet occur for a number of different reason. One is the poor circulation to the foot tat leads to a number of different healing problems. Another is that the nerve supply is affected by the diabetes ad this means that when a problem develops in the foot, there is no pain so even more damage gets done to the foot. There are also limitations on the immune system so this affects healing when a problem does develop. Those with diabetes do need to take special care of their feet, firstly to prevent any problems developing and secondly, getting prompt treatment once a problem does develop.
The most common cause of pain on the outside or lateral side of the foot is a condition usually called cuboid syndrome. The cuboid is a bone that is about half way down the outside of the foot and acts as a pulley for the tendon of a large muscle on the outside of the leg. As this tendon passes under the bone, the bone is going to have to be very stable to act as the pulley. If the bone is not stable and moves when this pulley passes around it, then the ligaments of the joints around the bone are going to get strained, resulting in the condition of cuboid syndrome. The treatment for this condition usually involves some rest and strapping to help prevent the joint moving as much. Often a manipulation can be helpful to mobilize the joint and reduce any subluxation. Sometimes foot orthotics are useful.