Don’t Forget About Your Toes
Our toes may be tiny, but they are important in helping us walk, stand, and keep our balance. Did you know big toes are so strong that they bear twice as much weight as all our other toes? With that being said, toes have a lot of small bones and joints that can make them vulnerable to injuries and other issues. Here are some common troubles we can encounter with our toes.
This fungal infection can get under the toenail, causing it to become loose, thickened, or brittle and change in color. Like athlete’s foot, toenail fungus is contagious, so protect your feet in public areas. Keeping feet dry and clean and wearing shoes made of canvas and leather can also help.
A muscle and tendon imbalance in the toe can cause it to bend upward in the middle, resembling a hammer. Hammertoes also run in the family. Wear shoes with a wide toe box that is also high to prevent rubbing against the shoe.
This painful joint problem usually affects the big toe joint. A bunion will be painful, with tenderness around the joint and a visible bump on the side of the foot. Bunions often run in the family and can be worsened by wearing high heels or narrow shoes. Switch to shoes with a wide-toe box and lower heels.
If you have red, itchy, and blistering skin between the toes, you probably have a fungal infection called athlete’s foot. It’s easy to pick up this contagious fungus in warm, damp places like spas, swimming pools, and locker rooms.
When shoes are too tight or narrow, or if you round your toenails when you trim them instead of cutting straight across, you may get an ingrown toenail. Ingrown nails are painful, with swelling and even drainage from the nail cutting into the skin. Wear shoes that have plenty of room in the toe area. When giving yourself a pedicure, always trim the nails straight and not rounded at the edges.
Are you experiencing toe problems? Come see us!
At Advanced Foot Care of NJ, LLC, Dr. Anant Joshi and his staff treat various conditions and are committed to providing results. We are conveniently located in Woodland Park and welcome our neighbors in Little Falls, Cedar Grove, Verona, Stoney Road, Sandy Hill, Albion Place, and Great Notch. To schedule an appointment, contact his office at 973-256-0002.
