| Symptoms | Most Likely problem | Possible Causes | Self-Help | Professional Care |
| Redness, Pain, Swelling around the nail | Ingrown toenails Infected toenails Injury to the toenails | - Shoe Pressure - Poor foot structure - Heredity - Improper Nail Trimming - Trauma |
- Inspect nails daily and trim toenails straight across as a preventative measure on a regular basis - Do not trim nail corners too short - Keep nails clean and dry and remove nail polish once a week - Try not to wear tight-fitting socks or shoes - See a podiatrist at the first sign of a problem - If you have diabetes or circulation problems, do not cut your own nails |
- Perform a physical examination and an x-ray evaluation when necessary - Remove the ingrown portion of the nail - Culture the nail - Prescribe appropriate medications, such as antibiotics - Perform surgical correction of the nail when needed |
| Thickened, Discolored, Loose, or Deformed Toenail | Fungal Nail Indication of other medical conditions |
- Result of trauma to toenail - Could be an indication of other medical conditions such as: diabetes, arthritis, cancer, and psoriasis - Often, the infection starts in the skin as athlete's foot, which may spread to the nails - Shoes and socks create a warm, dark, and humid environment which encourages fungal growth - Heredity |
- Keep shoes and socks dry as a preventative measure - Practice good foot hygiene, including daylily washing of the feet with soap and water; drying feet carefully, especially between the toes - Change shoes regularly - Wear wicking acrylic or cotton socks - Inspect toenails and trim them straight across on a regular basis - Do not use nail polish |
- Perform a physical examination Culture the infected nail |
| Red, flaky, dry, cracked, itchy skin, smelly feet | Athlete's Foot | - The feet are vulnerable because shoes commonly create a warm, dark and humid environment that encourages fungal growth - Athlete's foot can be contracted in dressing rooms, locker room showers and swimming pool locker rooms |
- Inspect the skin on feet everyday and be aware of changes or unusual growths - Keep shoes and socks dry as a preventative measure - Practice good foot hygiene, including daily washing of the feet with soap and water; drying feet carefully, especially between the toes - Change shoes regularly - Wear wicking acrylic or cotton socks - Moisturize skin, but avoid between the toes - Wear flip-flops in public showers - Read the label on over-the-counter products carefully to avoid serious complications |
- Prescribe topical medications - Prescribe oral anti-fungal medications |
| Painful thickening of the skin The development of a hard and flat, elevated surface most often on the sole of the foot | Warts | - A virus causes warts, which typically invades the skin through small cuts and abrasions | - Avoid walking barefoot - Change shoes daily - Keep feet clean and dry - Avoid home treatments - Do not dig out warts - see a podiatrist for treatment |
- Perform a physical examination and evaluation - Initiate treatment, including possible surgical removal - Prescribe medication - If left untreated, warts can grow to an inch or more in circumference and can spread into clusters of several warts; these are often called mosaic warts |
| A painful, fluid-filled lesion | Blisters | - Ill fitting shoes - Stiff shoes - Wrinkled socks against the skin - Excessive moisture - Foot deformities |
- Keep feet dry - Always wear socks as a cushion between your feet and shoes - Wear properly fitting shoes - Do not open or pop a blister, carefully open a corner of the blister with a sterilized utensil like a sewing needle, drain, apply antibiotic cream and cover with a bandage immediately - Treat a mild blister with mild soap and water; cover it with an antiseptic ointment and protective soft gel dressing - Check blister regularly to ensure it doesn't get infected |
- Remove the blister surface if needed - Prescribe appropriate medications, topical or oral - Recommend padding, dressings and friction reducing measures |
| Painful thickening and build up of skin that forms at points of pressure or over bony prominence or on the bottom side of foot | Calluses/Corns | - Repeated friction and pressure from skin rubbing against bony areas or against an irregularity in a shoe - Heredity |
- Wear supportive shoes with a wide toe box and a low heel - Use over-the-counter creams, avoiding medicated callus/corn remover pads - Read the label on any over-the-counter products thoroughly to avoid serious complications - After soaking feet in warm water, use a pumice stone or file to treat - only if you're not a diabetic |
- Perform a foot examination - Conduct an x-ray evaluation, if needed - Perform trimming or padding of the lesions - Perform surgery as indicated |
| Enlargement (bump) or deformity at the base of the big toe It may be swollen, tender and painful with the wearing of footgear | Bunions | - Misalignment of the joint - Heredity - Trauma - Biomedical abnormalities - Neuromedical disorders - Inflammatory joint disease - Congenital deformities |
- Have feet measure every time shoes are purchased - Avoid shoes with stitching or seams that rub over bony areas - Do not wear pointy shoes - wear supportive shoes with a wide toe box and good support - Apply cold compresses - Soak the foot in lukewarm water to relieve pain - Use over-the-counter footpads - Use over-the-counter anti-inflammatory - If unsure if shoes are proper fitting, see a podiatrist |
- Perform a physical examination - Perform x-ray evaluation - Recommended padding or taping - Prescribe orthotics as needed - Perform surgery as indicated |
| Ankle, knee or low back pain; difficulty walking | Flat foot | - A structural deformity resulting in the lowering of the arch of the foot that is sometimes referred to as "fallen arches" - Heredity - Arthritis - Trauma - Musculoskeletal disorders |
- Wear supportive shoes | - Perform a physical examination and gait analysis, x-rays and surgery as needed - Prescribe custom orthotics |
| Sweaty, smelly feet that do not itch or appear to have a rash | Bromhidrosis (a.k.a. Foot Odor) | - Increase of perspiration from the more than 250,000 sweat glands in the foot as a result of increased body temperature - Closed shoes aggravate sweaty feet and set up the perfect environment for bacteria to grow, leading to more odor and more sweat |
- Rub cornstarch or spray antiperspirant directly on the soles of the feet and spray Lysol into shoes. - Keep shoes and socks dry as a preventative measure - Practice good foot hygiene, including daily washing of the feet with soap and water; drying feet carefully, especially between the toes - Change shoes regularly - Wear wicking acrylic or cotton socks |
- Perform a physical examination - Recommend medicated powders |
| Bony prominence on the toes | Hammertoes | - Heredity - Ill-fitting shoes - Muscle imbalance - Arthritis |
- Wear a supportive shoe with a deep toe box - Apply cold compresses - Soak the foot in lukewarm water to relieve pain - Massage and stretch toes to help maintain flexibility - Always wear work and activity appropriate shoes |
- Perform a physical examination, x-ray evaluation - Perform trimming and padding, and potentially surgery, if needed |
| Pain, burning, tingling numbness between the toes or in the ball of the foot | Neuroma | - Benign growth of nerve tissue frequently found between the third and fourth toes - Improper or ill-fitting shoes - High heeled shoes - Smoking impairs circulation and excessive alcohol consumption may lead to nerve damage - Trauma - Heredity |
- Change to shoes with lower heels - Avoid tight-fitting shoes, socks and hosiery - Wear supportive shoes with a roomy toe box - Do not use heating devices on feet; instead soak in cool water and ice |
- Perform a physical evaluation, x-ray, and surgery if needed - Recommend padding and taping - Prescribe custom orthotics and anti-inflammatory medication - Administer cortisone injections |
| Bottom of the heel and arch are painful | Plantar Fasciitis/Heel Spur Syndrome | - Stretching and inflammation of the long band of connective tissue that running from the heel to the ball of the foot - Bony overgrowth of the heel bone - Muscle imbalance - Bone deformity - Obesity - Trauma - Tightness of the muscles on the back of the leg |
- Warm up and stretch properly before exercise - Exercise and stretch daily, however reduce activity and see a podiatrist for treatment options - Do not go barefoot - Wear shoes that have a strong, supportive arch and heel - Wear lower heels, or at the very least vary heel heights to maintain flexibility |
- Perform a physical evaluation, x-ray, and surgery, if needed - Recommend padding and taping - Prescribe orthotic devices and appropriate medications - Administer injections |
| Pain, redness and swelling | Stress Fracture | - Overuse or strain of foot can create an incomplete crack in the bone - Medical conditions such as osteoporosis - Medications such as steroids - Sudden increased activity level - Feet that are not structurally sound, however even a normal foot can develop a stress fracture from repetitive use |
- Use cold compresses or ice - Get complete rest - Elevate the feet - Stay off the feet |
- Perform a physical evaluation and x-ray - Immobilize or cast the foot/leg - Prescribe custom medications or orthotics |
| Swelling or recurring pain and tenderness in any joint, redness or heat in a joint, limitation in motion of a joint, early morning stiffness and skin changes including rashes and growths | Arthritis | - Since the foot contains 33 joints and bears a tremendous amount of weight and pressure, feet may be more susceptible to arthritis than other parts of the body - Heredity - Age - Viral and bacterial infections - Excessive weight - Prescription and illegal drug - Ill-fitting shoes - Trauma |
- Wear supportive shoes on a daily basis - Begin a program of physical therapy, exercise or massage - Use ice packs or hot packs - Soak feet in lukewarm water - Wear shock-retarding insoles |
- Prescribe appropriate anti-inflammatory medications - Perform appropriate x-rays and joint evaluation - Recommend custom orthotics - If the problem persists, surgery may be necessary |
| A breakdown of the skin on an area of the foot that may be difficult to heal | Diabetic Ulcers | - Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus - Vascular insufficiency - Lack of sensation - Ill-fitting shoes - Trauma - Heredity |
- Consult a podiatric physician immediately - Alert the doctor's office that you are a diabetic with a foot sore - Self-treatment is not recommended for this serious condition |
- Perform a physical examination - Perform x-ray evaluation - Perform debridement and wound care - Conduct laboratory tests - Initiate total medical team approach, which may include a family practice doctor, endocrinologist, internist, vascular surgeon and an infectious disease specialist |