+
Home BlogWomen’s Foot Health (Page 2)

Category: Women’s Foot Health

Close-up of cracked heels on feet, showing dry, damaged skin.
2Oct

crackedheels

Cracked heels are common, with 20 percent of adults having experienced cracked heels at one time. It can happen in children also, though it seems to affect women more. In severe cases, dry cracked feet with cuts cause discomfort and pain when walking.

The best-cracked heels remedy is to prevent them. Look at your daily routine and identify any habits that leave the heels vulnerable to cracks and alter them to prevent cracked heels.

Some factors that pose a risk to the development of cracked heels include

  1. Lack of moisture

This causes most cracked heels because the skin under the feet is rough, chapped, and dry. It has a small number of sweat glands and hence less skin elasticity. Exposing your feet to water for long strips off the natural oils from the skin, leaving it dry.

Apply thick moisturizers to soften and moisturize the heels. Find moisturizers with the following ingredients urea, salicylic acid, saccharide isomerate, and alpha-hydroxy acids. These also are the best cream for cracked heels and help in treating cracked heels.

  1. Deficiencies

Inadequate intake of zinc, vitamins, and minerals affects the health of your heels and they may crack. Increase the intake of these in your diet for a supple heel skin.

  1. Applied Pressure

If you spend a long time standing during the day, the excess stress is applied to the skin of the heel may cause a crack. The pressure put and the lack of a flexible heel skin leads to cracked heels. Being overweight also increases the pressure on the fat pad under the heel as it expands sideways. The wearing of exposing footwear, such as open back sandals and shoes, forces the fat under the heel to expand sideways and increase the possibility of cracked heels.

Regular foot care through soaking and moisturizing is crucial, especially where pressure is applied. Keep your feet for up to 20 minutes in lukewarm soapy water. Then use a foot scrubber or pumice stone to get rid of thick hard skin. Wipe your feet off and apply a thick moisturizer. Apply petroleum jelly to lock in moisture and put on socks. One can also use moisturizing heel sleeves that contain vitamins and therapeutic oils to treat the dry skin.

  1. Disorders

Some skin conditions leave the heel susceptible to cracking. These conditions include athletes’ foot, eczema, psoriasis, diabetes, thyroid disease, among other skin conditions. Aging skin also loses its elasticity with age and chances of dry cracked heels are high. In case you experience cracked heels due to medical conditions or aging you need to cracked heels treatment from a podiatrist before applying any foot crack cream. Also, if you experience severely cracked heels, seek evaluation by a foot doctor regardless of your medical history.

However, the best form of treatment for a cracked heel is to prevent cracks from occurring in the first place. Feel free to contact our office to make an appointment with our podiatrist if you have been unsuccessful in getting rid of your cracked heels. Our foot and ankle specialist, Dr. Ejodamen Shobowale can provide you with the care needed to get you up and running in no time.

Pregnant woman's swollen feet and ankles on wooden floor.
15Jul

swollenfeetYou are already conscious of your pregnancy then you have swollen feet, it’s frustrating. The feet swelling might get worse if the due date is near, or during warm weather and in the evenings. Mild swelling is not a cause for concern, but sudden swelling to the hands and face signify a more serious underlying condition. When you notice extreme swelling, please consult a  health professional. Feet swelling, or edema, is prevalent around 22 to 27 weeks of the pregnancy sometimes until the due date.

Causes of swollen feet during pregnancy

Feet swelling during pregnancy occur because of increased body fluids, increased blood flow, and pressure from the growing uterus. All these are meant to nurture the baby and can lead to swelling. Consult a health professional if you notice excessive swelling of the feet and face accompanied by elevated blood pressure, protein in the urine, and rapid weight gain.

Swollen feet after birth (Postpartum edema)

Excess fluids in the body after childbirth can lead to postpartum swelling. When you near the due date, the body prepares for birth by retaining water to adapt to the baby’s growth. After childbirth, the body naturally eliminates the fluids. During the first week after pregnancy, the body flushes the excess water out, however this varies depending on the ability to eat healthy, stay hydrated, and having plenty of rest. The outer layer of the feet might be puffy or shiny.

 

When is postpartum edema alarming? If you experience headaches and intense pain in the feet, it is time to see the doctor. Also, if you notice pain in one area or on one foot, you need a physician to look at the possibility of a blood clot.

If you are dealing with swollen feet during or after pregnancy, you may want to seek help from a foot specialist. Feel free to contact our office to make an appointment with our podiatrist. Our foot and ankle doctor, Dr. Ejodamen Shobowale, can provide you with the care you need to keep you pain-free on your feet.

Dealing with feet swelling during pregnancy

Swollen feet pregnancy and after pregnancy means taking extra care to avoid complications. These are some simple steps that will go a long way relieving.

  • Avoid long periods of standing.
  • Hold up your feet while sitting.
  • Take time to stretch every few minutes.
  • The left side acclaimed as the precise resting position.
  • When possible, wear stockings for support.
  • Exercise regularly, try walking and swimming.
  • Lack of fluids causes the body to retain fluid in the body; increase the intake of fluids and water throughout the day.
  • Wear comfortable shoes such as orthotic shoes and inserts.
  • Moderate your salt intake.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office located in Houston, TX. Our Houston, TX office will handle all of your foot and ankle issues. We will provide you with the latest diagnostic and treatment methods for treating all foot and ankle related issues.