Common Myths Aboot Foot Care

More and more women want to show off their feet in their designer shoes. But before you get carried away trying to get that pedicureor run barefoot through the park at a picnic. Tracey Vlahovic, D.P.M. who is an associate professor of podiatric medicine and orthopedics at Temple University's School of Podiatric Medicine in the USA, hopes to dispel some of the common myths that could actually do more harm than good to your feet.

Foot Care Myth: Flat shoes, flip-flops and even going out barefoot are perfectly fine for your feet.

Foot Care Fact: This is a common misconception, because we always hear about the problems with high heels," says Dr. Vlahovic. "But these three present their own types of problems." Specifically, flip-flops do not provide any support and can lead to conditions such as plantar fasciitis, or even ankle sprains and tendonitis. Flats look comfortable but can be painful to your feet by causing severe heel pain and blisters, crowding toes and worsening conditions such as hammertoes and bunions. Walking barefoot can lead to foot problems such as cuts, abrasions, bruises and a puncture wound from a foreign object, and make you vulnerable to skin issues or nail injuries.

Foot Care Diagnosis: Dr. Vlahovic says it's fine to wear flip-flops or flats, but only for a few hours at a time, and if you are planning on wearing them for any longer, she recommends stretching the Achilles tendon afterward. As for walking barefoot, it should only be done in the comfort of your own home, and even then, be mindful of small objects that could be caught in the carpet. But patients who are at risk such as diabetics and those with peripheral vascular disease should always wear protective foot gear in and out of the house.

Foot Care Myth: At-home scrubs and soaks for corns are safe and effective.

Foot Care Fact: A corn is a small buildup of skin with a hard core, caused by friction where the toe knuckle rubs against the shoe, often caused by a hammertoe. As a result, "at-home soaks or scrubs would just exfoliate, not 'remove' corns," says Dr. Vlahovic.

Foot Care Diagnosis: The only way to remove a corn permanently is to correct the hammertoe, so that it stops rubbing against the shoe. Another alternative would be to wear shoes with a wider toe box.

Foot Care Myth: You don't need to put sunscreen on your feet.

Foot Care Fact: "Skin cancer on the legs and feet actually has a high mortality rate due to people forgetting to do skin checks on that area. It's often caught too late," says Dr. Vlahovic. "This is due in large part to the fact that many people simply forget to apply or reapply sunscreen to the lower extremities." She adds that African and Asian American women can also be susceptible to skin cancer of the lower extremity, mainly because they feel they are immune to it due to their darker skin tones.