Toe The Line | MEN'S HEALTH

When going barefoot don?t let these unsightly problems keep you in shoes.

1. Hammertoe

The middle joint of?one or more toes?bends due to an?imbalance between?the muscles and?tendons that hold it?straight, says William?Fishco DPM, a Phoenix?podiatrist. Over time?the tendons tighten up?and the toes become?stuck in a bent?position.

PREVENT IT Make?sure you have about?a thumb?s width?of space between?your longest toe and?your shoe.

FIX IT Hammertoes?can become painful?and require surgery,?but you may be able to?avoid the scalpel if you?keep the tendons?loose with foot?exercises. Lay a?towel on the floor and?pick it up using your?toes. Then drop it?and repeat.

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2. Ingrown toenail

A jagged or?curved toenail?edge punctures?the underlying?skin and grows?downward, says?Joel J Heidelbaugh?MD, a professor of?family medicine at?the University of?Michigan. This can?lead to infection.

PREVENT IT Cut?your toenails in a?straight line. File the?sharp edges.

FIX IT Soak the foot?in soapy water for 15?minutes a day to?soften the nail, and?apply an antibiotic?ointment. If needed,?have a doctor?separate the nail from?the skin.

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3. Bunion

If?your big toe is?misaligned (possibly?from flat feet or a?family history of?bunions), it can swing?toward the other toes,?says J Kent Ellington?MD, an ortho pedic?surgeon based in?North Carolina. As a?result, the joint that?holds your toe loses?alignment and bulges?out?resulting in a?bump called a bunion.

PREVENT IT?Don?t cram your toes?into pointed dress?shoes; they should?fit comfortably.

FIX IT If you notice?that your big toe is?angled or your joint?is forming a bump,?try toe spacers to?keep your big toe?pointing straight.

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4. Athlete?s foot

You can catch this fungus by going barefoot on an?infected surface.

PREVENT IT Dry your feet after swimming and wash them immediately after?playing sports. Wear socks if someone at home is infected, and wear sandals in?communal areas (such as showers), says Mahmoud Ghannoum, director of the?centre for medical mycology at Case Western Reserve University.

FIX IT Ghannoum recommends applying a cream containing an antifungal such?as terbinafine every day for a week or two. ?JULIE STEWART

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5. Plantar wart

The human papillomavirus?invades, caus ing an inward-growing wart.?Warning signs: (1) black specks, (2) pain when you?press from side to side, and (3) a disruption of the?fingerprint-like lines across your sole, says New?Jersey podiatric surgeon George F Wallace DPM.

PREVENT IT Viruses thrive on moist, warm?surfaces, such as swimming pool decks.?Dr Wallace suggests wearing sandals until?the minute you step in for a dip, and then?putting them back on as soon as you step out.

FIX IT Start with an over-the-counter product?containing salicylic acid.

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Illustration by Rami Niemi.

Source: http://www.mens-health.com.my/2012/10/25/toe-the-line/

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