Multi-therapy consultant, Dr Pranjal Shamsher talks about how good skin care and foot hygiene can prevent skin diseases in the feet.

Are skin diseases of the foot common?
The most common problems with the skin on the feet are corns and calluses, which are caused by friction from skin rubbing and ill-fitting shoes. Smelly feet caused by sweat and bacteria in the shoes and socks are another cause for embarrassment for many.

Among infections, Athletes foot or Tinea Pedis is the most common foot skin disease. It is caused by a fungus, which usually develops in warm and damp conditions. It can cause severe itching, inflammation and blistering of the feet, especially the web spaces. The fungus can also grow deep into the nail bed making the nail thick, brittle and discoloured to yellow or brown.

Are feet skin diseases indicative of other complications in the body?
Yes, in some cases. For example, Stasis Eczema is caused by poor blood circulation, which may be due to diabetes or other circulatory disorders.

Poor blood circulation can also make minor cuts and cracks from dry skin, turn into ulcers. Plantar Psoriasis can cause severe itching of the skin on the feet with scaling and cracking.

Certain skin diseases like Lichen Planus and Eczemas tend to come first on the feet area and then spread to the body. In such cases, a proper examination and diagnosis of the underlying cause will help control the condition in the early stages itself.

A patient with severe itching on her feet once told me that she would soak her feet in very hot water in an attempt to kill the germs. But she ended up scalding her own feet.

Can diseases of the foot be prevented?
Although certain diseases and infections of the foot have to be medically treated and require internal and external therapies together, proper foot hygiene plays a very important role in preventing foot diseases.

Feet should be washed everyday with soap and lukewarm water, especially between the toes and then dried thoroughly with a towel. Clean and dry feet can lower the risk of foot odour and fungal infection.

Choosing socks and shoes carefully is very important. Foot massages, pedicures, a little pampering on a regular basis and proper medication in conditions like fungal infection, cracked heels, corns and so on can do wonders for your feet.