Breaking down a broken down foot

Shoes make the outfit. We kick off our shoes or sandals when we get home. Somewhere in between putting them on and taking them off, our feet can suffer from some uncomfortable shoe side effects. Do your feet ache, throb, hurt? It's important to take care of your foot health as they support the rest of your body, its posture and balance. Let's see if we can break down what's causing your broken down foot.

Foot Pain Chart

Athlete's Foot. Fungus on the foot (usually between the toes or on the bottom of the feet) that causes redness, itchiness, tiny bumps filled with fluid, or peeling skin. A common skin condition that can affect everyone, not just athletes. It is most commonly located between the toes or on the bottom of the feet. Bunion. A pathological bump on the side of the big toe caused by an enlargement of bone or tissue around the joint. With a bunion, you may experience irritated skin around the bunion, pain when walking, joint redness and pain, and possible shift of the big toe toward the other toes. Blisters may form more easily around the site of the bunion as well. Corns & Callouses. Areas of thick, hard skin. Corns are hard, thick skin that forms on your toe, while a callous is thick, hard skin that has forms elsewhere on your foot. They are usually caused by rubbing or irritation over a boney prominence. Hammer Toe. An imbalance of the tendons (either above or below the toe) causing toe(s) to curl. Also called a claw toe or mallet toe. Ingrown Toenail. The sides or corners of the toenail usually curve down and put pressure on the skin. Sometimes the toenail pierces the skin and then continues to grow into the skin. This may cause redness, swelling, pain and sometimes infection. Plantar Fascitis. A thick fibrous band of connective tissue originating on the bottom surface of the calcaneus (heel bone) and extending along the sole of the foot towards the five toes. It has been reported that plantar fasciitis occurs in two million Americans a year and 10% of the population over a lifetime. (source: www.foothealth.about.com)